Dark circles are dark-toned blemishes that develop just beneath the eyes. They are not a medical condition, but can affect your appearance by adding years to your age, making you look tired and worn out or marring an otherwise healthy complexion. Some people are more prone to developing dark, under-eye circles than others.
Expert Insight
According to Dr. Paul Lazar, a professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University, if you tend to have under-eye circles, it is highly likely that your parents and other family members tend to have them, too. In the book "Symptoms, Their Causes & Cures," he notes that the most common type of dark eye circles are an inherited trait, much like varicose veins.
Misconceptions
A common, albeit wrongly held belief is that dark circles form when bodily waste products accumulate in the under-eye area, writes Julie Gabriel. In her book "The Green Beauty Guide," she writes that they are the result of the same complex physiological mechanism that produces a bruise when you are hit by something.
Causes
Gabriel attributes the cause of most dark circles to the leakage of red blood cells into the fine, almost transparent skin found under the eye. These blood cells sometimes leak through the extremely thin walls of tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, in the under-eye area. Special enzymes break down the leaked blood cells and cause them to turn blue-black in color. This, in turn, causes dark circles to form. Dark circles may also form as a result of allergies, inflammation or itchy skin conditions such as eczema, according to Lazar.
Considerations
Dark circles are usually more visible on individuals who have darker skin, because of the natural pigmentation of their skin, writes Gabriel. For people with deep-set eyes, natural shadows may contribute to the dark circles in the under-eye area, making them more visible. Medications that dilate blood vessels may cause a darkening around the eyes, as can fatigue from lack of sleep, which causes poor circulation and makes your skin look paler.
Prevention/Solution
Lazar notes that people who suffer from dark circles as a result of heredity cannot permanently get rid of them any more than a person can get rid of his freckles. If they are the result of allergies, writes Dr. Fredric Haberman, a clinical instructor of dermatology in New York, take a combination antihistamine/decongestant during the hay fever season. He suggests camouflaging dark circles with a cosmetic concealer or foundation. Wear tinted lenses to further disguise your dark circles.
References
- "Symptoms: Their Causes & Cures: How to Understand and Treat 265 Health Concerns"; Prevention Health Books; 1996
- "The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin"; Julie Gabriel; 2008
- "1000 Plus Household Hints"; Tanushree Podder; 2000
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