Dark Circles Under The Eyes In A Newborn

If you newborn has dark circles under her eyes, it's probably not a cause for concern, according to BabyCenter. If you are worried, you can check with your pediatrician just to be sure your child's dark eye circles are not caused by an illness. Dark under eye circles are usually naturally occurring and not a sign of serious illness.

Appearance

Dark under eye circles appear as shadowy rings under your baby's eyes. The circles can make your baby appear tired or as though he has bruised, black eyes. Sometimes the circles are accompanied by swelling, causing puffiness under your newborn's eyes.

Causes

Babies Today states that dark circles under your baby's eyes can be caused when the blood vessels under your child's eyes begin to drain due to a cold or congestion. These blood vessels drain into your baby's nose, and when her nose becomes backed up from drainage, the fluid causes the dark blood vessels to become visible and puffy. Dark circles under your newborn's eyes can also be caused when your tired baby rubs her own eyes. A tired baby's eyes will generally look pink or red, according to BabyCenter. If your child has dark skin, dark under eye circles may be a normal part of her pigmentation.

Misconceptions

Some people believe that dark under eye circles in babies are caused by allergies. While this may be true for older children, BabyCenter states that children under one year of age typically do not experience nasal allergies. Children must be exposed to one or two allergy seasons before they experience nasal allergy symptoms.

Considerations

In very rare cases, dark under eye circles in a newborn can be a sign of a tumor, according to BabyCenter. If your baby has under eye circles that are very dark, check with your pediatrician to make sure the circles are normal and not a sign of a more serious illness.

Expert Insight

Pediatrician Bob Sears states that dark under eye circles can be a sign of malnutrition in an infant. If your newborn is eating properly and producing dirty diapers, you do not have to worry. But if you think your child is losing weight and could have dark under eye circles that may point to malnourishment, contact your pediatrician.