Many people associate under eye circles with insomnia. While this is true in many instances, there are several other reasons a person could have dark circles under the eye. Fortunately, the condition itself is harmless and there are many things, including makeup and cold washcloths, that people can use to cover it up.
Fatigue and Stress
Actually lack of sleep or heavy drinking do not cause under eye circles. Rather, they cause the rest of your skin to look paler than usual. This pallor makes the many capillaries below your eyes more visible, making them appear bluish. According to Dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, M.D., lack of sleep also results in increased production of the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to swelling under the eyes.
Dehydration
If your body is dehydrated, the capillaries under your eyes will become more apparent, again showing up as dark circles. That is why drinking too much alcohol or caffeine often results in dark circles because these substances contribute to dehydration.
Genetics
Many people are genetically predisposed to under eye circles. African-Americans, Southeast Asians and southern Italians are especially prone to them, as are people with deep-set eyes. However, they can be found in people of all skin types and colors.
Allergies
People who are allergic to dust, pollen pet dander, chocolate, wheat or milk are more prone than others to have under eye circles. When you encounter a substance to which you are allergic, your body sends antibodies to fight it off. Your body also releases histamines which dilates the blood vessels, including the capillaries under your eyes. As they dilate, they are seen as those dark circles. They can be even more prominent when you rub your eyes to fight off the itching common to allergies.
Diet
Perricone says sugar and white flour react with many proteins, including collagen, a protein that helps prevent wrinkles, in a process called glycation. Glycation can also make the skin become inflamed and puffy, thus emphasizing under eye circles. Perricone advocates avoiding sugar and white flour in favor of Ester-C (also known as ascorbyl palmitate) to help with collage production and alpha lipoic acid (ALA) to help with blood flow under the eyes.
Aging
As we age, the skin becomes thinner, including the skin around the eyes, again making the capillaries beneath more visible.
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