Under-Eye Darkness

Under-eye darkness, commonly referred to as dark circles, occurs when the skin beneath the lower eyelids appears visibly darker than the surrounding facial skin, often taking on a blue, purple, brown, or dark shadowed tone. This condition is primarily caused by a combination of genetics, natural aging—which thins the delicate skin and causes a loss of collagen and fat—and visible blood vessels underneath. Daily factors such as fatigue, eye strain, dehydration, hyperpigmentation, allergy-induced inflammation, and sun exposure can further exaggerate their appearance by causing blood vessels to dilate or dark pigment to pool under the eyes.