If you're a chronic party animal who thrives on just a few hours of sleep each night, then seeing a pair of raccoon eyes staring back in the bathroom mirror the next day shouldn't come as a surprise. However, you could practice habits worthy of a saint and still wake up to the same image. That's because fatigue and lifestyle aren't the only causes of dark under-eye circles.
Genetics
In addition to inheriting your eye color from your parents, you may have inherited thin under-eye skin. The skin around your eyes is thinner than anywhere else on your body to begin with. If your under-eye area has exceptionally thin skin, then the blood circulating underneath may cast a bluish hue and create the appearance of a shadow. In short, your so-called dark circles may simply be a reflection of light and not a discoloration of the skin at all. If you have a bone structure that produces deep-set eyes, the shadow effect may be even more pronounced.
Inflammation
Inflammatory disorders, such as asthma, allergies and chronic rhinitis, may contribute to the appearance of dark under-eye circles. According to the Mayo Clinic, nasal congestion makes the veins under the eyes expand and darken in color. Frequently rubbing the area around the eyes may exacerbate the problem.
Periorbital Hyperpigmentation
Periorbital hyperpigmentation is the medical term for a pigmentation irregularity most commonly seen in people of Asian, Mediterranean and African-American descent. It is caused by melasma, a condition characterized by excessive melanin production in the dermis, or inner layer of skin, which produces uneven pigmentation and dark spots on the face. Melasma also commonly occurs in pregnancy, which is why this condition is dubbed the "mask of pregnancy."
The American Academy of Family Physicians details the various causes of pigmentation irregularities other than hereditary factors or melasma, such as years of excessive exposure to the sun, environmental factors or fluctuation in hormone levels. The latter includes hormonal disturbances due to estrogen replacement therapy after menopause, oral birth control medications and even the consumption of plant-based phytoestrogens.
Aging
The Mayo Clinic says that certain age-related factors affecting the appearance of skin, namely the breakdown of collagen, can make the blood vessels under the eyes more visible at the skin's surface. The clinic also attributes dark circles under the eye to a loss of fat deposits in the face, particularly the cheeks.
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