What Causes Dark Under Eye Circles?
Sarah Cutler, contributor
Your alarm goes off and you head to the bathroom. You turn on the light and gaze into the mirror. You look at the face staring back and wonder why you can't seem to get rid of those dark circles under your eyes. You've been getting plenty of sleep. You haven't been partying like you're still 21. So what is causing those under eye circles?
Unfortunately, getting enough sleep isn't always enough to prevent dark circles under the eyes from developing. The following are some of the common causes of dark under eye circles:
- Aging: As we age, the delicate skin under our eyes becomes thinner. This thinning of the skin allows the blood vessels underneath to become more visible. These blood vessels can give the appearance of under eye circles. In addition, we also lose collagen and fat in the under eye area. This leads to hollowing as we get older. The deeper the hollows, the darker the circles appear.
- Allergies/Nasal Congestion: Nasal congestion causes the veins that drain from the eyes to the nose to dilate (widen) and darken. This can lead to the appearance of dark under eye circles. In addition, allergies can not only cause nasal congestion, but can also cause puffy eyes. Eye puffiness also contributes to under eye circles because of the shadows puffy eyes can cast on the area underneath the eyes.
- Excess Skin Pigmentation: Raccoon eyes can also be caused by excess skin pigmentation. Two of the most common reasons for excess skin pigmentation are genetics and sun exposure. Both lead to an increased production of melanin, which gives the skin its pigmentation.
- Heredity: Unfortunately, some people are more likely to have dark circles under their eyes than others, due to genetics. Like other features, good and bad, dark under eye circles can be passed down from generation to generation.
As discussed above, there are several causes of dark circles under the eyes. However, there are several things you can do to minimize their appearance. We have a whole page of this site dedicated to helping you find a treatment for dark circles.