What are dark circles under your eyes?

Dark circles under your eyes mean the area of skin below your eyes looks darkened. This area may appear as shades of blue, purple, brown or black, depending on your natural skin color. Dark circles under your eyes may make you look tired or older than you are.

Dark under-eye circles have many possible causes. But they’re usually not a symptom of a medical problem. Dark circles under your eyes typically aren’t a cause for concern. But you may want to lighten the appearance of your under-eye circles for cosmetic reasons.

Who do dark circles under the eyes affect?

Dark circles under the eyes affect people of all ages, races and sexes. All skin types can show varying levels of dark circles too. Dark circles under the eyes are more common in certain groups of people, though. These groups include:

• Elderly people.

• People with a family history of dark circles under their eyes.

• People with darker skin tones.

What causes dark circles under your eyes?

Dark circles under your eyes can happen for many reasons. One of the most common causes of dark circles is aging. As you age, the skin below your eyes begins to loosen and thin out so the blood vessels under your skin may become more visible. This can darken the appearance of your under eyes. Hollowed areas called tear troughs may develop as well. Tear troughs cause shadows that increase the appearance of puffy eyes.