What causes dark circles under your eyes?

Key takeaways

• Dark circles usually come from one of three things, or a mix: extra pigment, visible blood vessels under thin skin, or shadows from the shape of the under-eye area.

• Genetics play a big role. In one study, 63% of people with dark circles had a family history of them.

• Lack of sleep makes existing circles more noticeable, but Mayo Clinic says short nights alone don’t usually cause them.

• Allergies, rubbing your eyes, eczema, sun exposure and aging can all make circles darker.

• Cold compresses, sleep, allergy care and sunscreen help, and a few ingredients have small studies behind them. See a doctor if a circle appears under only one eye and gets worse.

Why do dark circles happen?

The skin under your eyes is some of the thinnest on your body, which is why changes there show up so easily. Researchers usually group dark circles into three types, and many people have more than one:

• Pigmented circles look brown or dark brown. They’re caused by extra melanin, from genetics, sun exposure or marks left behind after eczema or rubbing. They’re more common in people with medium to deep skin tones.

• Vascular circles look bluish or purple. Blood vessels show through thin skin, and congestion from allergies can make them more obvious.

• Structural circles are shadows. As we age, fat and bone in the area change, and hollows called tear troughs can form under the eyes. Puffy lower lids can cast shadows too.

Cleveland Clinic notes that circles can look blue, purple, brown or black, depending on your natural skin color.

How to tell which type you have

A few simple checks can hint at the cause. In a 2014 study of 200 people with dark circles, researchers used an eyelid stretch test: if the darkness fades when you gently stretch the skin, it’s more likely laxity, if it gets darker, it’s more likely blood vessels, and if nothing changes, it’s more likely pigment. They also used direct lighting, since shadows tend to disappear when light shines straight on the area.

These are rough clues, not a diagnosis, and a dermatologist can tell you more. In the same study, 63% of people had a family history of dark circles, and pigmented circles were the most common type.

What causes dark circles under the eyes?

Several things contribute, and they often stack:

• Genetics. Dark circles often run in families. Mayo Clinic lists genetics among the main causes.

• Aging. Cleveland Clinic explains that as you age, the skin under your eyes loosens and thins, so blood vessels become more visible, and hollows can develop.

• Allergies and rubbing. Nasal congestion from allergies can make the veins under the eyes swell and look darker. These are sometimes called allergic shiners. Rubbing your eyes can also darken the skin over time.

• Eczema and dermatitis. DermNet lists both atopic and contact dermatitis as triggers. Inflammation can leave pigment behind as it heals.

• Sun exposure. Sun triggers extra melanin, which can deepen pigmented circles.

• Smoking, alcohol and stress. Mayo Clinic lists these among the lifestyle factors.

Some small studies have found anemia in a share of people with dark circles, from about 10% to 50%, but none compared them with people who don’t have circles, so it isn’t proof that anemia causes them. If you also feel unusually tired or look pale, a doctor can check.

Does lack of sleep cause dark circles?

It makes them look worse, but it probably isn’t the root cause. Mayo Clinic says “short nights alone don’t usually cause undereye circles,” but lack of sleep “may make shadows and circles you already have more obvious.” In a 2013 study, observers rated people’s faces as having darker circles after a night of sleep deprivation, while a 2025 study of 116 people with dark circles found sleep quality wasn’t linked to how severe they were.

So sleep matters for how your eyes look on a given day, but if you’ve always had dark circles, genetics or anatomy is the more likely cause.

What helps with dark circles

At home, these steps are worth trying:

• Use a cold compress. Mayo Clinic suggests a cold, wet cloth or a chilled spoon to help shrink blood vessels.

• Raise your head at night. An extra pillow helps keep fluid from pooling under your eyes.

• Get enough sleep. Cleveland Clinic suggests at least seven hours a night.

• Treat allergies. Cleveland Clinic says allergic shiners can fade within a few weeks once allergies are treated.

• Wear sunscreen and sunglasses. Mayo Clinic recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, reapplied every two hours. Our guide to mineral vs chemical sunscreen explains how to pick one that’s gentle around the eyes.

• Don’t rub your eyes. It can make pigment worse over time.

Do eye creams and ingredients work?

Some ingredients have small studies behind them, but the evidence is limited. DermNet cautions that “many of the remedies on the market lack evidence of efficacy,” and that the eyelids are sensitive to stronger products.

• Caffeine and vitamin K. In a four-week study of just 11 women, pads with 3% caffeine and 1% vitamin K reduced the look of dark circles compared with a water-only placebo pad on the other eye. Another study of a gel with vitamin K, retinol and vitamins C and E improved the look of congested blood in about half of 57 people, but didn’t clearly reduce brown pigment.

• Vitamin C. In a six-month study of 14 people, one form of vitamin C lotion reduced discoloration from pooled blood compared with a plain lotion on the other side, possibly by helping thicken the skin so blood vessels show less.

• Retinoids. They’re used to thicken skin and fade pigment, but there’s little research on them for dark circles specifically, and they can irritate the thin skin around the eyes. Our guide to retinol for beginners explains how to go slowly.

• Niacinamide. It has evidence for dark spots elsewhere on the face, but not specifically for under-eye circles. Our guide to what niacinamide does covers the research.

Stronger lightening ingredients like hydroquinone should only be used under a dermatologist’s care near the eyes.

Concealer in the meantime

Makeup works well while you address the cause. DermNet suggests light-reflecting concealers, often yellow or gold in tone, applied into the shadowed areas rather than over puffy skin, and set with a translucent powder.

When to see a doctor

Mayo Clinic advises talking to a healthcare professional if you notice changes under just one eye that get worse over time. Cleveland Clinic also recommends calling a doctor if you have a dark circle or swelling under only one eye, or excessive swelling. A dermatologist can suggest options like prescription creams, chemical peels, lasers or fillers for stubborn circles caused by pigment or hollowing.

Frequently asked questions

What deficiency causes dark circles under the eyes?

No single deficiency is proven to cause them. Small studies have found anemia in some people with dark circles, so if you also feel tired or look pale, it’s worth asking a doctor about a blood test.

Do dark circles go away?

It depends on the cause. Circles from allergies can fade within weeks once allergies are treated, and sleep-related darkness improves with rest. Circles from genetics, pigment or hollowing usually don’t go away on their own but can be improved.

Why do I have dark circles even when I sleep well?

Genetics, thin skin, pigment and the shape of the under-eye area are often the real causes. For most people, sleep mainly affects how noticeable they are.

Can dark circles be a sign of something serious?

Usually not. But a dark circle or swelling under just one eye, especially one that’s getting worse, is worth getting checked.

What is the best home remedy for dark circles?

A cold compress, enough sleep, allergy treatment, sun protection and not rubbing your eyes are the simplest, safest steps.