Dark Under Eye Circles: What Really CausesThem?

What do you think when you see someone with dark under eye circles?

“She looks so tired!”

“I wonder if he’s feeling well – he looks sick! This job must be getting to him.”

“Boy, she must have had a wild weekend!”

There’s no question that illness, lack of sleep, too much stress and even too much partying can make dark circles worse. But research indicates that the actual cause could be something very different. Here are some of the most common culprits:

- Excess skin pigmentation
People of all complexions get dark circles, but people whose skin is naturally darker (and thus contains more natural pigment) may be particularly prone.

- Sun Exposure
Those hours on the beach that give you the beautiful golden tan may also be giving you those maddening dark circles. Dermatologists say that sun exposure definitely darkens the under eye area and can make dark circles much darker.

- Allergies
The airborne allergens that make you cough and sneeze may also be responsible for under eye darkening and discoloration. Allergens can cause blood to pool is the vessels in the under eye area, creating the typical dark, bluish, bruise-like circles.

- Smoking
Smoking is bad for the circulation, and bad circulation is a pretty sure route to dark circles.

- Heredity and Genetics
An inherited tendency toward dilated blood vessels that lie close to the skin is one of the most common causes of dark circles, dermatologists say. If either of your parents had chronic dark circles, it’s a good possibility that you may have them as well.

- Aging
As we get older our skin tends to get thinner, dryer, and more translucent. In the already-delicate under eye area, that often means the blood vessels are more pronounced and visible.

- Vitamin Deficiency
Markedly low levels of some vitamins, notably vitamins C, K, and B6, often creates minor leakage from the capillaries in the under eye area. This blood pools beneath the skin, and dark circles are the result.

- Certain Medical Conditions
Under eye discoloration can be a symptom of a variety of medical conditions, ranging from circulatory problems to kidney and liver malfunction.