What Are the Different Kinds of Dark Circles Under Your Eyes?

You’ve likely heard of dark circles or under-eye bags before, but what you probably didn’t know is that there are different types of dark circles. There are four main types of dark circles: vascular, pigmented, structural, and hereditary. So, how do you know what type of dark circle you have? Keep reading for the leading causes and appearances of the most common types of dark circles. We also spoke to Double Board-Certified Dermatologist Ellen Turner for her insight into the most common causes and best treatments for dark circles, along with Makeup Artist Christin Birckhead for tips on how to disguise them.

The Different Types of Dark Circles

An illustration showing what different types of dark circles look like, including vascular dark circles, pigmented dark circles, structural dark circles, and hereditary dark circles.

Double Board-Certified Dermatologist Ellen Turner says the most common causes of dark circles are genetics, aging, and allergies.

Vascular dark circles are blue or purple and caused by aging, allergies, or lifestyle.
Pigmented dark circles are brown or black and caused by an increase in skin pigmentation.
Structural dark circles have a sunken appearance and are caused by facial structure.
Hereditary dark circles are dark in color and caused by genetics.

Section 1 of 5:

What are dark circles?

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Dark circles are dark-tinted skin under your eyes. The “bags” or skin area under your eyes may appear to have a blue, purple, brown, or black shade—these are known as dark circles. Dark circles can make you look tired or older, thanks to their discoloration. While there are many possible causes of dark circles, they’re typically not a sign of a medical problem. Even so, lightening their appearance may help improve confidence.^{[1]
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- Dark circles under the eyes can affect everyone, regardless of age, gender, or race. However, they tend to affect the elderly and those with darker skin tones or a family history of dark circles more.^{[2]
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Meet the wikiHow Experts

Ellen Turner is a Double Board-Certified Dermatologist based in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Turner offers an array of dermatology services, including medical, cosmetic, surgical, and laser procedures.

Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience.

Section 2 of 5:

Types of Dark Circles

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Vascular Dark Circles Vascular dark circles are the most common type of dark circles. This type occurs when there’s poor blood circulation around the eye, which can result in thinner, less-firm skin. And more translucent skin makes the under-eyes more pronounced in color, as the blood vessels can be seen through the skin.^{[3]
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- Causes: Poor blood circulation caused by genetics, aging, allergies, or lifestyle
- Appearance: Blue, pink, or purple in color
- Treatment: Get enough sleep; reduce alcohol and sodium intake; avoid rubbing the eyes^{[4]
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Pigmented Dark Circles Pigmented dark circles are the result of excess melanin production. Melanin is a natural substance in the body that gives your hair, eyes, and skin color.^{[5]
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Go to source} Too much melanin can cause the under-eye area to appear darker. This condition is also known as idiopathic hyperchromia of the orbital ring and is more prevalent in those with darker skin.^{[6]
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- Causes: Excessive sun exposure, hormonal changes, allergies, or excessive eye rubbing
- Appearance: Brown or black in color
- Treatment: Facial creams containing retinoids or hydroquinone; wearing sunscreen^{[7]
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Structural Dark Circles For many, dark circles under the eyes are caused by their anatomy. Those with deep under-eye sockets may experience indented dark circles or sunken eyes. The under-eye area may appear more hollow or pronounced because of how the skin naturally lies over the cheekbones and facial fat.^{[8]
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- Causes: Natural anatomy or weight loss
- Appearance: Dark in color and sunken in appearance
- Treatment: Cosmetic fillers; laser treatments; makeup
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Hereditary Dark Circles Hereditary dark circles are passed down from generation to generation. For some, the skin under the eye is naturally thin, which causes the blood vessels underneath to be more visible. These dark circles aren’t a sign of sleep deprivation, dehydration, or age; they’re simply genetic. Chances are, if a biological parent or grandparent has dark circles, the child will too.^{[9]
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- Causes: Genetics
- Appearance: Blue, brown, or black in appearance
- Treatment: Laser treatments; makeup

Section 3 of 5:

How to Know What Type of Dark Circles You Have

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To determine what type of dark circle you have, grab a mirror and take a look at your under-eyes. Make sure you’re looking at them in natural light to get a true view of their color and appearance. Then, ask yourself these questions:^{[10]
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- What color are your under-eyes?
  - Brown or dark: Pigmented, structural, hereditary
  - Blue or purple: Vascular, hereditary
- Are your under-eyes worse in the morning or evening?
  - Worse in the morning: Vascular
  - Worse in the evening: Pigmented
- Have they always been there, or have they appeared over time?
  - Always been there: Structural, hereditary
  - Appeared over time: Pigmented, vascular

Section 4 of 5:

What causes dark circles?

