Under-eyes in children

Dark circles under the eyes appear not only in adults suffering from stress at work, lack of sleep and other harmful factors affecting the body. Children can also face the problem of darkening of the lower eyelids. Before sounding the alarm when you discover this sign in a child, you should familiarize yourself with its possible provocateurs.

Why does my child have bruises under his eyes?

Are bruises under the eyes always a worrying symptom?

Dark circles under the eyes in children do not always indicate dysfunction of organs and other ailments. In cases where the skin on the eyelids is very thin, a pronounced blue or purple tint on them is often observed from birth. Also, blue circles in a child, which are not a sign of illness, are formed due to the deep seating of the eyes or the location of blood vessels close to the epidermis.

Circles under the eyes of a child

Important: the problem is inherited. If it is passed on to the child genetically, it will be noticeable from an early age.

Circles under the eyes of a child

Why do teenagers have dark circles under their eyes?

The active lifestyle of teenagers, playing sports, riding bicycles, rollerblading, often leads to various types of injuries, especially around the eyes. It cannot be ignored; there may be complications. It is important to see a doctor right away.

Probably every mother knows how in the morning the traces of a night's vigil at the computer are clearly visible on her face. Excessive physical and emotional stress, the desire to do everything, to try everything, is imprinted in deep circles for a long time. Helping a teenager find the right rhythm of life and protect him from stress and worries is the duty of every loving parent.

Disease provocateurs

Darkening of the eyelids in a child is a symptom of a number of diseases of different body systems, the appearance of which does not take long to appear. That is why, when this sign is detected, it is recommended to immediately pay attention to the child’s well-being . Ailments that are symptomatic of bruises under the eyes in children include the following.

1. Disorders of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. The group includes diseases of the pancreas, intestines, etc. With these ailments, bruises have a reddish or yellowish tint. Also, the scarlet color of the lower eyelids indicates diseases of the oral cavity.

   
   Bruises under the eyes of a child

2. Diseases of the liver and gall bladder . A characteristic feature of darkening of the lower eyelids is a brown color. The diseases are accompanied by yellowing of the skin, sclera of the eyes, pain in the right side, a feeling of bitterness in the mouth and indigestion.
3. Respiratory system diseases. Their lower eyelids are very dark, as the body suffers from a lack of oxygen. Disturbances in the functioning of the respiratory system are accompanied by difficulty breathing, dizziness, changes in voice and a general deterioration in well-being.

   
   Classification of respiratory diseases

4. Infestation with parasites . In a child suffering from worms or giardia, not only the eyelids darken, but also the complexion deteriorates (the skin takes on a sickly pale or grayish tone). After infection with parasites, children develop problems with stool, their appetite sharply worsens or improves, and their productivity decreases. In cases where a child suffers from worms, his anus itches. When infected with Giardia, children have pain in the abdominal area.
5. Diseases of the reproductive and urinary system . Bruises have a distinct violet-blue color. Difficulty urinating, pain in the back and lower abdomen, discharge from the genitals and discomfort in their area are possible characteristic symptoms.
6. Diseases of the heart and blood vessels . Bruises under the eyes do not have any obvious features. With diseases of the cardiovascular system in children, poor blood pressure, frequent dizziness, headaches, nausea and lethargy.

Heart diseases

Attention: bruises under the eyes in children also appear due to an allergic reaction. They have a red tint, and the child often sneezes, suffers from nasal congestion and watery eyes.

Why do eyes suffer from allergies?

Diseases with dark circles under the eyes

The reasons for their development are not always so harmless. Sometimes they can hide serious illnesses that can threaten the life and health of your baby.

Anemia

Parents often have to deal with this pathology, especially those children who belong to the category of “little children.” Since a lack of hemoglobin can manifest itself in the form of dark circles under the eyes. These changes occur due to changes in the structure of the skin.

It poses a particular danger in infancy, as it can contribute to developmental delays. To identify these changes, a general blood test is taken repeatedly in children under one year of age. But in cases where the baby has bruises under the eyes, and there are no changes in the blood test, it is recommended to donate blood again after one to two months, since the body is able to replenish the lack of iron from its reserves.

