“Over the past few months my wife has developed very dark circles under her eyes. I have never seen another person with similar darkness. Is there any medical condition which could cause this? My trouble is she refuses to talk to her GP.”
QUESTION:
My wife and I are in our mid-seventies. Both of us are active and healthy. My wife has always been an attractive woman. She still is, and takes care of her appearance.
However, over the past few months she has developed very dark circles under her eyes. I have never seen another person with similar darkness.
It causes her distress and she finds it increasingly difficult to cover them up satisfactorily.
Is there any medical condition which could cause this? My trouble is she refuses to talk to her GP.
ANSWER:
There are many causes for dark circles under the eyes. In most cases nothing needs to be done. This includes hereditary causes, age and a condition known as peri-orbital hyper-pigmentation, where there is more of the brown pigment melanin in skin around the eyes.
A lack of sleep may also cause them.
Allergies such as hay fever may cause the colour change, from rubbing the area around the eye. Some medications can cause blood vessels to dilate and as the skin under the eyes is delicate the blood vessels are more obvious. Anaemia and liver disease may also be a cause.
If you are concerned that there has been a change in your wife’s appearance then it is worth having her visit her local doctor for further testing.
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