Why Dark Circles Are More Visible on Dehydrated Skin
So you've been out in the heat of the UAE all day long, and then look in the mirror when it's finally cool enough to come inside? Did you notice that the area under your eyes is darker than before? No, you are not imagining it! Very often, people blame insufficient sleep or having too much stress as the causes of having dark rings around their eyes. One major contributing factor that is probably overlooked is dehydrated skin! Dehydrated skin is very common in areas like the United Arab Emirates because of the consistently hot temperatures, dry air, excessive amounts of air conditioning, and high levels of sun exposure. The delicate skin around your eyes is typically the first area to show signs of being dehydrated.
This article discusses why dark circles are more easily seen when the skin is dehydrated, and how the unique climate of the UAE affects the overall health of your skin as well as what your proper skincare regimen can do to restore the brightness and hydration to your skin.
Understanding Why Dark Circles Form
Dark circles (periorbital hyperpigmentation) can form for many reasons, including genetics, aging, allergies, stress, or lifestyle choices. However, the hydration level of the skin surrounding your eyes is easily the most underrated cause of dark circles.
The skin around your eyes is thinner than other areas of the face, allowing for increased visibility of the blood vessels below the skin's surface as they are easily seen through the now dehydrated and volume-depleted skin. Dehydrated and/or volume-depleted skin will cause increased visibility of the shadows created by blood vessels below the surface of the skin surrounding the eyes.
The dark circles under your eyes might not vanish overnight, but drinking more water could help them look a little less noticeable over time.
Hydration both on the inside and outside of your body is essential for reducing how noticeable dark circles are; below are some of the reasons why.
How Dehydration Makes Dark Circles More Pronounced
Let's look at why you can expect dark circles under your eyes when you are dehydrated.
- More Thinning of the Skin
When the skin loses hydration, it doesn't have as much plumpness or elasticity, which means the skin under the eye becomes thinner and more see-through (translucent), so you'll see the bluish/purplish color of the blood vessels underneath it even more.
In turn, this leads to dark circles appearing deeper and being more visible.
- A Decrease In Blood Flow
Being dehydrated can slow blood flow in the skin, which means that your skin will not be receiving as much oxygen and nutrients. This can create a tired looking and/or dull-looking appearance to your skin, along with giving you a shadowy appearance under your eyes.
This is one reason your skin will look like a dull (gray) color when you are dehydrated.
- A Loss of Skin Elasticity
The epidermis (outer layer of skin) has approximately 30% water content. This water is important for maintaining elasticity and smoothness. As the total amount of water decreases in the epidermis, the elasticity and firmness of the skin will also decrease.
This decrease creates a hollow and/or sunken in appearance to the skin underneath your eyes making the dark circles appear more prominent.
- Fine Lines and Shadowing
Dehydrated skin often develops fine lines around the eyes, which people often refer to as "dehydration lines". These lines are able to capture light and create shadows around and under your eyes.
Reasons Why the Climate in the UAE Worsens Dark Circles
There are many environmental factors in the UAE that can increase dehydration and dark circles around the eyes.
- Extreme Heat
During summer months, the extreme heat causes water loss through sweating and evaporation from our skin. When we are dehydrated, our skin barrier becomes compromised, resulting in dry and dull skin.
- Air Conditioning
Air conditioning allows us to be comfortable inside, but it also decreases humidity in the air, pulling moisture away from the skin. As a result, skin will become dehydrated and under-eye areas will become dull/grey in appearance.
- Exposure to Sun
The strong sun in the desert can cause increased melanin production & degradation of collagen. Therefore, the under-eye area will appear darker and have a thinner & less resilient feel. Dark circles may develop due to inadequate sun protection.
- Urban Lifestyle
The fast pace of life in cities, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, creates late nights due to work schedules, excess screen time, and stress; all of which leads to decreased hydration of skin and greater shadows under the eyes.
