Dark circles under the eyes may be a beauty seeker’s most challenging facial concern. Appearing in hues of purple, greenish-black, blue, or dark brown, they lend the appearance of fatigue, poor health, and age, and can be difficult to eliminate. What is the cause of dark under-eye circles?
Dark under-eye circles occur due to pigment changes in the skin. According to Mayo Clinic, tiredness is a common suspect for causing “panda” eyes. Other common causes of dark and puffy eyes include allergies, contact dermatitis, hay fever, rubbing the eye, sun exposure, and natural aging.
Renowned Taiwanese traditional medicine clinician Dr. Liao Wanrong points out that dark eye circles can signify sleep deprivation and also may reflect internal health conditions. Liao indicated four potential root causes of panda eyes.
Poor Blood Circulation and Swelling
One type of dark eye circle stems from swelling and insufficient blood flow under the eye. It usually mirrors a person’s lifestyle—for example, not getting enough regular sleep and staying up late.Long-term stress, fatigue, tension, emotional swings, excessive crying, and spending too much time on cellphones or laptops can also be culprits.
Liao explained, “These factors affect blood and lymphatic circulation. Inadequate circulation instigates blood vessel blockage and swelling. The thin, lower eyelids then appear to be puffy and greenish-black.” The puffiness and discoloration also show weak qi (vital energy) in the liver.
In TCM, qi, blood, and body fluids are the essential substances for life’s activities. They originate from the internal organs and flow constantly throughout the body.
Ensuring these essential substances are sufficient and circulating well is essential for health and well-being. Illnesses or other conditions are caused by the stagnation or lack of these substances.
Sinus Diseases
Dark eye circles caused by nasal diseases are due to poor circulation of qi in the lungs. Conditions such as allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, curved nasal septum, and sinus fistula are a reflection of qi obstruction in the lungs.Varicose veins of the lower eyelids circulate to the heart via the nostril and nasal cavity. When a patient has longtime sinus disease, the mucosa can swell due to hyperemia (excess blood in the vascular system) and induce venous reflux (backward flow of blood due to damaged valves).
Chronic venous insufficiency happens when veins fail to return blood to the heart. Dark eye circles are the result of vessel blockages. Liao said children with dark circles under the eye usually result from allergic rhinitis.
Chronic Allergies
Patients with various allergy conditions may experience blood stasis (slowing of the blood due to a disruption of heart qi). Symptoms can include chronic conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, general allergies, and eczema.The eye area may also be prone to itching due to allergies. Rubbing and scratching can cause the stratum corneum (outermost layer of the epidermis) to thicken and cause the blood vessels of the lower eyelids to become inflamed, swell, and rupture, resulting in blood oozing. Also, long-term and chronic pigmentation can accumulate which turns into dark eye circles.
Natural Aging and Internal Health Conditions
As we age, our skin, particularly around the eyelids, loses its elasticity. The thinning skin can no longer hold fatty tissues and becomes saggy or discolored.Liao explained, “Many wonder if dark eye circles are signs of serious health conditions. Dark eye circles usually result from our natural aging process. While dark circles under the eye might be a sign of diseases such as cirrhosis, kidney failure, aplastic anemia, and hypothyroidism, other obvious symptoms such as sunken sockets usually accompany. The public does not need to be too distressed.”
Copy
