One App. Every Woman.
One App. Every Woman.
Discover why women get dark circles and learn practical solutions to address them effectively.
Maryam Mumtaz
Co-Founder & CEO
11 min read•9/29/2026
Marsa Empower · Skin Health & Everyday Wellness · For Girls & Women Aged 13 and Above · 11 min read
Dark circles under the eyes are one of the most universally experienced skin concerns among women and girls. They appear across every skin tone, every age group, and every lifestyle — and they are the source of enormous amounts of spending on skincare products, concealers, and treatments that promise to eliminate them entirely.
The honest truth is more nuanced. Dark circles have multiple possible causes — some genetic, some lifestyle-related, some nutritional, and some structural — and different causes respond to very different approaches. A woman whose dark circles are primarily from thin, translucent skin and visible blood vessels needs a different strategy from one whose circles are primarily from post-inflammatory pigmentation, or from chronic sleep deprivation, or from allergies that cause constant eye rubbing.
Understanding the type and likely cause of your dark circles is the first step toward actually improving them — and recognising when they are simply a feature of your individual skin that no topical product will significantly change, while also knowing when they may reflect something worth investigating.
Dark circles are areas of darker pigmentation, shadowing, or discolouration beneath the lower eyelid. The skin under the eye is among the thinnest and most delicate skin on the face — typically only 0.5 mm thick, compared to 2 mm or more elsewhere on the face. This thinness makes the blood vessels beneath the skin more visible and makes this area particularly sensitive to the changes in blood flow, fluid accumulation, pigmentation, and structural anatomy that produce the dark appearance.
Dark circles are not a single phenomenon. They are the visible result of several different mechanisms — which is why they look different in different women, respond differently to the same treatments, and cannot be addressed by any single universal solution.
Sleep deprivation is one of the most direct and most immediate causes of dark circles. When sleep is insufficient, blood vessels dilate — increasing the volume of blood in the periorbital (around the eye) vessels. Through the thin skin of the under-eye, dilated, fuller blood vessels appear as a bluish or purplish discolouration. Inadequate sleep also causes pallor of the surrounding skin, which increases the contrast and makes the dark circles more visible by comparison.
Genetic factors are among the most significant determinants of dark circles, particularly their depth, persistence, and resistance to treatment. Dark circles run strongly in families — both through inherited skin characteristics (thinness of periorbital skin, natural pigmentation patterns in the under-eye area) and through inherited facial anatomy (the depth and position of the orbital socket, the fat distribution beneath the eye).
Women with a strong family history of dark circles should understand that their circles likely have a significant genetic component that topical skincare will only partially address. This is not a cause for resignation — lifestyle optimisation still makes a meaningful difference — but it does calibrate expectations appropriately.
The periorbital skin is naturally thin, but some women have particularly thin, translucent skin in this area through genetic inheritance. When the skin is very thin, the blood vessels beneath it — which carry deoxygenated blood back from the eye — are visible through the skin surface, producing a bluish, purplish, or dusky appearance.
This structural cause of dark circles is one of the least responsive to topical treatment, since the thinness of the skin is not altered by creams or serums. Strategies that support skin thickness — adequate vitamin C, retinoids with care, and sun protection — may help modestly over time.
With age, the skin under the eye loses collagen and fat, becoming thinner and more translucent. The fat pad that lies beneath the orbital bone diminishes, creating a hollow appearance that casts shadow. These combined changes produce the increasingly prominent dark circles that many women notice from their late thirties onward.
Dehydration causes the skin to appear duller, thinner, and more sunken — all of which accentuate the appearance of dark circles. Adequate hydration maintains skin plumpness and reduces the hollowed appearance that emphasises under-eye shadowing.
Allergies — including hay fever, dust mite allergy, pet dander allergy, and food sensitivities — cause dilation of blood vessels in and around the sinuses and eyes, releasing histamine that further dilates vessels and triggers inflammation. The congestion of allergic rhinitis impairs drainage from the periorbital veins, causing blood to pool in the vessels beneath the eye. The result is the classic "allergic shiners" — dark circles with a blue-grey or brownish tint that worsen during allergy season or after allergen exposure.
