Dark Circles Under Your Eyes: What Causes Them and What Can Help

Under-eye dark circles are one of the most common reasons people feel they look more tired than they are. They are rarely serious, but they are also rarely caused by one thing. The darkness you see may be pigment in the skin, blood vessels showing through thin skin, a shadow cast by hollowing beneath the eye, or a combination of all three.

That distinction matters, because each type responds to different approaches. It is also especially relevant in Dubai, where strong year-round sun and a population with many medium and deeper skin tones make pigment-driven dark circles particularly common. If brown or uneven colouring is part of your concern, our page on hyperpigmentation and how it is assessed explains the wider picture.

What causes dark circles under the eyes?

Dark circles under the eyes are usually caused by one or more of three things: extra pigment (melanin) in the skin, blood vessels showing through thin lower-eyelid skin, or a shadow created by volume loss and hollowing. Genetics, ageing, sun exposure, allergies, eye rubbing and lack of sleep can all contribute.

The skin under the eye is among the thinnest on the face, so anything happening within or beneath it, from pooled blood in small veins to subtle structural change, shows up readily. Dermatologists group dark circles into types, because the type points towards what may help.

What are the different types of dark circles?

Pigmented dark circles (brown)

Pigmented dark circles, known clinically as periorbital hyperpigmentation, appear brown or greyish-brown and are caused by extra melanin in the skin. They are notably common in Fitzpatrick skin types III to VI, the olive, brown and deeper skin tones that make up much of Dubai's population.

Contributing factors include:

We explore why pigment behaves this way in the region in why pigmentation is so common in Dubai.

Vascular dark circles (blue or purple)

Vascular dark circles look bluish, purplish or pinkish. They occur when blood vessels and the underlying muscle show through thin, translucent skin. They are often more noticeable in fairer skin and look worse after poor sleep, during congestion or allergy flare-ups, or first thing in the morning.

Structural dark circles (shadow)

Structural dark circles are not a colour change at all but shadows. With age, or from genetics alone, the area beneath the eye can lose fat and support, forming a groove known as the tear trough. Light falling from above casts a shadow into that hollow, creating darkness that looks like a circle. Puffiness from fat pads above the groove can deepen the effect.

Mixed dark circles

Most people have more than one type, such as pigment combined with hollowing. This is one reason single-solution approaches often disappoint.

Which lifestyle factors make dark circles worse?

Lifestyle rarely creates dark circles on its own, but several habits can make existing ones more visible:

Which deficiency causes dark circles?

No single deficiency causes dark circles, but iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, has been associated with them in some studies, possibly because it can make skin paler and blood vessels more visible. Thyroid imbalance and poor general health may also affect how the under-eye area looks.

If dark circles come with tiredness, breathlessness, hair shedding or feeling cold, raise it with a doctor; a blood test can check iron and thyroid levels. Our article why am I always tired? looks at the most common medical reasons behind persistent fatigue, and our diagnostics and screening service covers the tests a doctor may suggest.

How can you tell which type of dark circles you have?

A few simple observations at home can give you a rough idea, though they are not a diagnosis:

These checks are guides only. A dermatologist will examine the area in different lights and take a history of allergies, sleep, sun exposure and family traits.

How can you reduce under-eye dark circles at home?

At home, the most useful steps are daily sun protection around the eyes, good sleep, managing allergies and avoiding rubbing. Some topical ingredients may modestly improve the appearance of pigmented or thin-skinned circles over several months, but expectations should stay realistic.

Protect the area from the sun. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen up to the lower lash line, using a mineral formula if yours stings. Tinted sunscreens with iron oxides also filter some visible light, which may help pigment-prone skin, and sunglasses help in Dubai's glare.

Sleep, allergies and cool compresses. Consistent sleep, a slightly raised pillow, treating allergy symptoms and breaking the rubbing habit all remove common triggers. A cool compress can temporarily reduce puffiness.

Topical ingredients. There is no single cream for under-eye dark circles that works for everyone, whatever the label says. Ingredients with some supporting evidence include:

Prescription lightening agents are sometimes considered for pigmented circles, but only under medical supervision, as the eyelid skin is sensitive.

What clinical treatments are available for dark circles?

Clinical treatment for dark circles depends on the type. A dermatologist may consider chemical peels or laser for pigment, skin-quality treatments such as skin boosters or polynucleotides for thin skin, and tear trough filler for structural hollowing. Many people benefit from a combined, staged plan rather than one treatment. If you are looking into dark circles treatment in Dubai, here is how the options typically map to each type.

For pigmented dark circles

Both require care in medium and deeper skin tones, which carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkening after irritation). Settings, strength and spacing need to be adapted to your skin, and strict sun protection matters before and after.

For thin skin and vascular dark circles

For structural dark circles

Tear trough filler, a hyaluronic acid dermal filler placed carefully beneath the eye, may soften a hollow and reduce the shadow it casts. It is not suitable for everyone. People with significant puffiness, very thin skin or fluid retention can see swelling or a bluish tinge, and like any injectable it carries risks, including rare but serious complications, so it should only be performed by an experienced doctor. Results from fillers are temporary and need maintenance.

Some people will not see meaningful change from any treatment, particularly where genetics and bone structure are the main factors. An honest assessment should tell you that at the start.

When should you see a doctor about dark circles?

Most dark circles are harmless. It is worth seeing a doctor if you notice:

These signs do not mean something is wrong, but they are reasons to rule out underlying medical conditions before treating the area as a cosmetic concern.

How we approach under-eye concerns at Shookra

At our clinic in Business Bay, under-eye concerns start with assessment rather than a treatment menu. A doctor looks at the colour, skin quality and structure of the area, asks about sleep, allergies, sun exposure and family history, and considers whether anything medical needs ruling out first. Where pigment is involved, our Specialist Dermatologist, Dr. Aishani Shah, can advise on options suited to your skin type.

Any plan is then staged, reviewed and adjusted based on how your skin responds, often starting with sun protection and skincare before in-clinic treatment. For a broader view of how skin reflects overall health, see skin, the biomarker you can see.

If under-eye dark circles are bothering you, book a consultation and we will help you understand what is causing them and which options, if any, are likely to help.

Frequently asked questions

Can dark circles go away for good?

It depends on the cause. Circles linked to sleep, allergies or congestion may improve once those are addressed. Pigmented, vascular and structural circles can often be softened with sun protection, skincare and clinical treatment, but genetics and ageing continue, so most people need ongoing care and maintenance to keep improvements.

Do eye creams work for dark circles?

Eye creams may help modestly. Ingredients such as vitamin C, retinoids, niacinamide and caffeine can improve pigment, skin quality or puffiness over weeks to months. They are unlikely to change shadows caused by hollowing, which is a structural issue. Of all skincare products, daily sunscreen around the eyes is often the most useful for pigment.

Does lack of sleep cause dark circles?

Lack of sleep does not usually create dark circles by itself, but it can make them more noticeable. Tiredness can leave skin paler, making blood vessels and shadows easier to see, and fluid may collect under the eyes overnight. Consistent, good-quality sleep often helps the area look fresher.

Are dark circles genetic?

Often, yes. Pigmented dark circles frequently run in families, particularly in medium and deeper skin tones, and inherited facial structure affects how deep the tear trough is. Genetics do not mean nothing can be done, but they shape what is realistic, which is why a proper assessment is useful before choosing a treatment.