Introduction (My Eyes Have Baggage)

[shane2sleep]

Hello all,

A few years ago my girlfriend (now ex-gf lol) was complaining about snoring so I eventually ended up at the sleep clinic and was diagnosed with mild to moderate apnea. This is something that runs in my family: both my mother and uncle have it.

I've managed to put up with being tired all the time, thanks to the abuse of caffeine. However, the issue I have is dealing with the dark puffy circles under my eyes. I'm a single man 39, making a last attempt at finding someone special. However, since these circles started, I've had great difficulty getting a second date. I always look really tired and it looks horrible.

So right now I'm forcing myself to use the CPAP machine in hopes that it might alleviate my tired visage. I also have high blood pressure which could be also caused by the apnea. I'm combining this with proper diet, and am working on a steady exercise plan.

I'd love to hear from others who had bad circles and managed to remove or decrease their severity. Today I picked up some concealer but being a guy, am having problems applying it properly. Maybe I"ll try youtube.

Thanks all, and good luck!

[Julie]

Dark circles are generally considered to be genetic, and you can't necessarily do much about that, but I would ask your doctor about them in case there is more to yours than lack of sleep and possibly something can (and should) be done about them.

[gertrude]

A friend who is a nurse maintains that dark circles can be aggravated by food allergies or sensitivities. Don't know if there is anything behind that. I used to live in RI, where there are lots of people of Italian descent, and many of them had dark circles under their eyes so there probably is a genetic component.

But even if CPAP won't do anything for your appearance, you should use it for your health. Then you might have a long life ahead to find someone special. They come along when you are least expecting it, but being tired won't help them enjoy your company!

[alwaysawake2]

There is a great product by Mary Kay that is specifically for dark puffy circles under the eyes. It has Vitamin K in it and I use it often. You should be able to locate it on their website or speak with one of the Representatives. Hope this helps!!!!

[chunkyfrog]

You say,"So right now I'm forcing myself to use the CPAP machine. . ."
This implies that you may NOT have been using the machine religiously?
Consistent, nightly, ALL NIGHT use is necessary.--don't short yourself!
Your insurance may only care that you are using it 4 hours a night, 8 nights out of 10
(if, indeed they care at all) You body needs maximum use for maximum effect.
Another thing: I noticed my eye circles went away after I began drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day.
(It's not as much as it seems, and less will leave you dehydrated--your eyes show it first)

[BlackSpinner]

It is not the bags under your eyes that turn women off but the effects of sleep deprivation; grouchiness, temper, lack of energy, pessimistic attitude, lack of care for your health and the resulting lack of excitement in the sack.

[rickymarkokc]

Without doing any research, I'm certain there are cosmetic procedures for bags under the eyes and dark circles. For bags, I believe they call it blepharoplasty or something similar to that. For dark circles, I believe I read that there are lazer treatments that are fairly effective.

Please don't feel like, at the age of 39, you are on your 'last ditch' efffort to get married. Your best years are ahead of you. You are in the best 'earning years' of your life, you are more mature than when you were younger, and you are probably more aware of what you want. Keep yourself healthy and age will just be a number. I'm 35 and am probably it better shape than when I was 25. In today's age, there is no need to feel like at 39 you are out of time!!

[BostonGal]

From a single woman in your age group...not sure I would try the concealer. Concealer goes under foundation that's why you are having trouble with it...and I don't think you want to go there. You might try some overnight moisturizer products that target dark circles but don't have high hopes.

On another matter, there are plenty of single ladies in your age group that can certainly look past some dark circles for a kind, caring, fun, thoughtful, loving. stable guy. Maybe open up your circle of possible girlfriends including nice women using cpap! Don't give up on love. Just takes some longer than others to find.

[Gerryk]

I didn't think about it until you posted this but I used to have them under my eyes from the time I was about 14 until a couple years ago. They went away after I was on cpap and had lost weight.
Your on track with everything your doing.

[the_nap_ster]

From a single woman in your age group...not sure I would try the concealer. Concealer goes under foundation that's why you are having trouble with it...and I don't think you want to go there. You might try some overnight moisturizer products that target dark circles but don't have high hopes.

On another matter, there are plenty of single ladies in your age group that can certainly look past some dark circles for a kind, caring, fun, thoughtful, loving. stable guy. Maybe open up your circle of possible girlfriends including nice women using cpap! Don't give up on love. Just takes some longer than others to find.

Ditto to everything BostonGal says. I am in my early thirties, and let me say... please don't try concealer. It won't end well, and it won't get you second dates.

You probably have dark circles because you're not sleeping well. Address the problem and the symptoms go away. And you address the problem by using your XPAP, all night every night. This will help you get healthier in every way, and healthy is always a good look. It might take a while on the hose, but if you haven't had these dark circles for much of your life, they will probably go away (or at least, grow less noticeable).

As far as finding love, my partner met his brilliant, hilarious, smoking-hot girlfriend (that would be me ) when he was in his late 40's. You never know when your other half will show up.

[Papit]

Hey, Boston. 'Smoking hot' has it exactly right imo. A little more sleep (or a lot more sleep) can make all the difference! All the best.