The key difference between eye bags and dark circles is that eye bags are swelling around the eyes, whereas dark circles are darkening of the under-eye skin.
Some people use the two words; eye bags and dark circles, alternately, but there are differences between them. Both these are the results of ageing, stress, working in front of computers, and lack of sleep. In addition, there are other reasons for these conditions, such as chronic sinus problems, allergies, smoking, excessive salt intake, unhealthy diet, and too much alcohol.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Eye Bags
3. What are Dark Circles
4. Similarities – Eye Bags and Dark Circles
5. Eye Bags vs Dark Circles in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Eye Bags vs Dark Circles
What are Eye Bags?
Eye bags refer to puffiness or mild swelling under the eyes. It comes with age because as you age, the tissues and muscles around your eyes weaken. With this, your eyelids can look puffy when the fat that helps support the eyes move to the lower eyelids. Apart from this, fluid also could get accumulated below your eyes, which makes them swell. Eye bags give your eyes a bulge or a protrusion under your eyes, which makes a person look tired or older than they are.
There are several factors that cause this effect and worsen it. They are inadequate sleep, smoking, allergies, heredity, fluid retention, and medical conditions like dermatomyositis, renal disease, thyroid eye disease, and dermatitis.
Eye bags are noticeable by mild swelling and loose or droopy skin. However, eye bags are often mild and harmless, so they do not need any medical care. However, if this condition causes vision problems, skin rash, irritation, or headache, then you have to see your healthcare provider.
What are Dark Circles?
Dark circles are the darkened skin below the eyes. They may appear purple, blue, brown, or black, depending on your natural skin colour. All skin types may show different levels of dark circles. When you get older, the skin under your eyes becomes loose and thin, and the blood vessels under your skin become visible; this makes your under eyes look darker.
Some causes of dark circles are hyperpigmentation, dehydration, sun exposure, excessive alcohol consumption, lifestyle problems, and rubbing eyes. As home remedies for this, you can lay cucumber slices in your eyes or place cold teabags under your eyes. You can also do facials that include massages around the eyes. However, if you want to remove them fast and permanently, there are methods like topical creams and bleaching agents, chemical peels, tissue fillers, laser therapy, and platelet-rich plasma.
What are the Similarities Between Eye Bags and Dark Circles?
- To reduce the appearance of dark circles, you can take several steps. Sleeping on your back with an extra pillow under your head helps prevent fluid from pooling in your eyes. Antihistamines can reduce puffiness and irritation. Adequate sleep, avoiding excess salt, and staying hydrated are beneficial. Limiting alcohol intake and avoiding smoking are also helpful. Regular exercise and meditation contribute to overall well-being. Additionally, using sunscreen and moisturizer and being gentle with makeup remover can minimize the visibility of dark circles.
- When you have eye bags or dark circles, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons recommend using eye creams and other treatments like under-eye surgeries to reduce their appearance.
What is the Difference Between Eye Bags and Dark Circles?
The key difference between eye bags and dark circles is that eye bags are swelling around the eyes, whereas dark circles are darkening of the under-eye skin. Moreover, eye bags are characterized by saggy or loose skin, mild swelling, puffiness, itching, redness, and pain, while dark circles are characterized by darkening under the eyes.
The below infographic presents the differences between eye bags and dark circles in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary –Eye Bags vs Dark Circles
Eye bags refers to puffiness or mild swelling under the eyes. The symptoms of this condition include loose and saggy skin, mild swelling, and puffiness. The severe symptoms are itching, redness, and pain. Its main causes are fluid retention, sleep deprivation, dermatitis, fatigue, and allergies. Meanwhile, dark circles are the darkened skin below the eyes. This problem can be solved by home treatments, cooling the affected area, and getting more sleep. Thus, this is the summary of the difference between eye bags and dark circles.
Reference:
1. “What’s to Blame for Your Under Eye Bags?” VSP.
2. “Symptoms – Dark circles under eyes.” Mayo Clinics.
Image Courtesy:
1. Pexels