Dark shadows under your eyes change your appearance by making you look unhealthy, tired or old. The skin under the eyes is thin and somewhat translucent, which allows the blood vessels to show through and give the skin a darker look. Everyone's eyes are slightly shaded underneath, but other factors can make the circles look more pronounced.
Heredity
Some people inherit dark shadows under their eyes as part of their natural complexion. Dark circles can be due to thin skin or increased pigmentation under the eyes. While health and environmental factors can make the circles darker, if you were born with dark circles, there isn't much you can do about them aside from using concealing makeup to hide them.
Aging
The aging process causes the area under the eyes to darken. Aging causes the skin to thin and lose fat and elasticity, which can make dark circles appear more prominent.
Irritation
Allergies, eczema and other health conditions that cause itching and irritation can cause dark shadows under your eyes. According to the online magazine "Six Wise," allergies to food can cause capillaries to dilate, which makes the area under the eye darken. Allergies that cause your face, eyes and nose to itch also increase dark circles because the delicate skin under the eyes becomes inflamed when you rub your eyes. Wiping tears caused by allergies also irritates the skin.
Congestion
Congestion from colds and sinusitis is another cause of dark shadows. The blood vessels dilate when you are congested because of the pressure in your face.
Fatigue
Lack of sleep affects the eye area in two ways. When you don't get enough sleep, your face can look pale, which accentuates the shadows under your eyes. Fatigue and poor sleep from sleep apnea or stress can also cause the area around your eyes to swell and look darker. The National Sleep Foundation points out that most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
Getting more sleep may help improve the appearance of your eyes, or you can use cold compresses in the morning to reduce the swelling and dilation of the blood vessels. Sleep with your head slightly elevated with an extra pillow to prevent fluids from gathering under your eyes while you sleep.
Sun Exposure
When you are exposed to the sun or use a tanning bed, the skin under your eyes darkens along with the skin on the rest of your face. According to the Mayo Clinic, sun and tanning make your body produce melanin, which is the pigment that colors your skin.
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