While many attribute dark circles to lack of sleep, they also serve as a sign of illness or general malaise in some patients. Not only are these circles difficult to conceal, they often leave you looking tired and unwell. To treat circles under the eyes and look your best, take the time to track down the root cause of your dark circles instead of simply covering them up.
Fluid Retention
Any condition that contributes to fluid retention in the body may also lead to dark circles under the eyes. The excess fluid causes the blood vessels under the eyes to become engorged and swollen, making them more visible beneath the skin. Fluid retention may be attributed to excess salt intake or more serious conditions including liver, kidney or heart disease.
Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion and allergies often contribute to dark circles under the eyes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. When your nose gets congested, the veins around your eyes are unable to drain normally. This leads to fluid buildup in your veins, which makes under-eye circles standout. Dark circles can be caused by any type of nasal congestion including seasonal allergies, colds or even respiratory ailments linked to food allergies.
Medications
Many common medications may contribute to under-eye circles, reports Health Services at Columbia University. This problem is particularly prevalent among those who take blood pressure medications, which dilate the blood vessels. Dilated blood vessels under the eyes are more likely to show through the thin under-eye skin, making dark circles more visible.
Heredity
Heredity represents one of the biggest causes of under-eye circles. For those prone to this condition, behavioral and medical changes may reduce circles but may not be enough to completely eliminate them. By the same token, those who are genetically disposed to not experience dark circles are less likely to have them, despite lifestyle and health.
Everything from the thickness of your skin to the fat buildup around your eyes can influence dark circles. Bone structure factors, such as deep set eyes or high cheekbones, can also make the area under your eyes look dark. Skin pigmentation and ethnicity also play major roles in determining whether you'll have dark circles.
While the skin under the eyes tends to be thinner than on many other parts of the body, this skin also tends to get thinner with age. Combined with heredity factors, many people who suffer from dark circles will find that symptoms worsen as they get older.
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