Periorbital dark circles

Periorbital dark circles, including dark circles of the lower eyelid, are dark blemishes around the eyes, a sign with many possible causes, including heredity and bruising. Anatomical factors contribute, since the skin of the lower eyelid is very thin and accentuates the features beneath it, including the bony structure and the prominence of the orbicularis oculi muscle. Other named contributors are allergies, asthma and eczema, which lead to rubbing of the eyes and local inflammation, medications that dilate blood vessels, cortisol deficiency, anemia from iron or vitamin B12 deficiency, fatigue, ageing as skin loses collagen and facial fat descends, sun exposure, and periorbital hyperpigmentation, in which more melanin is produced around the eyes than usual.