Raccoon eyes are dark purple or blue bruises under your eyes. The name comes from their resemblance to the dark circles under a raccoon's eyes. Show
Doctors sometimes call raccoon eyes periorbital ecchymosis. "Periorbital" means "around the eyes." "Ecchymosis" is a change in color. Raccoon eyes can appear after an injury or illness that causes tiny blood vessels to bleed into the skin under the eyes. They're not the same as the dark circles you get when you're tired. Those dark circles are much milder and aren't from a medical condition. Raccoon eyes are a symptom, not a disease. They aren't dangerous themselves, but they could be a sign of a serious head or eye injury. Consult a doctor, and do that right away if you’ve recently had an injury. What Causes Them?Raccoon eyes are usually a symptom of an injury to the eyes or head. Injuries can stretch and tear tiny blood vessels called capillaries under your eyes. Blood leaks into the skin and turns it a dark purple color. Because the skin under your eyes is very delicate, even a minor injury can cause a lot of blood to pool underneath. Fractures to the face and other head injuries can cause raccoon eyes, although you may not notice them right away. It can take 1 to 3 days after the injury for the dark color to appear. Raccoon eyes can also be a symptom of certain systemic conditions, but that’s not the most likely case. They can happen with primary amyloidosis, a disease that causes an abnormal protein to build up in tissues around the body. Primary amyloidosis can weaken blood vessels so much that a strong sneeze or cough is enough to break them. Other diseases that weaken or stretch the blood vessels can also cause raccoon eyes, including:
Some cancers have raccoon eyes as one of their symptoms, including:
Surgery on the ear, eye, sinuses, or nose can also cause raccoon eyes. Which other symptoms you have depends on the condition that caused your raccoon eyes. Other symptoms of a skull fracture include: Amyloidosis causes symptoms like these: The skin problem itself probably doesn’t need treatment. But if you had a head injury, you’ll need medical help right away. You might need a computed tomography (CT) scan to look for signs of injury in your brain. You may need surgery for a severe fracture or other head injury to remove a clot, fix broken blood vessels, or remove broken pieces of bone. And if you had a concussion, that needs medical care and rest. Most skull fractures will also heal by themselves, but the process can take a few months. Raccoon eyes should go away on their own, although it can take up to 2 weeks. It's normal for the color to change from purple to green or yellow as you heal. That's the blood reabsorbing into your skin. Apply ice packs to your closed eyes to bring down any swelling. SOURCES: American Academy of Ophthalmology: "Evaluation and Management of Orbital Hemorrhage." Amyloidosis Foundation: "Symptoms." BMC Nephrology: "A 64-year-old woman with raccoon eyes following kidney biopsy: a case report." BMJ Case Reports: "Spontaneous periorbital ecchymosis: a rare presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia." Case Reports in Gastroenterology: "Periorbital Ecchymosis (Raccoon Eye) and Orbital Hematoma following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatograpy." Dark circles under the eyes are commonly caused by thinning skin or from swelling and enlarged blood vessels. Dark circles often develop when you haven’t slept in a while. Lack of sleep can also cause puffiness, or “eye bags,” under your eyes. Allergies are another common cause of dark circles. Others include trauma to the eye, low thyroid levels, and loose skin around the eyes. Some people are more likely to get dark circles under their eyes due to genetics. In people with darker-toned skin, under-eye circles may be caused by a true darkening of skin pigment in the area, which is a condition called periorbital hyperpigmentation. Risk factors for dark circles: Many treatments for dark circles are simple, such as getting more sleep and applying creams to help firm and brighten the under-eye area. Stronger treatments, including chemical peels and laser therapy, may be recommended by your dermatologist. Pro Tip When you use skin creams with hyaluronic acid or hydroquinone, be careful not to get them in your eyes! If you do, please get medical attention. —Dr. Ben Hagopian When you’re really tired (or you’re rubbing your eyes a lot), excess fluid may accumulate under your eyes or the blood vessels under your eyes may swell. This can cause light to reflect off the area in a way that makes it look like you have dark under-eye circles. Getting more sleep can help relieve dark circles. Make sure you stick to a regular bedtime and wake-up time, limit alcohol and caffeine, and turn off screens an hour before you go to bed. If you're struggling with chronic insomnia, online programs that teach cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) may also help. For a quick and temporary fix for your dark circles, apply a cold pack or an ice cube to the under-eye area to help constrict swelling and reduce the appearance of dark circles. You can also use under-eye concealer to camouflage them. Seasonal allergies are common and may cause “allergic shiners,” which are dark circles under the eyes caused by swelling of the area and dilated (enlarged) veins. This usually happens in the spring or autumn, when you’re exposed to triggers like grasses, pollen, and certain flowers. In autumn, ragweed is notorious for causing sneezing, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion. Allergies usually get better in the winter, but they may occur year-round if you have indoor allergy triggers, such as pet dander or dust. Treatment for allergies starts with avoiding or removing your triggers. If that’s not possible, try using an over-the-counter (OTC) steroid nasal spray (like Flonase or Nasacort) or an OTC non-drowsy antihistamine (like loratadine or fexofenadine). These medications should help control your allergies and reduce your dark circles. If they don’t, see your doctor. Dr. Rx Many times, a patient will be quite tired or have poor sleep hygiene or be dealing with a major stressful event: new baby at home, work stress, etc. I’ll also ask about symptoms of allergies: Sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes. And I’ll listen for a congested sounding voice. —Dr. Hagopian Take a quiz to find out what's causing your dark circles under eyes. Take dark circles under eyes quiz As you age and are exposed to sun over time, your skin loses firmness, becomes thin, and starts to sag, including under your eyes. The dark circles are usually from sagging or thinning skin rather than a change in your skin’s pigment. It can affect the way light reflects off your skin, making it appear darker. Long-term sun exposure can also cause skin pigment changes. Prevention is the best treatment for loose skin. Limit sun exposure, wear a wide-brimmed hat, hat, and apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. To improve the appearance of loose skin, try using skin creams designed to give your skin more volume and firmness. Creams that contain hyaluronic acid may be particularly helpful. Or, your doctor may prescribe a skin cream containing retinoids, which helps diminish signs of aging, such as dark circles. If the dark circles really bother you, see a dermatologist. Procedures such as chemical peels, laser therapy, fillers (such as Juvederm), and surgery can make dark circles less noticeable. Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. It’s often due to an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack your thyroid gland. Sometimes it can occur after thyroid surgery. Hypothyroidism is much more common in women than men. Risk factors include older age (60+), a family history of thyroid disease, and having been pregnant or delivered a baby in the prior 6 months. Hypothyroidism is treated with synthetic thyroid hormone pills. This can reduce dark circles under your eyes. Periorbital hyperpigmentation is common in dark-skinned people. The circles are caused by an increase in pigmentation under your eyes. You may have it on or around one or both eyelids, or in the under-eye area. There are several causes of periorbital hyperpigmentation, including genetics and inflammation. Treatment may include prescription or OTC skin-lightening creams like hydroquinone on the affected area (be careful not to get them in your eye!). Skin fillers can be injected into the skin to give the skin more fullness. Unfortunately, no treatment for periorbital hyperpigmentation has been proven to provide long-term satisfaction. Less common causes of dark circles under the eyes
Eye bags in childrenIn children, allergies are a common cause of dark circles under the eyes. Fatigue is less likely to be the culprit, since most kids get enough sleep. Pro Tip If you get a lot of sun exposure, regular sun protection (sunglasses, hats and/or sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher) will help too. —Dr. Hagopian Take a quiz to find out what's causing your dark circles under eyes. Take dark circles under eyes quiz Getting rid of dark circlesHealth routine adjustments
Over-the-counter products
Special procedures and treatmentsIf you want a stronger treatment than creams, your dermatologist may recommend in-office procedures to help reduce dark circles, such as:
When to see a doctorDark under-eye circles usually aren’t a cause for concern. But you should see your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
If your dark circles are a cosmetic issue and you want more advanced forms of treatments, see your dermatologist. What medical condition causes dark circles under eyes?Aging, genetics, allergies, lack of sleep and dehydration can all cause dark circles under your eyes.
Do thyroid cause dark circles?Thyroid conditions—both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism—can cause under-eye bags or circles.
Does heart problems cause dark circles under eyes?Q: Can heart problems cause dark circles under your eyes? A:Dark under-eye circles are more often a sign of a sleepless night or allergies than a serious health problem. But in some cases, under eye skin discoloration may indicate a heart or kidney problem.
Does dark circles mean iron deficiency?Anemia or an iron deficiency can result in dark eye circles as not enough oxygen reaches the body's tissues. Liver problems can also be a cause. Any medications that make blood vessels dilate can cause eye circles to darken as well.
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