Dark Eye Syndrome

The eyes are one of the most prominent features on your face and according to the article “The Dark Circled Eye Syndrome” by Suzanne Patterson, a special-effects makeup artist, the eyes are the first thing we look at when talking to someone. If you have dark circles under your eyes, it can make you feel self-conscious and try to hide your eyes and/or face.

Definition

• Dark eye syndrome is defined as chronic dark circles under your eyes.

Causes

• There are several causes of dark eye syndrome, including lack of sleep, allergies, nasal congestion, sun exposure, thinning skin or it could be an inherited trait. Additionally, you could have fluctuating hormone levels, fluid retention, dehydration or puffiness from medication usage.

Other Causes

• There are two other causes of dark eye syndrome: hyper-pigmentation and hyper-circulation. Both are hereditary conditions.

Hyper-Pigmentation

• Hyper-pigmentation (HP) is defined as too much color, or pigment, in one area. In this case, there would be too much pigmentation under the eyelids. This can give the appearance of a raccoon look and the eyes will appear tired and pulled down.

Hyper-Circulation

• Hyper-circulation is defined as a condition that makes blood pool to the capillaries in the tissues of the eye socket, which causes a deep purple undertone. This condition can be made worse by stress, according to Suzanne Patterson.

Treatment

• Drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen if you like the outdoors and get plenty of sleep. Additionally, laser treatments can zap the dark circles away.