Besides inadequate sleep and fatigue that are known to cause dark under eye circles directly or indirectly, dark circles together with sunken eyelids can also be the result of lack of nutrition. In this case, topical treatments for these tired looking eyes cannot solve the problem. Therefore, knowing the nutritional causes of dark circles and sunken eyelids can prevent or minimize the look of these circles. Knowing the same will help you understand what is to be added to your nutrition in order to solve the problem.
Cause #1: Dehydration
The Mayo Clinic website mentioned that sunken eyes can be a symptom of severe dehydration. This is because when a person suffers from dehydration, her skin loses its elasticity and it becomes dry too. The skin under the eyes is very thin and it becomes very transparent when a person is dehydrated making the circles under the eyes more prominent. Several factors like excessive sweating from heat exhaustion, diarrhea, stomach illness, fever, exercise and use of alcohol can exacerbate this effect. This is why activities like partying and sickness is related with dark circles and sunken eyelids. In order to solve this problem, the technique is to drink more water every day.
Cause #2: Inadequate Vitamin C
Vitamin C is required in the formation of collagen. Collagen is an essential protein that aids with the appearance and overall health of the skin. It also plays an important role in the absorption of iron in the body and decreases bruising. One of the most obvious sign of vitamin C deficiency, according to the Health Care Clinic website is the spontaneous rupture of capillaries which lead to bruising. This condition, accompanied with unhealthy skin, causes eyelids to appear sunken. Therefore, you are to have Vitamin C according to the required daily allowance to prevent this from happening.
Cause #3: Iron Deficiency
Iron is a component of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the one responsible in making the color of the blood red. If the hemoglobin in the red blood cells is much lower, this means that there is iron deficiency. The blood vessels can then be seen through the skin due to lack of exposure to oxygen thus the blood in your body does not turn red. It does remain a dark bluish color and it is transparent through the thin and delicate skin under your eyes. In order not to worsen sunken eyelids and dark eye circles, it is crucial to increase iron in your diet. This can be sourced out from many foods; liver is just one of them.
Cause #4: Vitamin K Deficiency
Vitamin K is the one responsible for blood clotting. Additionally, it strengthens the walls of the capillaries thus prevents them from blood leaking. This deficiency cannot only impair the formation of blood clots but also makes you more at risk to bruising once there is breakage of the capillaries. The blood that the broken capillaries will release is no longer oxygenated and this can lead in the formation of discoloration under the eyes.
These are but some of the nutritional causes of sunken eyelids and dark eye circles. You can actually solve these causes by looking into your nutritional daily requirements.