Dark under eye circles affect many of us, but they typically do not indicate serious illness or exhaustion. In a medical sense, dark under eye circles are defined as even, round areas below each eye that are pigmented. There are several different causes of under eye circles, and most causes are relatively common issues people deal with.
Heredity
For some people, dark circles simply run in the family and is a trait that is inherited, says Natural Eye Care. The skin below the eye is thin and there are large veins close to the skin's surface. When blood flows through the large veins, a bluish tint can result. The dark circles will be darker on those with more transparent skin, another inherited trait.
Atopic Eczema
This is a skin condition that occurs due to a hypersensitivity reaction, a type of immune response, according to MedlinePlus. An immune response occurs when the body is protecting itself against things that is sees as harmful and foreign to the body, such as foreign substances, viruses and bacteria. The immune response results in chronic inflammation. Common characteristics include oozing and crusting blisters, redness around these blisters, ear bleeding or discharge, skin color changes or areas of the skin that take on a leathery feeling. Atopic eczema is typically treated with oral antihistamines and topical medications. In severe cases, injected or oral corticosteroids, and oral or topical antibiotics can be used.
Aging
As we age, our skin experiences certain changes and these changes can cause dark under eye circles. They can occur when collagen and fat are lost, and when the skin starts to thin, according to the Mayo Clinic. This then results in the reddish-blue blood vessels that are already present under the skin to become more noticeable.
Medications
Medications that cause blood vessel dilation can result in dark under eye circles, says Natural Eye Care. The skin below the eyes is quite delicate. When blood flow is increased in that area, it can show through the skin in the form of dark circles.
Sun Exposure
Sunlight exposure, specifically during summer, can cause melanin levels to rise, resulting in a darker pigmentation, says Natural Eye Care. Melanin is the natural substance giving skin, hair and the colored part of the eye their color. Sun exposure increases the skin's natural pigmentation, or color, and draws that color to the skin's surface. This principle applies to all areas of the skin, including the skin beneath the eyes.
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