Causes of dark circles under the eyes of a child
Circles under the eyes can already appear in childhood. This often gives outsiders the impression of a poor general condition. However, especially with small children, dark circles often appear as a side effect of a cold.
In children, the skin under the eyes is much thinner and more sensitive than that of adults. Since there is no fat pad there and the small blood vessels run directly under the skin, the impression of dark circles quickly develops. One of the most common causes of this is blocked sinuses.
Just like a simple cold, these can lead to increased shadows under the eyes. With a blocked nose, less oxygen is absorbed and the blood appears bluish. Because of the very thin skin, this is particularly noticeable around the eyes.
As the disease decreases, the dark circles around the eyes should also disappear again. Due to allergies, for example hay fever, dark circles under the eyes can also occur. In addition, dark circles around the eyes can occur as a side effect of skin inflammation or neurodermatitis with itching.
If children have dark circles under their eyes, they should make sure that they drink enough, as a lack of fluids can also lead to dark circles. Care should be taken if the dark circles appear in connection with a gastrointestinal disease. Then there is a risk of dehydration.
Another possible cause is a possible iron deficiency. This should be checked by the paediatrician with a blood count. As with adults, lack of sleep can also lead to dark circles in children.
Therefore, care should be taken to ensure that children get sufficient and above all restful sleep in a suitable, quiet environment. Infections in children can also be accompanied by dark circles under the eyes. Rings under the eyes can be an accompanying symptom not only in the case of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, but also in conjunctivitis or sore throat.
Often, dark circles around the eyes in children are also genetically determined. This is particularly likely if several people in the family have conspicuous dark circles. Children of other origins, for example Africans or Asians, also often give the impression of dark circles, as they have a different skin pigmentation.
In rare cases, the dark circles are due to a kidney or thyroid disease. In most cases, a lot of exercise and a balanced, vitamin-rich diet help to make the dark circles disappear again. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that children drink enough.
Causes of dark circles around the eyes in men
In men, dark circles are usually caused by their lifestyle. Often, too little sleep and stress are the triggers. The skin under the eyes is the thinnest skin of the body.
Here the blood vessels are very close to the skin, as there is almost no fatty tissue, and shimmer through it. If this is the case more often, one speaks of dark circles under the eyes. In men, the skin under the eyes is thicker than in women and the connective tissue is more pronounced, but with increasing age there is increased collagen breakdown, especially in men.
This is why men suffer from shadows under their eyes, especially with increasing age. This can also be caused by a lack of fluid. Therefore, one should take care to drink at least 2 litres of water a day.
A lack of exercise and an unbalanced diet containing few vitamins can also lead to bags under the eyes. A frequent cause is an existing iron deficiency. However, men are less frequently affected by this than women.
In some men the dark circles are also hereditary. Although cosmetics are generally regarded as a “women’s matter”, men can also take action against their dark circles. There are eye creams especially developed for men which have a cooling and decongesting effect and can be applied to the eye area in the morning.
Home remedies such as cold cucumber slices or cooled tea bags are just as helpful for men. If this is not enough, men can also use concealer to cosmetically treat the dark circles around the eyes and thus conceal them. For women, just like for men, lack of sleep and stress are considered the main causes of dark circles.
In addition, nicotine, lack of exercise or poor diet can also lead to dark circles. It is not uncommon for iron deficiency to cause dark circles around the eyes in women. Women are particularly susceptible to this because of their menstruation.
Iron deficiency can be compensated for by a balanced diet, or in more serious cases by taking iron supplements. The doctor can determine whether an iron deficiency is present on the basis of a blood count. Circles under the eyes can also become prominent due to a lack of fluid.
Therefore, drinking a lot, i.e. at least 2 litres a day, is an effective method against dark circles. Circles are caused by small blood vessels shimmering through the very thin skin around the eyes. Rings under the eyes are usually more visible in women than in men. This is because women generally have thinner skin.
