Causes of Dark Circles
- Dark circles affect men, women and children. They are seen more on adults than children. The cosmetic industry has flourished from the sale of under-eye concealers, so those dark under eye circles seem to be abundant and of concern for many.
- The main cause of dark circles under the eyes seems to be heredity. Weakened capillaries in the skin, skin tone and transparency of the skin are all inherited and can make dark circles under the eye look more pronounced. Fair skinned people and those with deep set eyes seem to have more noticeable dark circles under their eyes.
- Sun exposure can intensify dark circles under the eyes. Sunlight darkens the skin and brings melanin out to the surface of skin. These elevated levels of melanin make circles appear darker.
- Allergies are a primary cause of dark circles, especially in children. Allergies cause itchy eyes, and rubbing the eyes and the area around the skin will make dark circles more pronounced.
- As a person ages the skin becomes thinner, thus permitting the discoloration of dark circles to be easier to see.
- Lack of vitamins and poor eating habits can be a contributor to dark under-eye circles. Iron deficiency anemia often causes dark under-eye circles that have a bluish tint.
- Lack of sleep is not a direct cause of dark circles, but it does make skin pale. Anything that makes the skin pale, such as loss of sleep, illness, pregnancy, hormone fluctuations and fatigue can make dark circles appear under the eyes.