The body reveals internal ailments and irregularities in various ways. For example, hair loss may indicate a nutrient deficiency or a reaction to prolonged stress. Sweat may signify overheating, as the body tries to cool itself down. Likewise, dark circles under the eyes may provide clues to more serious health issues, especially if they are not due to aging, heredity or other non-medical causes.
Exhaustion
Spending continuous nights with little rest can be damaging to your body. For starters, it will decrease the amount of blood circulation in your face, producing a paler complexion, which reveals the underlying blood vessels around your eyes. This is why people often associate dark circles with sleeplessness.
According to well-known dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone, tiredness can increase the body’s stress hormone, cortisol, causing other health-related issues. In addition, the Mayo Clinic reports drinking alcohol and caffeinated sodas may exacerbate the effects of stress and exhaustion, heightening the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
Allergies
Any allergic reaction that causes fluid retention and severe rubbing and inflammation of the eyelids can trigger the presence of dark circles. Even certain ingredients in makeup may irritate the skin, producing discoloration as you rub your lower eyelid or as the skin reacts to cosmetic chemicals like glycolic acid and salicylic acid.
Iron Deficiency
Iron produces the dark red, oxygenated color of blood. With reduced iron concentrations, as is the case with anemia, the bluish appearance of the blood vessels beneath the eyelid becomes more exaggerated in contrast to the increasingly paler complexion of your skin.
At the same time, an iron deficiency may cause fatigue. Thus, if you know you sleep well enough but still feel tired and appearance dark circles, then examine your diet to be sure you have enough iron and B-complex vitamins for iron absorption.
Dehydration/Weight Loss
As the eyelid thins in combination with weight loss or fluid loss, the result is a more transparent skin tone, which reveals the underlying dark blue vessels. Often athletes who sweat profusely increase the appearance of dark circles around their eyes for this reason.
People who have high fevers or exhausting medical conditions, such as AIDS and leukemia, will develop dark circles as their eyelid skin becomes paler and thinner.
Blood Vessel Dilation
Nasal congestion can dilate and enlarge the blood vessels as a result of blocking the veins that drain the fluid between your nose and eyes.
People who experience nasal congestion due to an allergy or cold may have dark circles because of the expansion of the underlying dark, red-blue blood cells. Also, salty foods can cause fluid retention beneath the eyes, equally contributing to dark circles.
