Am I At Risk Of Dark Circles Under My Eyes?

Are you extremely tired or have you not slept enough?

Do you strain your eyes by staring at a TV or computer screen?

Do you have allergies (e.g. hay fever)?

Do you rub or scratch the itchy skin around your eyes?

Do you have atopic dermatitis (eczema) or contact dermatitis?

Are you dehydrated (not drinking enough water)?

Are you overexposing yourself to the sun?

Do you have a family history of dark circles?

Do you have skin pigment irregularities or skin changes that happen with aging?

As far as you know, do you have iron deficiency anemia or hypothyroidism?

Based on your answers you have a low risk of dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles are characterized by darkened skin under both eyes. They are usually the result of fatigue. When you are very tired or have not slept enough, your skin becomes pale, which emphasizes the visibility of blood vessels and dark tissues under the skin. The aging process is another common cause of dark circles. As the skin ages, it becomes thinner and loses elasticity; blood vessels under the skin become more visible, resulting in darkening of the area under the eyes.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk of dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles under the eyes are associated with the deposition of melanin, a pigment that gives color to your skin. They can occur after excessive sun exposure, atopic or contact dermatitis, or rubbing and scratching itchy skin due to an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction involves the release of histamine, which dilates blood vessels so that they become visible under the skin. Straining the eyes due to staring at digital screens can lead to an enlargement of blood vessels around the eyes, so the skin surrounding the eyes will look darker.

Based on your answers you have a high risk of dark circles under your eyes. Dark circles often appear as a hereditary characteristic. They can occur early in childhood, and can intensify with age or slowly disappear. Dark circles are also common in people who do not drink enough fluids and who are dehydrated. When your body does not get enough water, the dark circles under eyes become more prominent and the eyes appear sunken. Dark circles are common in people with iron deficiency anemia, and are especially common in vegetarians because animal food is the main source of iron in the diet.