What causes dark circles under the eyes? To be honest: I wake up with dark circles under my eyes—well, this is not ideal.
However, this is what millions of people experience every morning.
"Dark circles are a common problem for my patients, both men, and women," says dermatologist Courtney Rubin, MD. While the Internet may lead you to believe that a single, autonomous approach will work to treat all dark circles, Rubin notes that many factors contribute to their development. Understanding each of them is key to getting rid of them once and forever. For all. Everything. "It is important to understand what are the main factors contributing to this so that we can determine the best treatment option," he explains. We are here for this.
Explore all the factors causing dark circles to better prepare for their treatment when they occur. The main reason for the appearance of dark, sunken dark circles is the natural loss of volume in the facial area. "There is a special soft tissue pillow under the eye called SOOF (fat suborbicularis oculi)," explains Rubin. "Over time, this fabric cushion shrinks and descends, which reduces the natural volume of the under-eye area and creates shadows. That's one of the primary causes of dark circles.
In addition, he notes that as we age, the delicate skin covering this area of tissue is also prone to loss of collagen and elastin, which therefore leads to thinner skin and even more significant loss of volume and shadows. For further explanation, Reza Tirgari, M.D., states that as the volume under the eyes decreases and the skin becomes thinner, the deeper capillary bed becomes more visible. Hence, the area under the eyes becomes darker with age. "Fortunately, this can be corrected quickly and easily with special dermal fillers designed for this purpose," he says, noting that if this is your goal, it is especially important to seek professional advice with the skills and experience of the procedure. However, volume loss does not only occur with age.
"Remember that water makes up about 60 percent of the human body," says Rubin. "If you are severely dehydrated, your body tissues will begin to shrink, including your skin and delicate tissues under your eyes."
Therefore, if you are 20 years old, you may need to reassess your water intake before automatically switching to beauty care. If you find yourself drinking a lot of water, other beverages you drink may be the culprit. After all, as Tiergari pointed out, caffeine, alcohol, and other diuretics can cause dehydration and require more water to recover.
Here's another reasonably well-known reason for dark circles. And, unlike age-related volume loss, it can happen to anyone who is severely sleep-deprived. "It's always a good idea to sleep at the same time every night so that your body's circadian rhythm can get used to a regular schedule and prevent insomnia," says Tirgari, noting that disturbances can lead to darkening and/or dilated eyes. As a reflection of a busy schedule.
Eye strain doesn't only impair your vision. It can also affect your under-eye appearance, Parks said. In order to prevent further strain and darkening, he recommends reading recipes with your eyes closed so as not to cause further dilation of blood vessels under the skin. Given how thin your skin is under your eyes, Rubin notes that this is a particularly delicate area for people with contact dermatitis (also known as irritation from personal care products).
"Unfortunately, dermatitis can leave behind post-inflammatory changes that contribute to dark circles called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PHP)," he adds. "The best way to deal with under-eye PVH is to treat the cause of the dermatitis, whether by applying a patch (a special type of skin test that helps you identify which ingredients you are allergic to) or changing your daily routine. Skincare to avoid irritation."
Allergies are so common in dark circles that Rubin says it actually has a name: "glitter allergy." "Basically, inflammation of allergic conjunctivitis (allergies that affect the eyes), along with frequent rubbing and rubbing of the itchy area around the eyes, can damage the blood vessels and cause bruising," he explains. "When the bruise heals, the pigmented hemosiderin (a component of hemoglobin) is left behind, causing dark spots under the eyes." Plus, because allergies often accompany inflammation, Rubin says they can leave the PVH as well.
An unlikely cause of dark circles under the eyes is an underlying medical condition. Dark circles may be caused by anemia, malabsorption syndromes, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, hypothyroidism, and other metabolic syndromes. "If they still exist after treatment, it is best to have a thorough examination and see a doctor."
After all, if none of the other reasons resonate, your genes may be to blame. According to Parks, genetics is one of the most common causes of periorbital hyper pigmentation, and therefore one of the most difficult to treat.
"There are always products available to help mask dark circles under the eyes, such as eye creams containing caffeine, retinol, seaweed, hyaluronic acid, and more. Park Perfection 2-in-1 Instant Eye Lift is ideal for relief. It immediately masks dark circles and nourishes the skin for a long time.
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