Dark Circles Under Your Eyes: Causes and Cures

Dark circles under eyes can be caused by variety of medical conditions ranging from the mundane to the exotic. To correctly treat the dark circles under your eyes, you must first identify the cause. As you read on, you may find the answer and solution rather obvious, if not you should consult with a proper healthcare professional to help diagnosing the cause of the dark circles under your eyes.

The most common cause for dark circles under eyes is persistent eye rubbing. While easily avoidable during the day, you may not be aware of the fact that you are rubbing your eyes while you are asleep. If you suspect the dark circles under your eyes may be a result of rubbing your eyes during the night, wearing a thick eye mask may solve this problem. Further, if you are not still wearing the eye mask when you wake up the next morning, you'll have the evidence that the dark circles under your eyes are in fact being caused by chronic nocturnal eye rubbing.

Often related to the first cause of dark circles under eyes, and sometimes the cause of chronic eye rubbing, the second most common cause of dark circles under your eyes is allergies. Allergies such as hay fever, dust allergy, and mold allergy not only cause itchy eyes, but can also directly cause the skin discoloration which appears as dark circles under your eyes. Some allergies may be treated with over the counter drugs, however, may of these cause slight dehydration which may cure the itching and still leave you with dark circles under your eyes. If you believe the dark circles under your eyes are the result of an allergy it is advisable to identify the specific allergen with the help for a health care professional, and eliminate that allergen from your environment.

The third most common cause of dark circles under the eyes is dehydration. The tell tale signs of dehydration are dry mouth, fatigue, dark colored urine, and dark circles under the eyes. In mild cases of dehydration drinking electrolyte rich beverages and ensuring you get enough sodium/salt (to help retain fluid) should be sufficient to get rid of the dark circles under your eyes. If the dehydration is more sever you may need medical attention and intravenous fluids.

Other causes of dark circles under the eyes are much less common and range from rare inherited genetic disorders to the inability to process certain vitamins and minerals. If you think you may fall into this category do not look for answers online, see a health care professional.