Associated symptoms of this pathology may be weakness, headache, fatigue, fainting, loss of appetite, and dizziness.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe iron supplements and include foods high in iron in the diet. These include: buckwheat, liver, apples, pomegranates, etc.

Kidney dysfunction

Dysfunction in the urinary system and kidney disease (for example, chronic renal failure) also contribute to the development of periorbital shadows. In most cases, their occurrence occurs in the morning. At the same time, the skin of the face becomes more edematous or “puffy.” If pathology is not detected in a timely manner or complications occur, the color of urine may change, blood pressure may increase, and dysuria may occur.

Allergic conditions

An allergic reaction in a baby to any allergen can also contribute to the appearance of shadows in this area of ​​the face. In this case, it is necessary to first eliminate this factor and prescribe antihistamines to the child.

Vascular diseases

Pathology of the cardiovascular system can also cause these changes. They arise because the disrupted functioning of the endocardium and myocardium contributes to blood retention in the blood vessels, and since the skin in this area of ​​the face is thin, they look like shadows. They often appear in the evening and are absent in the morning.

Helminths

Parasites in babies can provoke the appearance of periorbital shadows. This is due to the fact that they contribute to poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients in the child’s body, and in addition, helminths secrete toxins (their waste products). Additional symptoms in this case will be pain in the umbilical area, bloating, increased or decreased appetite, and weakness.

Adenoid vegetations

Often the cause of this pathology in children is adenoids (proliferation of lymphoid tissue in the nasopharynx). As a result of these changes, the nasal passages are blocked and it is difficult for the baby to breathe. This factor contributes to brain hypoxia, thinning of the skin around the eyes and the appearance of shadows in the periorbital area.

Liver diseases

Periorbital shadows are a consequence of intoxication manifestations or fatty damage to this organ.

Other reasons

In most cases, the child’s lower eyelids become blue not due to serious damage to certain organs, but due to the influence of negative factors that are not difficult to eliminate.

1. Contaminated air . A smoky and smoky room is a place where a child should not be. In this case, bruises under the eyes of children are a signal that toxins in the air have a detrimental effect on the child’s body.
2. Lack of sleep . With poor quality sleep or lack of it, the child constantly looks apathetic and lethargic, even if he is not overloaded physically and mentally.
3. Poor nutrition. We are talking not only about poisoning with low-quality food, but also about an unbalanced diet. Dark lower eyelids indicate a lack of calcium and vitamins B and E.

   
   Possible Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

4. Stress . It is provoked not only by the child’s personal experiences, but also by mental fatigue. Bruises under the eyes are observed in those children who spend too much time studying and various sections, without having time to mentally rest.
5. Injuries . Dark circles under the eyes appear after injuries to the eyelids and nose. In such cases, the bruises are different from each other - one is more noticeable than the other, or a change in the color of the eyelids is present only on one side of the face.
6. Physical exercise . Bruises on the eyelids form during intense physical activity. This kind of overwork of the body occurs in hyperactive children and novice athletes.

Dark circles under the eyes

Attention: the causes of the disease can also include excessive watching of TV or using various gadgets.

About harmless and easily removable reasons

The parents of every second child complain from time to time about the appearance of strange circles under the eyes. Bruise is different from bruise, and it is very important to understand which bruises should cause concern and be the basis for examination, and which are just an individual feature of the baby’s appearance.

“I was born this way”

If a child has deep-set eyes, then circles under the eyes are just a common appearance feature. As a rule, one of the parents has exactly the same ones. Bruises often accompany fair-skinned children, who from birth have very thin skin, blond hair, and blue eyes. Their small vessels come so close to the thin translucent skin under the eyes that it really creates the illusion of bruises.

Both of these cases should not cause any concern to parents. Such “cosmetic” bruises may, by the way, disappear altogether over time, since the facial bones of the skull are actively growing and changing facial features.

Fatigue

The most harmless reasons for the appearance of circles under the eyes, according to Komarovsky, are banal overwork and lack of sleep. If parents raise a child without a specific routine, do not insist on mandatory daytime sleep, and also do not regulate the time that the child spends in front of the TV or computer monitor, then the appearance of dark circles is an understandable consequence of severe fatigue.

