Sometimes the causes are out of our control.
They might be something you inherited. Dark circles are genetic, and pigmentation irregularities that cause under-eye discoloration are particularly common among patients with ethnic skin.
Or they might be the result of allergies or nasal congestion, which can dilate and darken the veins that drain from your eyes to your nose.
The aging process can cause bags and dark circles, too.
As we age, the tissues around the eyes, including some of the muscles supporting the eyelids, weaken and the fat that normally helps support the eyes can migrate into the lower eyelids, causing them to appear puffy. Fluid also can accumulate in the space below the eyes, adding to a swollen appearance.
Thinning skin around the eyes can make the reddish-blue blood vessels that lie below more obvious. And collagen loss in that area exposes the orbital bone, creating a hollow trough that appears as a dark circle.
Other times, however, the causes are completely preventable.
A salty dinner or a night of crying can lead to under-eye puffiness. Everyday habits, such as rubbing your eyes, smoking and excessive drinking, also can contribute to under-eye bags. And too much sun exposure can prompts the body to produce more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, causing or worsening dark circles.
10 steps for banishing the bags and brightening your eyes.
You can’t always eliminate these imperfections, but you can minimize them, depending on their cause. Here are some tips:
