# What's up with the bags under my eyes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 25, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940 "2004-04-25T18:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/1 "2004-04-25T18:29:08Z")
I get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, I eat three healthy meals a day, I go for a run _nearly_ every day. I never drink alochol or smoke. And yet, I have these sunken dark circles under my eyes. Every day, it looks like I stayed up all night smoking opium, instead of peacefully sleeping. What’s going on here? Is there anything I can do about it (other than trying to cover them, which fails miserably)? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/2 "2004-04-25T20:26:49Z")
Sorry this isn’t going to be more helpful, but…some people just look like that. [Steve Buscemi.](http://www.cinephilia.gr/indie/buscemi1.jpg) [Robert Mitchum.](http://www.meredy.com/mitchum4.jpg) [Marlene Dietrich,](http://www.just-another-site.de/cards/marlene-dietrich_3-200.jpg) although they did what they could with Coverstick. So you’re in good company. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/3 "2004-04-25T20:48:51Z")
Don’t forget [Jack Cafferty](http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/cafferty.jack.html) and [Chris Noth](http://imdb.com/gallery/granitz/1948/Events/1948/ChrisNotha_Busac_983635_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Noth,%20Chris). I can empathize with you; I have much the same problem, always have. Somehow, I don’t ever think it will go away without the aid of plastic surgery. In the meantime, if you have a light complexion you can try a yellow corrective stick like the one made by [Physician’s Formula.](http://www.physiciansformula.com/product_catalog/detail.asp?itemid=00837&scene=facemakeup) The yellow helps cancel out the purplish color, unlike regular concealer which covers imperfectly. ---
**Author:** ![iamme99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/57b2e6/32.png) [@iamme99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamme99)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/4 "2004-04-26T07:30:59Z")
You don’t state your age, but as you get older, your skin gets thinner, especially under your eyes. The dark you are seeing are blood capillaries showing through the thinning skin. If you sunbathe, this will also contribute to skin damage and thinning. You can try to cover up the shadows with a little makeup or try to rebuild the skin. There are many products that claim to help rebuild and refresh the skin. Most are BS. But I’ve had success minimizing this same problem with some products. I’d suggest that you take a look at the copper peptide info and products here: [http://www.skinbio.com/](http://www.skinbio.com/) Also, get some pure emu oil (a little goes a long way…) which is a good moisturizer and anti-inflammatory. Also, you can try an Alpha Lipoic Acid/DMAE/Vitamin C cream. This [Google Search](http://www.google.com/search?q=eyes%20%22dark%20circles%22) will give you some more info. ---
**Author:** ![Tir\_Tinuviel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tir\_Tinuviel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tir_Tinuviel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/5 "2004-04-26T10:43:02Z")
The skin around your eyes tends to have a very slightly darker pigmentation, so this can emphasis “bags” even more. I have dark circles under my eyes, but they are actually caused when I smile the line of the cheek muscle create a crease, which like laughter lines are there whether I’m grinning insanely or not, and gives the impression of bags. boo! ---
**Author:** ![robotic\_panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed8c4c/32.png) [@robotic\_panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robotic_panda)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/6 "2004-04-26T10:49:21Z")
> [@Mercury](#): > > I get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, I eat three healthy meals a day, I go for a run _nearly_ every day. I never drink alochol or smoke. And yet, I have these sunken dark circles under my eyes. Every day, it looks like I stayed up all night smoking opium, instead of peacefully sleeping. > > What’s going on here? Is there anything I can do about it (other than trying to cover them, which fails miserably)? I have the same problem, for me it is hereditary… my mom has them too. I asked my doctor once, he just told me the skin under my eyes is thinner, he gave me no advice on how to get rid of them though. I’ve tried lots and lots of remedies but none of them worked. Unfortunately, the only cure i’ve found is to stop caring about them. _sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/7 "2004-04-26T12:34:16Z")
I’m 21. They’ve been there for years. I’m really pale and don’t sunbathe. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Tom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc348/32.png) [@Big\_Tom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Tom)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-bags-under-my-eyes/241940/8 "2004-04-26T17:15:29Z")
Is there a chance you could have sleep apnea? Maybe you are sleeping the 8 hours, but not truly resting. Just a thought.