Allergies that cause itching of the eyes also drive eye rubbing — which worsens dark circles through the inflammatory pigmentation response described below.
Repeated rubbing, scratching, or pressing around the eyes produces an inflammatory response in the delicate periorbital skin that, over time, stimulates melanin production in the area. This results in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — darkening of the skin from the chronic inflammatory stimulus — producing the brownish dark circles that are disproportionately common in women with allergies, eczema, or habitual eye rubbing.
Eye rubbing also damages the small blood vessels beneath the thin periorbital skin, contributing to the pooling of blood that appears as darkness.
Ultraviolet exposure stimulates melanin production throughout the skin, including in the periorbital area. Women with naturally deeper skin tones — who already have more active melanin production — are more susceptible to UV-driven pigmentation under the eyes. Consistent daily sunscreen and eye protection reduce this contribution to pigmented dark circles.
Beyond sleep deprivation, chronic psychological stress and fatigue cause pallor of the skin (from the diversion of blood flow away from the skin surface as the body prioritises other systems during sustained stress), which increases the contrast that makes dark circles visible. Elevated cortisol from chronic stress also affects skin health and can worsen the overall complexion in ways that accentuate periorbital darkness.
Smoking damages collagen and impairs microcirculation in the skin — both of which contribute to the thinning and vascular visibility that worsen dark circles. Alcohol consumption causes vasodilation and dehydration — both of which temporarily worsen dark circles. Excessive screen use often co-occurs with reduced sleep and increased eye strain, contributing to the dilated blood vessels and fatigue-related pallor that emphasise dark circles.
Beyond the lifestyle and structural factors above, several health conditions are associated with worsening of dark circles. These are discussed under the nutritional and health condition sections below.
Dark circles are extremely common in teenage girls and have several causes that are specific to or amplified by this life stage.
The hormonal changes of puberty affect skin behaviour — increasing oil production, altering skin texture, and in some girls, increasing skin sensitivity and inflammation responses. Hormonal fluctuations can also affect sleep patterns and cortisol levels in ways that contribute to periorbital vascular changes.
Teenage girls are among the most sleep-deprived demographic groups. The combination of the naturally later circadian timing of adolescence, early school start times, academic pressure, and late-night screen use produces chronic sleep insufficiency that is one of the most direct and most common causes of dark circles in this age group. The single most impactful intervention for most teenage girls with dark circles is simply ensuring adequate, consistent sleep.
Dietary patterns in adolescence often include insufficient water intake, limited iron-rich foods, and inadequate vitamin C and other micronutrients. Both iron deficiency and vitamin C deficiency are associated with dark circles through their effects on oxygenation, collagen production, and skin appearance.
Allergies are common in the teenage years, and the itching they cause drives the eye rubbing that contributes to periorbital pigmentation and vessel damage. Managing allergies effectively — with antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, or other appropriate interventions — reduces this contributor to dark circles significantly.
Understanding which type of dark circle you have helps identify the most appropriate management approach.
Brown or pigmented dark circles appear as a brownish discolouration that is most prominent in women with medium to deep skin tones. They reflect excess melanin in the periorbital skin — from sun exposure, post-inflammatory pigmentation from eye rubbing or eczema, or inherited hyperpigmentation. These circles look most prominent in natural light and tend to respond best to sun protection, vitamin C, niacinamide, and in some cases, gentle exfoliation.
Blue or purple dark circles appear with a bluish or purplish tint and are most visible in women with fair to medium skin tones. They reflect the visibility of deoxygenated blood in the periorbital vessels through thin, translucent periorbital skin. They are more prominent when tired, dehydrated, or unwell. They respond to improved sleep, hydration, and caffeine-containing eye creams that temporarily constrict vessels.
