Can allergies cause dark circles?

Why does a nose allergy show up under your eyes?

Nasal congestion causes swelling inside your nose, slowing blood flow in nearby veins. When veins near your eyes swell, the skin above them looks darker and puffy. Allergic shiners can resemble black eyes, but they are not bruises. The darkness can start with a blocked nose, which is an unhelpful place for an eye problem to begin.2

How can you tell whether allergies are involved?

Allergic shiners can look brown, black, gray, blue or purple. Look for accompanying sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itching around your eyes, nose or throat, and red or watery eyes. Children with allergies are more likely to develop allergic shiners than adults.1

Pollen allergies often follow the seasons; dust mites, pet dander and mold can cause symptoms throughout the year. Pollen reaches your nose and throat from the air, so hay fever does not require an actual hay field. Dark circles alone do not identify an allergy: prolonged lack of sleep, a cold, a sinus infection and bruising can also cause them.13

What helps allergy related dark circles?

Treat the nasal allergy and reduce exposure to your triggers. A pharmacist can help you choose antihistamines, a steroid nasal spray or a saline nasal rinse. The right medicine depends on your symptoms, age and health. Follow the medicine leaflet for frequency and duration rather than treating every allergy product as interchangeable.45

For a saline nasal rinse, use distilled or sterilized water with saline. Decongestant nasal sprays should not be used for longer than five days because they can make congestion worse; decongestants should not be used by children under six. People with high blood pressure, heart problems or an enlarged prostate need caution with decongestants.345

Avoid rubbing itchy eyes, which worsens irritation. A cold compress wrapped in a light towel can reduce puffiness; apply it for up to 10 minutes several times a day. For allergic eye symptoms, allergy eye drops need daily use and can take up to two weeks to work. Lubricating drops can ease discomfort but do not stop the allergy process. Leave contact lenses out until symptoms settle.16

How can you reduce repeat episodes?

• For pollen allergies, wear wraparound sunglasses and avoid going outside or drying clothes outdoors when pollen counts are high, if possible.
• For dust mite exposure, wash bedding regularly at 60 degrees Celsius or above, dust with a damp cloth and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• For animal allergies, keep pets out of bedrooms and wash their bedding regularly.
• For mold exposure, keep your home dry and ventilated, and address damp and condensation.

How long do allergic shiners take to fade?

With effective allergy treatment, allergic shiners usually fade within a few weeks. Without treatment, they may disappear a few weeks after your last exposure to the allergen. They can return with later exposure. If medicines are not controlling the allergy, a clinician can consider other treatments, including allergy immunotherapy, which gradually builds tolerance to the trigger.15

When should you get medical help?

Arrange an appointment if dark circles last longer than a few weeks, or if allergy symptoms disrupt sleep or daily life, worsen, or do not improve with pharmacy treatment. An examination and, sometimes, skin or blood tests can help identify nasal allergies.134

Seek urgent eye care for persistent blurred vision, noticeable eye pain or sensitivity to light. Bruising after a blow to your face or head needs prompt medical assessment. Sudden black eyes with no identifiable cause also need immediate assessment rather than being assumed to be allergies.26