Dark circles are obvious blemishes that appear above and, particularly, beneath a person’s eyes. Dark circles do not cause any pain and are rarely a sign of a serious medical problem. However, they can be a source of major annoyance and can hurt a person’s self confidence. Many people with the condition complain that the dark circles make them look 10 years older.
Dark circles affect thousands of people of all ages and genders. In fact, more people suffer from dark circles than from any other skin condition except acne.
Alternative Names
Dark circles are often called “eye bags”. Another, rather unfortunate, name for the condition is “raccoon attack”.
Symptoms
When a person has dark circles, the skin around his or her eyes will appear to be a darker color than that of the rest of his or her face. The color can be anything from a light blue to a dark black, hence the nickname “raccoon attack”. It is very rare that a dark circle will appear around one eye but not around the other. Dark circles can be chronic or can come and go like any other skin condition.
Causes
Dark circles can be hereditary. Smoking and alcohol consumption can also increase a person’s chance of developing them. Contrary to popular belief, dark circles are not caused by lack of sleep. Lack of sleep can cause eyelids to become puffy, thereby causing shadows that can look like dark circles.
Many people also think that, particularly in women, dark circles are caused by hormonal disturbances. However, there is absolutely no medical evidence that dark circles are caused by pregnancy, PMS, or any other hormonal disturbance or imbalance.
Age
Age can cause skin to lose its elasticity. When this affects the skin around the eyes, the blood vessels will naturally begin to show.
Allergies
Almost all common allergies, particularly those that cause nasal congestion, can cause the blood vessels in the sinuses to become dilated. Dark circles resulting from this cause should disappear the moment the allergies are relieved.
Weight Loss
Loss of fat and protein, resulting from either age or weight loss, can cause the skin beneath the eyes to become more transparent, thereby showing the blood vessels and causing dark circles.
Atopic Dermatitis
A person with atopic dermatitis, better known as eczema, can also develop dark circles if the skin condition affects the person’s eyes.
Diagnosis Considerations
Some people develop dark circles because of a condition called hyperpigmentation. This condition occurs when the skin’s levels of melanin, a compound that controls pigmentation, are increased drastically, thereby causing the skin to darken. Hyperpigmentation is most often caused by skin injuries. These injuries can be caused by serious acne, sun damage, or improperly done cosmetic surgery. Although there are many treatment options to help control hyperpigmentation, the condition is irreversible and a person suffering from it must avoid exposure to sunlight.
