Cause Of Dark Circles Under The Eyes

List of Causes

There are 103 possible causes of dark circles under the eyes. A link to a list of them is provided in the Resources section below. Dark circles can be a physical manifestation of all sorts of ailments. It can also be the result of a reaction to an environmental condition. There are usually several contributing factors to dark circles under the eyes. They can be treated with a variety of actions, depending on the causes.

Sleep

A common cause of temporary dark circles under the eyes is a lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation and exhaustion can cause under-eye skin to darken in as little as one night. Getting a good night's sleep is usually all that it takes to get rid of this.

Trauma

Another common cause of dark circles under the eyes is trauma to the under-eye area. This happens when someone is hit in that region or violently rubs the eyes. This kind of under-eye darkening often happens when there is eye irritation and heavy rubbing is performed to try to clear the eyes of contaminants. The dark circles go away after a few days if the rubbing stops.

Allergy

People with allergies often get dark circles under the eyes. Allergies are an immune system reaction to various stimuli. These can range from food to dust to mold. Discoloration of the skin beneath the eyes is common, especially if you suffer from nasal congestion as a result of the allergic reaction. Allergy medication that halts the allergic reaction is usually enough to get rid of the dark circles under the eyes.

Genetics

Some people are genetically predisposed to getting dark circles under the eyes. If your parents have dark circles under their eyes, chances are you will also get them. This is the result of pigment changes as we age. Getting rid of genetic dark circles under the eyes is rather difficult. Plastic surgeons can attempt to lighten the pigment beneath the eyes with lasers and surgery. The effectiveness of these techniques varies from patient to patient. Most people choose to cover genetic dark circles with makeup rather than undergo painful, expensive and risky cosmetic surgery.

Pallor

A condition called "pallor" can contribute to dark circles under the eyes. It's manifested by pale skin all over the body, with the pigment under the eyes being the last to fade. Several diseases cause pallor: anemia, poor circulation, leukemia and heart disease. The treatment of dark circles under the eyes due to pallor is dependent on treatment of the disease causing the condition. Dark circles tend to go away as the patient recovers from the disease causing it.