# Physiology-Circles under eyes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physiology-circles-under-eyes/229810 "2004-02-18T16:47:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![john31584](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@john31584](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john31584)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physiology-circles-under-eyes/229810/1 "2004-02-18T16:47:09Z")
I was wondering why people get dark circles under their eyes when tired or sick. Why does none of the other skin on our bodies change color when we get tired? ---
**Author:** ![john31584](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@john31584](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john31584)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physiology-circles-under-eyes/229810/2 "2004-02-18T20:10:00Z")
come on, somebody has to know ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/physiology-circles-under-eyes/229810/3 "2004-02-18T20:52:56Z")
Per the Mayo Clinic - [Dark circles - what causes them?](http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=A66AF680-3D65-4036-BAA1DC3B4AD3BE9D) Mostly due to [fatigue](http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=CA6C508B-F6D6-48A7-98A21C6F3C6F2ACA) - rest better, less stress, take better care of yourself and they diminish on their own. > [@](#): > > Chronic and severe dark circles under the eyes may be due to several factors. These include: > \*Increased skin pigment (melanin) > \*Dilated blood vessels > \*Excess skin folds in the eyelids My mom’s family have a history of dilated blood vessels under their eyes. The older they get, the more it looks like they’ve been in a brawl.