Shadowing from under-eye hollows produces dark circles from the shadows cast by the hollowing beneath the orbital bone — from volume loss with age, genetics, or weight loss. This type of dark circle is not a skin issue but a structural one, and it responds very little to topical skincare. Illuminating concealers that reflect light and professional interventions including filler address this type most effectively.
Puffy under-eyes and shadows occur when fluid accumulation beneath the eye (from sleep position, allergies, or hormonal changes) creates puffiness that casts shadow below the swelling. Reducing puffiness addresses this specific pattern.
Yes — this is one of the most consistently documented causes and one of the most correctable. The mechanisms are specific. Poor sleep:
Causes blood vessel dilation in the periorbital area, making vessels more visible through thin skin. Produces pallor of the surrounding skin, increasing the contrast with the darker periorbital vessels. Causes fluid redistribution when lying flat, which can produce morning puffiness that casts shadow. Elevates cortisol, which impairs skin repair and contributes to dullness that accentuates dark circles.
The good news is that dark circles from sleep deprivation are among the most responsive to improvement. Consistent adequate sleep — seven to nine hours per night for adult women, eight to ten hours for teenagers — produces noticeable improvement in periorbital appearance over one to two weeks of consistent improvement.
Yes. Several nutritional factors contribute to dark circles in ways that are direct and correctable.
Iron deficiency anaemia reduces the blood's capacity to carry oxygen. When oxyhaemoglobin levels fall, blood appears darker and more bluish — and this darker blood, visible through the thin periorbital skin, produces more prominent dark circles. Women with heavy periods, vegetarian or vegan diets, or known iron deficiency commonly notice worsening of their dark circles during periods of lower iron and improvement when iron is repleted.
Vitamin C deficiency impairs collagen production in the skin — collagen is the structural protein that maintains skin thickness and prevents the thinning that allows blood vessels to show through more prominently. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that reduces inflammatory pigmentation. A diet consistently rich in vitamin C (from citrus, guava, bell peppers, strawberries, and amla) supports periorbital skin health.
Vitamin K deficiency has been associated with under-eye discolouration in some research, as vitamin K plays a role in blood coagulation and the clearance of blood that has leaked from small capillaries. Leafy green vegetables are the richest vitamin K source.
Dehydration — as described above — reduces skin plumpness and emphasises hollowing.
For women whose dark circles are worse during or after heavy periods, or who have other symptoms suggesting iron deficiency anaemia (fatigue, cold hands and feet, pallor, breathlessness on exertion), serum ferritin testing and appropriate management of iron deficiency is the most direct intervention for this contribution to dark circles.
Yes, indirectly and through several mechanisms.
Premenstrual hormonal changes cause fluid retention — including some fluid retention in the periorbital area — and increased inflammatory activity throughout the body. Some women notice worsening of puffiness and dark circles in the premenstrual phase.
During menstruation, blood loss reduces iron — temporarily reducing oxyhaemoglobin and making blood appear darker, which through thin periorbital skin contributes to darker circles. Women with heavy periods experience this more significantly.
Premenstrual sleep disruption is also common — and inadequate sleep directly worsens dark circles as described above.
This is the single most impactful change for most women with lifestyle-related dark circles. Consistent, quality sleep — seven to nine hours for adults, eight to ten for teenagers — produces noticeable improvement within one to two weeks. Consistency matters more than any single night of good sleep.
Consistent hydration throughout the day — six to eight glasses — maintains skin plumpness and reduces the hollow appearance that emphasises periorbital shadowing. Morning dark circles are often worse because the skin has not been hydrated for several hours during sleep. Drinking water upon waking is a simple, effective early step.
Daily sunscreen applied to the under-eye area (using a formulation appropriate for sensitive skin) prevents UV-driven pigmentation that worsens pigmented dark circles. Sunglasses that provide UVA and UVB protection when outdoors further reduce UV exposure to the periorbital area.
