How Stress and Screen Time Contribute to Dark Circles

Our skin is a reflection of our health, and the better you look after your health, the better skin you will have. The same goes for those dark circles under your eyes. Even if you have had them for a long time, dark circles can be prevented and controlled with the right remedies and treatments. But have you ever wondered about why your dark circles appear to be more when you’re under stress or because of too much screen time? If you’re curious to know why this happens, keep reading this blog, where we will discuss how stress and screen time contribute to dark circles under your eyes.

Table of Contents

1. What are dark circles
2. How stress contributes to dark circles
3. How screen time contributes to dark circles Prevention and solutions
4. When to seek professional help
5. Conclusion

What Are Dark Circles

The area of skin under your eyes that gets discoloured due to various reasons, like dehydration, lack of sleep, stress, etc., is called dark circles. Beneath the skin of your under eyes, blood vessels are present, and when they turn black, green, purple, or brown, the skin tends to look darker, hence making them look like “dark eye circles”. This is why people with dark circles look more tired or older than those without.

How Stress Contributes to Dark Circles

• Reduced Blood Circulation: The blood vessels under your eyes can shrink when there is no proper blood circulation. Stress changes your blood circulation rhythm, leading to dark eye circles.
• Sleep Disruptions: If you have ever had trouble falling asleep or waking up too often, your body is under stress, and it results in the skin under your eyes becoming too dark and worsening your dark circles.
• Inflammation: Stress causes your body to swell up, especially under the eyes, which are very delicate. This makes your skin pale and thin, where the blood vessels are easily seen.
• Hormonal Changes: When you are stressed, your body releases cortisol (one of the stress hormones), which can disturb the natural balance in your skin, making it darker and duller.
• Skin Sensitivity: Stress can also make your skin more sensitive and reactive. Sensitive skin under the eyes may become red easily and is more likely to show pigmentation. These dark circles become more noticeable when you rub under your eyes too much.

How Screen Time Contributes to Dark Circles

• Blue Light Exposure: Daily used screens, like smartphones, desktops, laptops, etc., emit a harmful blue light which is known to damage skin cells and affect collagen (which keeps your skin firm and healthy). Too much exposure to this blue light can lead to dark circles because it makes your skin weaker and paler.
• Eye Strain and Fatigue: Spending too many hours staring at a screen causes headaches and even dark circles. This is because a higher screen time forces your eyes to work harder, leading to eye strain, inflammation, and dark under eyes.
• Disrupted Sleep Patterns: Anything affecting your sleep at night, be it screen time or any other activities, causes disrupted sleep patterns. When this happens, poor sleep becomes one of the reasons for tired-looking eyes and dark under-eye skin.
• Dehydration and Skin Health: If you often forget to drink enough water in a day, dehydration affects your body, causing your skin to lose its moisture and elasticity. The under-eye area will then become too dry, dull, and sunken, making dark circles more noticeable.

Prevention and Solutions

• Managing Stress Levels: For stress-related dark circles, try deep breathing, meditation, or yoga to calm the mind and body. Stress can also be managed with proper planning and focusing on one task after the other to avoid feeling overwhelmed. sleep better, and maintain healthier skin.
• Limiting Screen Time: Limiting how long you use screens each day prevents eye strain and sleep problems. Taking regular breaks from digital devices helps you relax your eyes and improve not only sleep quality but also the health of the under-eye skin.
• Skincare Tips for Reducing Dark Circles: Drinking enough water, along with a balanced diet that includes vitamins, antioxidants, etc., helps in keeping your under-eye skin healthy. Over-the-counter (OTC) solutions, like eye creams with vitamin C or retinol ingredients, can brighten the under-eye area.

When to Seek Professional Help

• You often find that one side of your under-eye skin is always or frequently swollen.
• Even after trying the above solution for quite some time, your dark circles have not reduced; immediately seek professional help.
• If your preferred appearance is affected by dark circles under the eyes.
• You are concerned that your dark under-eye skin is not something related to stress or screen time, but is an underlying health issue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dark circles or dark under-eye skin can happen due to long hours of screen time and even stress (both physical and mental). With the right solutions and treatments, like stress management, the right skincare, and only a few hours of dedicated time for screens, you can control and prevent your dark circles from getting worse.

At Dr. Health Clinic, our experienced dermatologist specialises in providing natural, effective solutions for dark circles without any side effects. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Health Clinic for complete and customised dark circle treatment and care.