Does yeast cause dark circles under the eyes? There’s a very short answer to that question, then some more direct answers that guide you to solutions.

Here is how to get rid of dark circles under the eyes.

First the answer, then an explanation.

No, yeast does NOT cause those dark circles. There is no evidence that a yeast infection (also called a yeast infection or candidiasis) has anything to do with the dark circles under the eyes that millions of people have.

The question reminds me of another common one that has no truth: will hemorrhoid cream shrink bags under the eyes and reduce dark circles? The answer to that is the same: No. (Sometimes the questions sound like jokes. Trust me, I’m not kidding and I didn’t make up either question.)

So why am I mentioning it then?

Because I found out very recently that people often find one of my articles by asking the question on Google: “Does yeast cause dark circles under the eyes?”

The most common causes

— Sometimes dark circles have an underlying medical condition: Iron deficiency anemia has been blamed for dark circles under the eyes. If that is a problem, proper medical treatment is required.

— Often, we inherit the tendency to have those dark circles. If your dark circles look a lot like your mother’s, let’s say, then it sounds like your genes have something to do with it. That doesn’t mean you have to live with it, there are definitely things you can do to help. But it helps explain the problem.

— The most common cause for most people is a combination of several things:

The skin under the eyes is the thinnest and perhaps the most delicate on the face and body. You can see any flaws under the skin extremely well. The exact problem is usually damage to the small blood vessels (capillaries) in the area. They are leaking small amounts of fluid all the time.

The fluid contains hemoglobin from the blood. When full of oxygen that is carried to every cell in the body, hemoglobin is bright red. When it loses its oxygen, it turns bluish or purple. Hemoglobin that leaks from the blood vessels will always lose its oxygen. As it accumulates, it gets unpleasant colors, usually shades of deep red or blue, often darkening to nearly black over time.

Poor circulation, both blood and lymph in the area, worsens the appearance. Your skin may be baggy, as well as dark, under your eyes.

Solutions

Makeup is the only immediate solution, of course. If that makes you feel better, no problem. A soft pink or peach often works best to hide the dark area, depending on your skin tone.

In the long term, by far the best solution is excellent skin nutrition. I will mention a few ingredients that have been shown to be effective in clinical trials. These are worth looking for in an eye serum, eye cream, or whatever the manufacturer calls it. (Serum, cream, lotion are all different words for the same type of treatment.)

A trademarked ingredient called Haloxyl reduced dark circles under the eyes of volunteers in a clinical trial by more than 60 percent. Haloxyl helps thicken the skin under the eyes, increases blood circulation and removes skin-darkening hemoglobin in that area.

Another ingredient called Eyeliss brought a marked reduction in bags under the eyes in a four-week trial.

These ingredients are complemented by others that stimulate the skin to produce more collagen and elastin. That makes a big difference because thin skin and fat loss in the under-eye area exaggerates the problem.

Please visit my website for details on an eye serum that can greatly reduce dark circles under the eyes.