When looking in the mirror, you may feel shocked to see the eyes look sunken and black. Having sunken eyes can make you look lethargic and not fresh so that you lack confidence.
This condition turns out to be caused by various things, ranging from lack of sleep, aging to a medical condition. Not only happens to parents, sunken eyes can also be experienced by young children. So, how to overcome it?
Causes sunken eyes
Concave eyes are often characterized by depressions under the eyes, dark shadows above the lower eyelids, dark circles under the eyes, thin skin under the eyes, and a face that looks tired. There are various possibilities that can cause sunken eyes. However, the majority of cases are related to nutrition and individual lifestyle. As for the factors that cause sunken eyes, including:
1. Lack of sleep
A person generally needs to sleep 7-9 hours at night. Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality can cause sunken eyes and darker so that it affects your appearance.
2. Aging
As we get older, the skin loses collagen so that it becomes thinner and transparent. This causes the formation of facial curves around the eyes which makes it appear concave. In addition, reduced fat and bone density also contribute to the condition.
3. Dehydration
Dehydration or not having enough fluids in the body is the most common cause of sunken eyes, especially in children. Children are very susceptible to dehydration caused by viruses and digestive bacteria. Not only sunken eyes, dehydration can also cause symptoms such as excessive thirst, rarely urinate, dry mouth, and lethargy.
4. Extreme weight loss
When you lose weight drastically, you lose a lot of fat from all areas of the body including the face. Loss of fat on the face can make blood vessels around the eyes more visible and transparent so that it looks concave.
5. Genetics
Concave eyes can also be caused by a person’s genetics or DNA. Because the position of the eye in the socket depends on genetics. You are more likely to have this condition if your other family members also have it.
6. Exposure to sunlight
Exposure to sunlight causes the body to produce melanin which can darken the skin. This creates dark circles under the eyes that look like shadows, making the eyes appear sunken.
7. Lack of vitamins
As reported in the SM Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, the fact is that sunken eyes are one of the symptoms of malnutrition. Lack of vitamin C, vitamin K, and iron can cause sunken eyes. Not only that, lack of this vitamin can also cause easy bruising and unhealthy skin.
8. Allergy
Allergies can also cause the formation of dark circles under the eyes, giving a concave appearance. This effect occurs due to inflammation of the small blood vessels under the eyes that are associated with allergies. Other allergic symptoms that you may feel are nasal congestion, sneezing, or itching of the throat and eyes.
9. Smoking
Smoking can reduce collagen, making the skin lose its elasticity. This causes the skin around the face to sag and the appearance of the eyes to become concave. Even smoking is also associated with various dangerous diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and others.
10. Sinus infection
Inflammation of the sinuses or sinus infections can make the eyes look dark and sunken. Not only that, other symptoms of sinus infections that can occur are pressure, pain, and nasal congestion.
11. Trauma
Any facial injury or bone around the eye can cause the eyes to appear sunken, one of which is an orbital blowout fracture. This is a condition where the edge of the eye bone is intact but the thin base of the eye socket has broken or cracked.
How to deal with sunken eyes
Lifestyle changes and home remedies can help ease sunken eyes. Here are the various things that you must do:
- Keep a regular sleep schedule and make sure you get enough sleep
- Apply a moisturizer that is equipped with sunscreen
- For sunken eyes caused by lack of sleep, you can apply almond oil which, according to research can improve skin color
- Placing a warm, moist tea bag just under the eyes. Tea is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids that can improve blood circulation
- Placing cold cucumber slices in the eye for 10-20 minutes to reduce irritation and add moisture
- Wear sun protection, including sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat when going outside
- Drink enough water
- Avoid consuming too much caffeine
- Eating dark green leafy vegetables
- Quit smoking
- If caused by allergies, avoiding allergens is the only way to soothe sunken eyes
- Consumption of nutritious foods to meet vitamin needs
Surgical treatment may be needed for people who have sunken eyes due to aging. Dermal fillers or cosmetic surgery can be an option, but of course there are no surgeries without risk so you need to be careful and always consult a doctor.