Reducing eye rubbing removes one of the primary causes of post-inflammatory pigmentation in the periorbital area. For women who rub their eyes from allergies or eczema, treating the underlying cause reduces the itch that drives rubbing. Breaking the habit of habitual eye rubbing — touching the eye area from stress, tiredness, or contact lens use — reduces ongoing inflammatory stimulus to the periorbital skin.
Treating the underlying allergy — with appropriate antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids for rhinitis, or avoidance of identifiable allergens — reduces the periorbital vascular dilation and the eye rubbing that contribute to allergy-related dark circles.
Adequate iron (from meat, fish, eggs, lentils, and iron-rich vegetables alongside vitamin C), consistent vitamin C intake (from citrus, guava, amla, and bell peppers), adequate vitamin K from leafy greens, and overall nutritional quality all support periorbital skin health through the mechanisms described above.
Chronic stress reduces skin blood flow, impairs sleep, and contributes to dullness and pallor that accentuate dark circles. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, breathwork, and social support all reduce cortisol and support the circulation and skin quality that reduce stress-related dark circles.
The periorbital skin is the thinnest and most delicate skin on the face. Harsh products, strong exfoliants, fragrances, and irritating ingredients can cause inflammation that worsens pigmentation and sensitivity. A gentle approach — cleanser that reaches the eye area without irritating it, a moisturiser or eye cream formulated for sensitive periorbital skin, and careful sunscreen application — is both safer and more effective than more aggressive approaches.
A cool compress applied to the under-eye area for five to ten minutes — using a clean cloth soaked in cold water, chilled spoon, or a cold eye mask — temporarily constricts blood vessels, reduces puffiness, and diminishes the appearance of blue-purple dark circles. This is a rapid, accessible, zero-cost approach that works particularly well for morning dark circles and fatigue-related circles.
Implementing consistent sleep hygiene — screens off 60 minutes before bed, consistent sleep and wake times, a dark and cool bedroom — produces the most sustained and meaningful improvement in sleep-related dark circles.
Drinking a glass of water upon waking addresses overnight dehydration. Consistent hydration throughout the day is more effective than large amounts consumed at once.
Refrigerated gel eye masks provide the cooling, vessel-constricting effect of a cool compress in a more convenient, targeted form. They are widely available and can be kept refrigerated for morning use.
Several evidence-supported skincare ingredients can modestly improve the appearance of dark circles when used consistently over weeks to months.
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid and its derivatives including ascorbyl glucoside and sodium ascorbyl phosphate) brightens pigmentation, supports collagen production, and has antioxidant effects that reduce inflammatory pigmentation. It is most relevant for brownish, pigmented dark circles. A lightweight vitamin C serum or eye cream applied consistently over several weeks can produce visible lightening of pigmented circles. Vitamin C is pH-sensitive and should be stored away from light and heat to maintain its stability.
Caffeine in topical formulations temporarily constricts blood vessels beneath the eye, reducing the appearance of blue-purple circles and puffiness. Its effect is temporary — it typically lasts several hours — but is useful for reducing the appearance of dark circles before events or in the morning. Eye creams containing caffeine are one of the most effective over-the-counter options for vascular and puffy dark circles.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) reduces melanin transfer to skin cells, supporting a more even skin tone over time. It also strengthens the skin barrier and reduces redness. It is very well tolerated even by sensitive skin and is one of the most consistently recommended ingredients for pigmented dark circles. Used consistently in eye creams or lightweight serums appropriate for the periorbital area, it produces gradual lightening over six to twelve weeks.
Retinoids (including retinol, retinal, and prescription tretinoin) support collagen production in the skin, gradually increasing skin thickness and reducing the translucency that allows blood vessels to show through. Over time, consistent retinoid use can meaningfully reduce the structural contribution to vascular dark circles.
However, retinoids are irritating, particularly to the sensitive periorbital skin. They should be used in very small amounts, applied carefully only to the under-eye area, started at low concentrations, and introduced slowly — every two to three nights initially. Retinoids are not appropriate during pregnancy. For teenagers, retinoids are generally not the first recommendation, and a dermatologist's guidance is appropriate before using prescription-strength retinoids around the eyes.