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The leading causes of dark circles are genetics, lack of sleep, and aging. Dr. Turner says, “[The causes] are multi-factorial. In many cases, it is genetic. However, aging causes loss of collagen and this volume in this area which leads to ‘vascular show’ or darkening. Allergies can influence the darkening as well.”^{[11]
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Ellen Turner
Double Board-Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview} Here are the most common causes of dark circles:
- Aging: As you get older, the skin under your eyes loosens and thins, making the blood vessels more visible.
- Genetics: If a biological parent has dark circles, chances are, you will too.
- Lack of sleep: Poor sleep can thin the skin under your eyes, making them discolored and puffy.
- Dermatitis: Eczema and contact dermatitis can dilate the blood vessels under your eyes, causing discoloration.
- Rubbing your eyes: Excessive eye rubbing can break blood vessels and cause your eyes to swell.
- Hyperpigmentation: Getting too much sun can cause an overproduction of melanin in the skin, which could alter the color of your under-eyes.
- Dehydration: The skin under the eyes can look dull if you’re not drinking enough water.
- Lifestyle factors: Stress, excessive alcohol use, and smoking can increase the appearance of under-eye bags.

Section 5 of 5:

How to Get Rid of Dark Circles

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At-home remedies Try getting rid of dark circles at home with one or more of these doctor-approved home remedies and treatments:^{[12]
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- Get more sleep. One of the best ways to reduce dark circles is to get at least 7 hours of good sleep at night.
- Apply a cold compress. Place cold spoons over your eyes to help decrease puffiness and reduce the appearance of dark circles.
- Lay cucumbers over your eyes. The vitamin C in cucumbers can help reduce eye puffiness.
- Place cold tea bags on your eyes. A tea bag compress can help improve circulation and minimize discoloration.
- Use makeup to your advantage. Under-eye concealer and foundation can help conceal bags under your eyes.
EXPERT TIP

Christin Birckhead
Makeup Artist
Christin Birckhead is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Conceptual Beauty, a beauty service based in Washington, DC specializing in wedding services such as engagements and bridal parties along with fashion shows and executive headshots. She has over 20 years of makeup and beauty consulting experience. She is also the lead makeup artist for Ascender Communications and freelances with the local NBC news team in the DC metro area. Her clients include Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Cartwright, Armin Van Buuren, Hugh Jackman, Vashawn Mitchell, Richard Smallwood, Benjamin T. Jealous, Colin Powell, Wanda Durant, and Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Christin Birckhead
Makeup Artist

Use a concealer with a peach or orange undertone to conceal under-eye circles. A color-correcting concealer is the best way to hide dark under-eye circles. Opt for a concealer that has an orange undertone.
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Medical treatments If at-home remedies and lifestyle changes aren’t helping to improve the appearance of your under eyes, it is possible to get rid of dark circles quickly or permanently. Dr. Turner notes, “Depending on the cause, treatment should be aimed towards volume replacement and brightening. As volume loss occurs, shadowing will make an already dark area appear even darker.”^{[13]
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Expert Source

Ellen Turner
Double Board-Certified Dermatologist

Expert Interview} Talk to your doctor about these possible options:
- Topical creams and bleaching agents. Vitamin C and hydroquinone may help lighten the appearance of dark circles. “There are multiple topical skincare lines which contain eye creams that may be used for early signs of aging or in combination with the sniveling treatments,” Dr. Turner says. “I recommend SkinMedica Instant Bright Eye Cream and ZO Intense Eye Crème.”^{[14]
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  Ellen Turner
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- Chemical peels. An intensive chemical peel can help reduce pigmentation under the eyes.
- Laser therapy. A laser procedure can help tighten the skin and improve pigmentation.^{[15]
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- Fillers. An injectable filler can increase volume under the skin, reducing the appearance of sunken under-eye bags. Dr. Turner says, “Filler such as a hyaluronic acid filler can be placed on the orbital rim using a needle or cannula depending on injector preference but again it must be on the orbital rim. This is a danger zone for injectors due to the infra orbital artery which is a branch of the ophthalmic artery and a serious risk for blindness if occluded.”^{[16]
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- Eyelid surgery. A blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excessive fat and skin from the eye area.^{[17]
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- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. A PRP injection can repair the skin, speed up blood vessel growth, and strengthen collagen.^{[18]
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- Collagen stimulators: According to Dr. Turner, “There are now treatments that will stimulate collagen and elastin to improve both volume and create brightening under the eye and improve crows feet at the lateral eye. I prefer these [over fillers] as they are much safer options with better post procedure outcomes. Emface Eyes utilizes electromagnetic energy and radio frequency energy with 4 20-minute sessions to improve this area. Additionally, when combined with platelet rich plasma injected via a micro cannula, collagen can be stimulated maximally and naturally.”^{[19]
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Tips

Remember, having dark circles is natural for many people and nothing to be embarrassed about. Don’t feel like you have to get rid of your dark circles if you don’t want to.

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Warnings

While dark circles under the eyes aren’t usually a cause for alarm, contact your doctor if you only experience dark circles or swelling under one eye.^{[20]
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