How to get rid of dark circles

Dark circles can really make you look lethargic. But it's only a few simple things to follow that can help you get rid of them

The first place you body starts to show the side effects of stress is under your eyes, where your skin is the thinnest, in the shape of dark circles. And you might think once you get those unwanted dark circles, it is a tough job to get rid of them. But it takes only a few basic precautions to mend the damage. Here's how to do it.

Problem area

Dark circles are one of the most common symptoms that your body is not getting enough of what it requires. And they can result due to various factors like fatigue, stress, dehydration, poor circulation, inflammation, poor genes or melanin accumulation. Though it's easy to fix them, little care is necessary.

How to tackle it

If dehydration is causing you dark circles, then you would want to increase the moisturizing quotient in your skin. You can use green tea bags and sliced cucumber as they help in cooling off the skin. Potatoes, that contain enzymes called catalase, can help in lightening the dark circles. Vitamin C intake will also help in discoloration. Drinking a lot of water or other healthy fluids always helps to better your skin.

Cure underarm darkening

Simple ways to get rid of dark underarms

Frequent use of razors and deodorants can cause dark, ugly looking underarms that can cause you a lot of embarrassment. Here's how to get rid of the darkness.

Milk and flour pack

Make a thick paste out of milk and white or wheat flour and apply a thick layer of it on your underarms. Let it dry off and rinse. This mixture helps exfoliate the dead skin off and the milk helps lighten the skin.

Coconut oil 

Massage underarms for a few minutes with some warm coconut oil and leave it on for about half an hour. Go for a steam and then have a warm exfoliating bath with a good quality scrub. Doing this three to four times a week can show effective results.

Vinegar pack 

IF you're not allergic to vinegar, mix some rice flour with a few drops of vinegar to form a thick paste. Apply on the affected areas and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Scrub it once it is dry and have a warm bath.

Home lightening pack 

A pack made with a mix of yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric and besan should be applied and kept for about 20 minutes. Wash it off with some warm water. Repeat the process everyday for several days to see results.

Hand and arm care — get rid of dark elbows, pigmentation, wrinkly fingers and more

You may give special attention to your face to keep those wrinkles and age spots away but your hands can make you look older than you actually are as most people often ignore their hands and arms in their beauty regimen. Since our hands are generally uncovered and we use them for multiple things, it becomes essential to take good care of them if you want them to look youthful. Here are commonly faced beauty problems when it comes to hands and arms and solutions to address these issues. Dr Jaishree Sharad, a leading cosmetic dermatologist provides her expert tips. 

1. Wrinkly hands and fingers

‘Your hands really need more moisture than any other part of your body because they are exposed to the elements more, all year long, plus you are washing them frequently, which also tends to cause a loss of the skin’s protective oil mantle. The end result, is wrinkly, crinkly crepe-like skin texture and the noticeable appearance of bulging veins, which also grow larger over time,’ says Dr Sharad. 

Sun exposure also results in ageing of the skin. As the elastin fibres of collagen break down, the wrinkles become more noticeable on the back of your hands where there is very little fat. A simple method to take care of this problem is to moisturise the hands daily, twice. 

‘While a moisturiser won’t reverse sun damage or create new collagen, it can leave the skin looking plumper and more youthful,’ she says. 

2. Fillers:

Fillers are another way to add back some cushion under your skin which depletes as we age. 

‘Once injected, the filler is massaged across the back of the hand and ‘fanned out’ to plump up and fill in the entire area. The treatment takes less than 20 minutes, and results are visible in a couple of weeks. The effect last for about a year,’ recommends Dr Sharad. 

 

3. Radio frequency skin tightening: 

This treatment is essentially for loose, sagging skin on the hands. It is a non-surgical, non-invasive method which gives long lasting results.