Physical scrubbing of the under-eye area causes micro-tears in the delicate skin, stimulates more inflammation, and worsens post-inflammatory pigmentation. The periorbital skin should be treated with gentle pressure — pressing and patting rather than rubbing or scrubbing.
Lemon juice, baking soda, and other DIY ingredients recommended online for dark circles are not safe for periorbital use. Lemon juice's acidity (pH approximately 2) can cause chemical burns and severe irritation to the thin, sensitive periorbital skin, producing hyperpigmentation rather than lightening it. These ingredients should never be applied around the eyes.
Applying strong concentrations of active ingredients (high-strength vitamin C, high-concentration retinoids, strong chemical exfoliants) around the delicate periorbital skin frequently causes irritation, stinging, contact dermatitis, and rebound pigmentation. Less is more in periorbital skincare.
Using more makeup or eye cream to cover dark circles driven by untreated allergies delays addressing the underlying cause. The eye rubbing from unmanaged allergies perpetuates the pigmentation and vessel damage that create the circles in the first place. Treating the allergy is more effective than treating the circles.
Most dark circles are benign and cosmetic — they do not indicate a serious medical condition and can be managed with lifestyle adjustments and appropriate skincare. However, medical evaluation is appropriate in the following circumstances.
If dark circles have appeared suddenly and significantly — over days or a short period of time rather than gradually over years — this is worth investigating. Sudden changes in periorbital appearance can sometimes reflect systemic changes in health.
Persistent significant swelling under or around the eyes — not the temporary morning puffiness of normal fluid distribution during sleep, but sustained, progressive swelling that does not resolve — can indicate kidney problems, thyroid eye disease, allergic conditions, or other conditions that warrant evaluation.
Persistent itching, redness, scaling, or discomfort in the periorbital area may indicate eczema (atopic dermatitis), contact dermatitis, or another dermatological condition that deserves professional diagnosis and treatment rather than home management.
Dark circles accompanied by significant systemic symptoms — significant fatigue, unexplained weight changes, changes in periods, breathlessness, or other features — may reflect an underlying medical condition (including thyroid disorders or iron deficiency anaemia) in which the dark circles are a secondary sign rather than a primary cosmetic concern.
Marsa's Health Hub allows women to track energy levels, sleep quality, hydration, and stress alongside other health patterns. For many women, periods when dark circles are worst correspond directly with periods of poor sleep, high stress, or heavy menstrual flow that causes iron depletion. Tracking these patterns together reveals the connections that guide more targeted improvement.
Marsa's Smart Nutrition resources explain the dietary factors most relevant to skin health including periorbital appearance — iron, vitamin C, vitamin K, hydration, and overall nutritional quality — in practical terms accessible for everyday eating decisions.
Marsa's Beauty and Glow resources provide skin-type specific guidance, ingredient information for periorbital skincare, and an honest approach to what topical products can and cannot achieve — helping women make informed rather than marketing-driven product choices.
For women who are working to improve dark circles through sleep, nutrition, hydration, or skincare changes, tracking these alongside wellbeing indicators over several weeks reveals whether the approach is producing meaningful improvement — or whether the circles have a structural or genetic component that requires a different expectation.
Important note. Marsa Empower is a health education and wellness companion. Dark circles accompanied by significant swelling, persistent itching, or other symptoms suggesting an underlying medical condition should be evaluated by a qualified dermatologist or healthcare professional.
Are dark circles normal?
Yes — dark circles are extremely common and normal across all ages, skin tones, and lifestyles. They are not a sign of disease in most cases. They reflect a combination of genetic factors, skin structure, lifestyle habits, and in some cases nutritional status. Having dark circles does not mean anything is wrong, and many women with very healthy lives and adequate sleep still have dark circles primarily from genetic skin structure.
Why do I have dark circles even when I sleep enough?
