Lines Under The Eyes
What causes lines under the eyes?
Dark lines under the eyes and wrinkles have a number of causative factors; however, the most common ones include chronic stress, chronic sleep deprivation, excessive alcohol consumption and poor diet. This article will summarize some of the at-home-techniques that can lessen the appearance of lines under the eyes.
Apply potato slices:
Potato slices applied onto the eyelids can soothe the areas and make the puffiness dark lines disappear. Cucumbers may be used as well. For a relaxing application, kick back on the couch; for once in your life, it’s okay to be a couch potato! (Finding yourself without access to a stocked kitchen or grocery store? Try applying bags filled with icecubes to your eyes, for a similar result.)
Lower salt consumption:
Salt is an important mineral, and a flavor enhancer. However, excessive salt absorbs a great deal of water from the body, leading to dehydration, which is a cause of dark lines under the eyes. A lot of salt in the diet can lead to worsening health problems, so it’s best to cut down where you can. Helpful Hint: Did you know that most of the salt consumed by North Americans is found in processed foods? Eliminating such foods will not only help your waistline, but lower your overall salt consumption. Choose whole, natural foods instead, and reach for unrefined sea salt instead of iodized table salt; it tastes better and contains more minerals.
Use alcohol in moderation:
Moderate alcohol consumption – say, a glass of red wine with dinner, or a beer on a hot summer’s evening – doesn’t deserve a “bad rap”; however, frequently drinking to excess has been shown to have deleterious effects. Excess alcohol consumption can cause damaged skin, accelerating aging and leading to wrinkles and lines and under the eyes, in addition to an increase of blood pressure and blood sugar fluctuations. Helpful Hint: If you consume alcohol regularly, speak with a natural healthcare practitioner about supplementing with an extract of Milk Thistle, a herb proven through many double-blind studies to protect the liver and help it regenerate. A healthier liver usually results in better skin and less wrinkles.
Hit the hay (get enough sleep!):
While some individuals seem able to function with five to six hours of sleep each night, they may be unknowingly wearing themselves down, or creating a reliance on caffeine or other stimulants to stay awake. Often, wrinkles, bad skin and dark lines under the eyes appear. A well rested person is a better-looking person. Most sleep experts suggest between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Helpful Hint: Don’t watch TV late into evening, and avoid using the computer close to bed unless you have to. Try melatonin supplements or soothing teas from a healthfood store. Keep the bedroom ventilated, and remember – drinking to fall asleep may “work”, but there are other, healthier alternatives.
This is not an exhaustive study, but the gist of the above article is this: Keeping healthy, getting enough sleep, choosing good quality foods and making responsible lifestyle choices go a long way toward your overall health, keeping skin in great shape and helping reduce the appearance of aged skin and lines under the eyes.