Puffy Eyes, Dark Circles: Are They The Same?
Sarah Cutler, contributor
It's common for people to experience puffy eyes and dark circles at the same time. These cosmetic concerns seem to go together like salt and pepper, or peas and carrots. Yet, puffy eyes and dark circles are not the same thing. They may often occur simultaneously, but they are different problems.
Puffy eyes are caused by fluid retention in the eye area. This fluid build-up can be the result of allergies, heredity from your parents, or a natural occurrence during sleep.
While dark circles can be caused by puffy eyes (i.e., the shadows they cast), there are other possible causes as well. Dark circles can be the result of excess skin pigmentation underneath the eyes. They can also be caused by dilated and darkened blood vessels in the under eye area.
As a result, if you just reduce eye puffiness you may not necessarily diminish your dark under eye circles. However, you can find a treatment for dark circles, both temporary and longer-term.