Despite popular belief, dark circles under the eyes usually are not due to exhaustion or serious illness, research at the Mayo Clinic suggests. Rather, as Dr. Tom Meek of the American Academy of Dermatology told The New York Times, they may just be the result of genetics, fluid retention and age.
Genetics
In certain families, bags and dark circles start at an early age and remain that way throughout an individual's life. In other instances, as with darker-skinned people and Asians, pigmentation irregularities result in darker shading around the eyes. Similarly, melanin reactions to sunlight can darken the skin of the lower eyelids.
Fluid Retention
Kidney and liver diseases, allergies, salty foods, high blood pressure and premenstrual symptoms can cause excess fluid to collect in the veins beneath the eyes, creating the illusion of "bags." Furthermore, the Mayo Clinic points out that nasal congestion can cause the veins that run from your eyes to your nose to dilate and darken with blood. As light shines through your lower eyelids, this darker shade is revealed, providing the appearance of dark circles.
Thinning Skin Layers
As you get older, the skin beneath your eyes begins to thin, losing both fat and collagen. This causes the heavy-colored blood vessels underneath your lower eyelids to become more apparent. In sunlight, this lower eyelid transparency increases, revealing the darker tones beneath the surface.
Fatigue
As with aging, fatigue may trigger the lower eyelids to relax more often, resulting in the loss of a healthy skin tone and exposing the underlying darker shades of your blood vessels. Lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking and not sleeping soundly enough may exacerbate this effect.
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