Indicators that Your Dark Circles are Related to Dehydration
Not every case of dark circles has dehydration as the cause, however, these signs will usually point to dehydration being the main contributor to dark circles around your eyes:
- Exhibits dry or tight skin around the eyes
- Dull or a greyish complexion
- A sudden appearance of fine lines
- A hollow appearance under the eyes
- Skin feels rough and/or dry
If you replenished the moisture in your skin by either applying hydrating products or by drinking water and your dark circles appear to have improved, this indicates that lack of water is likely the cause of your dark circles.
What Can You Do to Minimize Dark Circles Caused by Dehydration
- Drink an Adequate Amount of Water
Dermatologists generally recommend drinking approximately 2-2.5 litres (8-10 glasses) of water daily, especially in hot climates. When your body is well-hydrated, this helps to keep your skin elastic and promotes good blood circulation.
- Use Hydrating Skincare Products
When looking for hydrating products, look for ingredients such as:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Glycerin
- Ceramides
- Aloe Vera
These ingredients attract moisture to the skin and assist in retaining moisture within the skin.
- Apply a Targeted Eye Cream
The best eye creams are specifically formulated to hydrate delicate skin under the eyes while improving the skin's elasticity. Over time, this will reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.
At Skya AE, we offer skincare products specifically formulated to help protect and nourish the skin in the UAE climate; therefore, these products will assist with replenishing moisture, strengthening the skin barrier, and revitalizing tired under-eye areas.
- Protect Your Skin from the Sun
Wearing sunscreen, along with sunglasses, should be a daily habit, as they will protect against the harmful effects of UV rays, which may worsen your pigmentation and cause breakage of collagen in the skin.
5.Enhance Your Night Routine
When you don't get enough sleep, blood vessels widen and darken underneath the eyes. An ideal amount of sleep is seven to nine hours in order to allow your skin to regenerate properly.
Hydration and the UAE Skincare: Water Is Your Best Friend
Hydration is more than a tip for beauty; it's an essential part of skincare in the hot and dry climate of the UAE.
- Drinking adequate amounts of water as well as using barrier-protecting moisturisers and eye cream may provide you with a visible solution to how bright and rested your skin will look if you keep hydrated.
- When your skin is hydrated, it will be smoother, plumper, and more radiant, causing dark circles to appear much less.
Skya AE is here to help you maintain healthy, hydrated skin even when living in the desert with their superior skincare line.
FAQs Concerning Dark Circles and Dehydration
Q. Is it possible that dehydration may actually lead to dark circles?
Absolutely. Dehydrated skin is thinner, which will allow the blood underneath to be seen and produce dark circles under the eyes. When you start drinking more water and moisturising your skin more frequently, you may gradually notice your dark circles beginning to diminish.
Q. What causes dark circles in the UAE?
In the UAE, the climate can be brutal with intense dry heat and constant exposure to direct sunlight, while also having indoor environments that use extreme air-conditioning systems all year round. This will lead to significant moisture being lost from the skin, which eventually results in being perceived as having dehydrated under-eye areas that appear much darker or depressed.
Q. What is the recommended daily amount of water for my skincare?
As a general recommendation, dermatologists typically recommend consuming approximately 8-10 glasses [2-2.5 litres] of fluids daily, particularly if you reside in hotter regions of the world. When the skin receives an adequate amount of hydration, its elasticity improves, and blood circulation increases, thereby improving the appearance of dark rings under the eyes.
Q. Will using skin care products help relieve dark circles due to dehydration?
Yes. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides are excellent at restoring moisture to the very delicate skin found under the eyes. Continued use of ideal or hydrating eye creams will help improve your skin’s overall texture and brightness.
Q. Are all dark circles caused by dehydration?
No, dark circles can also occur for a variety of genetic and non-genetic reasons, including, but not limited to, age, allergies, lack of sleep and/ or sun exposure. However, deficiencies such as water can only increase the severity of pre-existing dark circles.
