Dark Circles Under Eyes

[calendula]

I do think that dark circles are completely natural for some people and not a sign of any kind of medical problem...

In most cases, the dark circles under the eyes are blood vessels that can be seen through the skin. The skin around the eyelids (periorbital skin) is the thinnest skin in the body (around 0.5 mm thick compared with 2 mm in other areas). Like varicose veins, dark circles under the eyes are usually an inherited trait[citation needed]. When blood passes through the large veins close to the surface of the skin, it can produce a bluish tint. The more transparent the skinalso an inherited traitthe darker the circles appear. In people with a deep-set bone structure, shadowing can also contribute to the dark color under the eyes.

Though dietary habits and other factors can cause dark circles, it can also be a hereditary condition or the result of hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation occurs when patches of skin become darker because your body is producing excessive amounts of melanin, the naturally occurring substance that colors skin. This is especially prevalent in dark-skinned people and those of Middle Eastern, Hispanic and East Indian descent.



Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/296689-severe-dark-under-eye-circles/#ixzz1OnI12Fw7

But, of course it never hurts to try eating healthier.

 

[Lady Henevere]

As for the iron, DD and I have been taking Floradix liquid iron supplement for a while and have no digestive reaction. (There is also a gluten-free version called Floravital.)

P.S. Welcome to SS, cabinchick!

 

[Neko-chan]

My moms cousin has very dark circles under his eyes. He's had them all his life apparently. He doesn't seem to be ill in any way, or allergic to anything, so we assume that it's just genetics. but like it was said, doesn't hurt to try eating healthier.

 

[Henrietta23]

When I first took my son to a naturopath she took one look at his under eye circles and said she'd bet anything he was gluten intolerant and allergic to dairy. Blood tests confirmed both. Removing those foods from his diet as well as numerous others he tested allergic to has improved his skin. BUT when he has a seasonal allergy attack, which he does at the beginning of April every year, the first thing we notice is dark reddish circles under his eyes.

 

[cabinchick]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I appreciate your input. The facts are: I've had my liver and kidneys tested. They are A-okay.
I love the food pyramid Bubblingbrooks posted and it looks very similar to what I eat! Love steel cut oats with blueberries for breakfast, yum!
I DO eat a lot of dairy though, nonfat milk and I love cheese, all kinds. I will try to cut back and see if that helps, but honestly, I feel healthy, so cutting back on something I like to eat is difficult for me to rationalize.
Re: allergies. As far as I know, I'm allergic to penecillin. That's it. No hayfever, food allergies etc. Shouldn't I be sneezing or wheezing or have hives if I am allergic to something?
I will try the pineapple juice trick too - I love pineapple and how awesome would that be if it helped

 

[cabinchick]

When I first took my son to a naturopath she took one look at his under eye circles and said she'd bet anything he was gluten intolerant and allergic to dairy. Blood tests confirmed both. Removing those foods from his diet as well as numerous others he tested allergic to has improved his skin. BUT when he has a seasonal allergy attack, which he does at the beginning of April every year, the first thing we notice is dark reddish circles under his eyes.

I will go in for labs and get tested for these. Thanks

 

[Henrietta23]

The symptoms for DS's allergies are very mild. We had no idea he was allergic to anything other than penicillin as a matter of fact. But after we knew we realized he would complain of feeling full when he'd barely eaten anything and other subtle things that were connected to his allergies and intolerances.

 

[me&thegals]

My daughter has had dark puffy eyes since birth. She's extremely healthy. Just ran 2 miles in 16 min, and she's only 9!

I also have dark circles and puffy eyes, but I believe mine are more related to lack of sleep. They get better in summer due to a tan.

ETA: The docs where I work call dark puffy eyes "allergic shiners," as they can be caused by environmental allergies. My daughter's doc keeps suspecting her of having allergies due to her eye appearance, but she has no signs or symptoms, which would be drainage down the back of her throat, irritation in her nasal passages, constant drippy nose, watery/itchy eyes.

 

[Farmfresh]

Shouldn't I be sneezing or wheezing or have hives if I am allergic to something?

Not necessarily. I have Celiac disease and I am gluten and wheat intolerant. I was always healthy as a horse ... or so I thought. I had subtle little indicators, like acid reflux and anemia.

My D2 was just a puny kid. She caught everything that came down the pike and SHE did have some asthma symptoms. We discovered the Celiac in the family when she, at a thin 22 years old, had to have her gall bladder removed because it had basically been destroyed by constant exposure to wheat. She is SO sensitive to wheat it is a life threatening event for her to be exposed to it. She carries an epi pen where ever she goes.

She did not show the violent reaction to it before because she has always had gluten food in her system. Like being fed poison until you develop a tolerance to it. But even if you are tolerating it it may be doing damage if you are allergic. Gluten allergy testing is as simple as a blood test these days.

Added: My mother (who was probably also Celiac but never diagnosed) had the dark circles under her eyes. She died of esophageal cancer at 50 years old. The docs back then said she had horrible acid reflux and had it for years. Chronic acid reflux is often associated with that kind of cancer.

Since we found out our diagnoses I have wondered if that wasn't what really killed my mom?

 

[cabinchick]

My daughter has had dark puffy eyes since birth. She's extremely healthy. Just ran 2 miles in 16 min, and she's only 9!

I also have dark circles and puffy eyes, but I believe mine are more related to lack of sleep. They get better in summer due to a tan.

ETA: The docs where I work call dark puffy eyes "allergic shiners," as they can be caused by environmental allergies. My daughter's doc keeps suspecting her of having allergies due to her eye appearance, but she has no signs or symptoms, which would be drainage down the back of her throat, irritation in her nasal passages, constant drippy nose, watery/itchy eyes.

That's me although I've reduced my sodium content and the puffiness has disappeared except for when I have PMS. I do not have Celiac's disease, have already been tested. I so appreciate all of your comments, but is it completely out of the question that I was just born this way? I am lilly white, not of hispanic or arabic descent. Why is it so difficult for our society to beleive that maybe not being physically "normal" means there must be something wrong with us? I know I'm now the only one out there, I have had friends with the same "problem"

My MDs, all my life, have been testing me regularly for any nutritional deficiencies. Everything has come back negative time after time. I feel fine. I will get tested for dairy and gluten allergies, but I just have this gut feeling that they will show no negative results. Have you ever noticed all the cosmetic ads for "curing" dark circles under the eyes?