If you wake up in the morning and notice dark circles under your eyes, you might think they're caused by a lack of sleep. While this can be true, other causes, such as a lack of iron in your diet, can also be a potential cause of dark circles under your eyes, according to British nutritionist Jane Clarke in a February 9, 2007 column for the "Daily Mail."
Significance of Iron
Iron is a crucial part of a well-balanced diet. A lack of iron can lead to a relatively common deficiency known as anemia. According to Clarke, iron is responsible for manufacturing the blood pigment known as hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to your cells. If you are anemic, the chances are high that you will also have dark under-eye circles. Dark circles are not the only sign of anemia, however, If you are anemic, you will experience other symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, headaches, feeling short of breath or getting frequent infections. Women are more susceptible to anemia due to their menstrual cycles.
Sources of Iron
Although iron is often a basic component of most commercially-prepared multivitamins, you should try to obtain iron through dietary sources as often as possible, according to Clarke. According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the recommended daily allowance for iron is 18 mg for nonvegetarian women and 8 mg daily for nonvegetarian men and postmenopausal women. Because vegetarians have iron absorption issues, the RDA is 14 mg for vegetarian men and 33mg for vegetarian women. Good dietary sources of iron include lean red meats, salmon, liver, fortified oatmeal, peas, lentils and lima beans, among many others, according to the McKinley Health Center.
Considerations
Dark circles can also occur for many other reasons. According to dermatologist Jeffrey Benabio, in "The Dermatology Blog," dark circles can be attributed to smoking, poor sleep, eating foods high in sodium, aging, sun exposure, allergies and skin disorders such as eczema or atopic dermatitis.
Treatment
If you suffer from iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend iron supplements, which need to be taken for several months in order to effectively boost your iron levels. However, if your dark circles are caused by other factors, it's best to treat the underlying issue, according to Benabio. For example, if your dark circles are caused by allergies, itching or redness, your doctor may prescribe medication to alleviate these conditions. Benabio also suggests consulting a makeup specialist who may be able to recommend light reflecting under-eye products to improve the skin's appearance.
Warning
Consult a doctor if you think you may be suffering from anemia. Do not take iron supplements unless directed to do so by a doctor. Iron supplements can cause constipation, so your doctor may also recommend a stool softener, according to MayoClinic.com.
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