What Is the Meaning of Dark Red Circles Under the Eyes in Children?
- Don't panic. Dark under eye circles, even with purple and red tones, are common in children. According to the Mayo Clinic, these "dark, uniform areas of pigmentation beneath each eye" appear for a variety of reasons. Some individuals develop dark circles in childhood that remain for a lifetime. Red spots on the skin under the eye, however, require a doctor's evaluation and may result from serious illness.
- Eliminate the more serious possible causes of under-eye discoloration first. According to the American Lung Association, nearly 7 million children suffer from asthma. Dark under-eye circles are frequently associated with asthmatic conditions. Seek a doctor's opinion if your child has dark red circles under his eyes and wheezes or has difficulty breathing during exercise. In asthmatic children, dark under-eye circles often appear before asthmatic attacks.
- Look for allergy-related symptoms when dark under-eye circles remain for weeks or months at a time. Called "allergic shiners" by allergists, dark coloration usually occurs with other symptoms related to allergies and asthma, such as sneezing, coughing and a stuffy nose. Nasal congestion, allergies and sinus infections cause the blood vessels between the eyes and nose to dilate, which, in turn, cause dark circles.
- Consider other symptoms and conditions when allergies and/or asthma don't appear as the cause. Lack of sleep might mean a bedtime adjustment. Pigment differences due to race, sun exposure or heredity are other reasons for dark under-eye circles in otherwise healthy children.
- Take your child to a pediatrician if the dark under-eye circles seem related to illness or allergies. Treatments vary depending on the cause according to allergy information from Nemours/Alfred I. Dupont Hospital for Children. Sinus infections usually require an antibiotic; allergies may require prescription corticosteroids and/or antihistamines. Allergies and asthma-related conditions may call for additional changes in lifestyle, such as frequent vacuuming, using allergen-proof bed sheets and barring family pets from bedrooms.