What do dark circles under a child’s eyes indicate?

A child may wake up after a full night’s sleep and still have dark circles under the eyes. For some children, this may simply be a family trait.

In others, it could be associated with allergies, persistent nasal congestion or skin conditions. Dark circles, also referred to as periorbital hyperpigmentation, are not a condition in themselves.

While parents may immediately associate dark circles with inadequate sleep or nutritional deficiencies, their causes can be more varied. Their appearance may be due to increased pigmentation, visible blood vessels beneath the thin skin around the eyes, inflammation or shadowing.