Dark circles most commonly appear as a result of sleep deprivation and make you look tired. But insufficient sleep isn’t the only cause of this change of color of the skin under your eyes. And some people suffer from the lack of sleep and somehow don’t look tired.
Here are some other possible reasons you have dark circles under your eyes:
Heredity
If your parent has dark circles under the eyes, you are more likely to have them too. This phenomenon is associated with weak capillaries around the eyes.
Stress
Being constantly stressed deprives you of energy and contributes to sleep problems. That’s when dark circles can appear. You may try some relaxation techniques and see if they help.
Aging
As you get older, your skin becomes thinner and less elastic, and you lose fat and collagen, which makes blood vessels around your eyes more visible.
Having more melanin
Dark circles can be more conspicuous in people with darker skin color. Exposure to sunlight, which makes your body produce melanin, can make dark circles worse if your skin is light-colored.
Dehydration
Dark circles under the eyes are a symptom of dehydration. If it’s not severe, the problem can be fixed simply by drinking more fluids.
Poor diet
A diet low in protein and high in sugar can contribute to the appearance of dark circles. Eating more foods high in protein and limiting sugary foods may help relieve the problem. Excessive consumption of alcohol also leads to dark circles, so try to limit that too.
Other causes of dark circles include allergies, allergic rhinitis, eczema, contact dermatitis, and rubbing or scratching your eyes.
If dark circles concern you, consult a dermatologist – he or she may help you determine the best way to get rid of the problem.