Adequate sleep is one of many factors affecting dark circles — not the only one. If circles persist despite good sleep, other causes are more prominent for you: genetic thin periorbital skin, inherited pigmentation, allergies, iron deficiency, sun damage accumulation, or structural hollowing from facial anatomy. Understanding which type of circle you have helps identify the most relevant management approach.
Can drinking more water reduce dark circles?
Yes, to a modest extent. Adequate hydration reduces the skin thinning and hollowing that emphasises periorbital shadows. It will not dramatically change dark circles that have a predominantly genetic or structural cause, but dehydration visibly worsens dark circles and consistent hydration visibly reduces this contribution.
Can anaemia cause dark circles?
Yes. Iron deficiency anaemia reduces blood oxygenation — making blood appear darker. This darker blood, visible through thin periorbital skin, produces more prominent dark circles. Women with iron deficiency anaemia (common in those with heavy periods) often notice improvement in dark circles when iron levels are restored.
Why do teenagers get dark circles?
The most common causes in teenagers are sleep deprivation (from late nights, screens, and academic pressure combined with early school starts), dehydration, nutritional patterns that may lack adequate iron and vitamin C, allergy-related eye rubbing, and in some cases, inherited thin periorbital skin. Improving sleep is the most impactful intervention for most teenage girls with dark circles.
Can allergies cause dark circles?
Yes. Allergies cause periorbital blood vessel dilation, impair venous drainage from the sinuses and eye area, and drive the eye rubbing that produces post-inflammatory pigmentation. Managing allergies effectively — with appropriate antihistamines or other treatments — reduces all of these contributions to dark circles.
How long does it take for dark circles to improve?
It depends entirely on the cause. Dark circles from acute sleep deprivation improve within a day or two of adequate sleep. Circles from dehydration improve within hours of proper hydration. Dark circles from post-inflammatory pigmentation respond to topical treatment over six to twelve weeks. Circles from structural hollowing do not respond to topical treatment. Circles with a strong genetic structural component may respond very modestly to lifestyle and skincare optimisation over months.
When should dark circles be checked by a doctor?
Seek medical evaluation for sudden significant dark circles that appear rapidly, persistent significant swelling around the eyes that does not resolve with sleep, persistent itching or redness suggesting a dermatological condition, or dark circles accompanied by systemic symptoms suggesting an underlying health condition including anaemia or thyroid disease.
Dark circles are common, and their causes are multiple — from genetic skin structure to sleep deprivation, from allergies to iron deficiency, from sun exposure to natural ageing. No single intervention resolves all dark circles because no single cause produces all dark circles.
The most productive approach starts with identifying your specific type of dark circle and its most likely causes, then applying the most relevant interventions: better sleep for fatigue-related circles, managing allergies for allergy-related circles, improving iron status for anaemia-related circles, vitamin C and sun protection for pigmented circles, and appropriate eye creams with caffeine, niacinamide, or retinoids for the specific mechanism they address.
Setting realistic expectations matters. Genetic and structural dark circles — from thin periorbital skin or orbital hollowing — are the least responsive to topical treatment. Lifestyle-related circles are the most responsive. Most women's dark circles have contributions from both.
Take care of your sleep, your hydration, your nutrition, and your skin barrier. Use evidence-based ingredients patiently and consistently. Protect from the sun. And if other symptoms suggest a medical cause, seek appropriate evaluation.
Your eyes tell a lot about how you are feeling. Look after them well.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is for educational and awareness purposes only. It does not constitute medical or dermatological advice. If you have concerns about dark circles accompanied by other symptoms, significant swelling, or persistent skin changes, please consult a qualified healthcare professional or dermatologist for personalised evaluation and guidance.
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Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on MARSA Empower.
Written By
Maryam Mumtaz
Co-Founder & CEO
Co-Founder of MARSA Empower who leads the visual and strategic evolution of the platform. Maryam bridges technical complexity with human-centric design, architecting the team's official roadmap and ensuring MARSA effectively addresses the real-world needs of women. With deep expertise in agentic AI, full-stack development, and UI/UX design, she has delivered 50+ projects for 30+ satisfied clients.
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