8 Home Remedies for Sunken Eyes

Updated on March 23rd, 2020
Sunken Eyes

Have you heard the classic phrase, ‘The eyes are the window to your soul’? Well, there’s definitely a lot of truth in it! But, do you sometimes look in the mirror and worry that your eyes are starting to show more signs of your age than your soul? That’s no wonder because the first telltale signs of aging tend to appear around the eyes. Droopy eyelids, sunken eyes, and dark circles are common aging problems.

Most people begin to notice dark and sunken eyes by their late thirties and early forties. Sunken eyes are medically termed as the ‘tear trough’ and appear as a result of the soft tissue under the eyes losing volume and laxity.

But aging is not the sole culprit! Factors such as lack of sleep, smoking, dramatic weight loss, and dehydration can make your eyes look sunken and hollow, too. So, how do you fix sunken eyes? Check out this article for some quick and natural cures.

Home Remedies for Sunken Eyes

1. Get Quality Sleep

side sleep
Image:ShutterStock

Yes, there’s a reason why it’s called beauty sleep! Sleep deprivation is one of the dominant causes of sunken eyes. When you sleep, your body delivers fluids to tissues and organs that need replenishing, while removing any excess fluids from other areas.

Skimping on sleep, therefore, can result in fluid retention and cause under-eye bags and dark circles. When you cut back on sleep, the cortisol levels in your body also increase, interfering with collagen production. If your skin loses collagen, the area under your eye is one of the first places to become thinner and hollow.

How to Get Adequate Sleep?

  • There are a number of ways you can improve your sleep: cutting back on caffeine and alcohol, getting more physical exercise, an optimal sleep temperature, and reduced exposure to light in the evening are some simple approaches you could take.
  • Ensure that you get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep in a day.

[ Read: Meditation for Sleep ]

2. Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is another common cause of sunken eyes. This is an especially noticeable symptom in children and babies. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it is taking in.

When the body’s water or fluid requirements are not met, it cannot carry out its normal functions. If you notice that your baby has sunken eyes, along with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, seek medical attention immediately.

How to Stay Hydrated?

  • Carry a reusable water bottle with you and take frequent sips of water throughout the day.
  • If you don’t like the taste of plain water, you can try sparkling water or flavored seltzer.
  • It is important that you drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water in a day.
  • Limit coffee, tea, alcohol, and soda as these drinks have dehydrating effects on the body.

3. Try Applying Slices of Potato or Cucumber

Cucumber on Eye
Image:ShutterStock

Placing slices of chilled cucumbers or potatoes under the eye is another widely recommended home remedy. It is believed that vitamin C and caffeic(1) acid in cucumbers help to hydrate and soothe the skin, while the ‘catecholase’ enzyme in potatoes helps to brighten the skin and get rid of dark circles.

How to Do This?

  • Chill a few slices of cucumber or potato.
  • Lie down on your back and place a slice of cucumber/potato on each eye. Rest in this position for 10-15 minutes.
  • Repeat this a few times during the day or as frequently as required.

[ Read: Eye Mask for Dark Circles ]

4. Virgin Olive Oil

Virgin olive oil contains polyphenols such as hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and oleuropein. These polyphenolic compounds have beneficial antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that can benefit the skin.

  • Massage a few drops of olive oil under your eye every night before you sleep.
  • Continue doing this for at least a month or until you notice some significant improvement.
The position of your eyes in the socket depends on your genetics.

5. Increase Your Intake of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for the production of collagen – the protein that offers support and elasticity for the skin. If you want to repair your eyes, you need to boost your collagen production.

  •  Include plenty of citrus fruits and vegetables such as oranges, berries, pineapples, lemons, tomatoes, mangoes, papaya, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower.

[ Read: Natural Remedies for Dry Eyes ]

6. Fish Oil

fish oil
Source:ShutterStock

Fish oil consists of omega-3 fatty acids. These omega-3 fatty acids help to improve inflammation and promote skin tissue repair and, therefore, are an effective way to get rid of sunken eyes.

  • Break open a fish oil capsule and apply the oil under your eyes before you go to bed at night. Repeat every night for a few weeks.
  • Additionally, you can take a fish oil supplement with your meal if you do not like the strong odor of the oil. A daily one-gram dose should benefit you if your fish consumption is low.

7. Teabags

Teabags contain caffeine(2) which can improve sunken eyes because of their antioxidant properties. Caffeine also has diuretic properties that help to withdraw excess fluid from under the eyes naturally and stimulate blood circulation.

  • Take 2 tea bags and steep them in water for a few minutes.
  • Allow the tea bags to then chill in the refrigerator for about 5 to 10 minutes.
  • Once cooled, place them over each eye and relax for another 5-10 minutes.

[ Read: Teabags for Stye ]

 8. Almond Oil

almond oil benefits
Image:ShutterStock

Almond oil is another miracle cure for sunken eyes. The oil has helpful antioxidants and regenerative properties.

  • Take some sweet almond oil and massage it under your eyes for a minute or two.
  • Do this as many times during the day as well as before going to bed at night.

[ Read: Almond Oil for Dark Circles ]

Bottom Line

Sunken and hollow eyes can be emotionally distressing and can make you feel unattractive. But it is important to understand that it could also be a subtle sign of various other underlying problems such as faulty food habits, sleep deprivation, lack of nutrition, prolonged illness, and dehydration. A healthy lifestyle and good eating habits can significantly help in rectifying this problem.


FAQs

1. What causes dark eye sockets?

There are a number of factors that can cause dark eye sockets. Poor blood circulation, genetics, thin skin around the eyes, facial bone structure, and pigmentary alteration due to a prior inflammation are some common causes for dark eye sockets.

2. Are dark circles under eyes a sign of illness?

Dark circles are not necessarily a sign of illness. However, stress, fatigue, or an underlying health condition can cause dark circles, too.

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