Such bruises also do not require examination by doctors . It is enough to establish a daily routine, make sure that the child sleeps at a quiet hour, goes to bed on time in the evening and gets full rest at night. Cartoons and computer games are limited.

Worms and other parasites

Quite often, bruises under the eyes appear in children whose intestines have parasites. This happens because helminths secrete waste products that are toxic to the baby. At the same time, the child’s hemoglobin level in the blood decreases.

You need to carefully watch your child. If dark circles are accompanied by other symptoms (decreased or increased appetite, weight loss, headaches, itching in the perineal area), the child must be shown to an infectious disease doctor and undergo blood and stool tests. After treatment aimed at getting rid of parasites, the circles under the eyes will disappear without a trace.

Poor nutrition

With an unbalanced diet, irregular meals, and also if the child’s diet contains products of low and questionable quality, the body reacts to this gastronomic chaos with general systemic metabolic disorders. At the same time, circles under the eyes also appear. They may be evidence of a lack of certain vitamins, most often group B, vitamin E, A and D, as well as calcium. Blood tests and consultation with a pediatrician will help identify these disorders.

Weakened immunity

If a child has recently suffered from an illness, especially a viral one, the appearance of circles under the eyes should not surprise parents at all, says Komarovsky. Children's imperfect immunity is “tired”, hemoglobin has decreased. It is enough to give the child a rest after illness, not to take him to kindergarten or school right away, to walk in the fresh air more often and eat more fruits and vegetables so that such circles under the eyes disappear within a maximum of one week.

This is where the relatively “easy” reasons end. More serious things are starting to happen.

About “painful” reasons

Sometimes circles under the eyes indicate pathological processes associated with poor circulation and disruptions in the lymphatic system. The first thing Komarovsky advises to examine is the kidneys. Usually, an ultrasound of the kidneys is quite enough to, together with blood and urine tests, show the true state of the excretory system. Typically, in children with kidney diseases, circles under the eyes are combined with the formation of bags and general swelling of the face (especially in the morning, after a night's sleep)

Deep blue bruises may indicate heart problems. Their appearance is associated with oxygen starvation of the entire body, which develops against the background of cardiovascular diseases.

Red bruises and circles of a reddish hue can be external manifestations of an allergy. An inadequate reaction can be caused by absolutely any type of allergy - food, seasonal, drug, allergy to animal hair, house dust.

Dark circles under the eyes often accompany inflammation and proliferation of the palatine tonsil in children, which is popularly called simply “adenoids.” In this case, nasal breathing is impaired, sometimes it is completely absent. If a child has been in this state for quite a long time, not only dark circles under the eyes appear on his face, but also special facial changes, which in medicine are called “adenoid mask” (mouth half open, chin down).

Brown circles - bruises can be a sign of hepatitis, liver disease, and thyroid disease. Saturated yellows are sometimes a sign of problems with hematopoietic processes.

And very rarely (but this also happens) circles under the eyes appear due to diseases in the oral cavity - for example, with caries. In this case, you need to trust the pediatric dentist. After successful treatment, the circles will disappear the next day.

Circles in infants

In toddlers in the first year of life, dark circles under the eyes may appear due to fatigue, disruption of sleep and wakefulness, as well as due to a deficiency of iron and essential vitamins (if for some reason there are not enough of them in breast milk). Children under 12 months with this problem should definitely be shown to a pediatrician to get comprehensive answers to all questions.

About “emergency” conditions

“Ambulance” for dark circles under the eyes should be called without unnecessary hesitation in two cases: if the child’s facial features sharply sharpen (sunken eyes) and pronounced bruises appear, at the same time breathing problems and severe weakness arise. This may indicate acute heart problems that require prompt hospitalization and qualified medical care.

The second case is the appearance of deep bruises under the eyes due to vomiting or prolonged diarrhea. In this case, the circles indicate the onset of acute dehydration. Dehydration is deadly for children, especially young ones.

Also read: Antiretroviral therapy for AIDS

How to treat?

Evgeny Komarovsky advises not to panic. If a child’s bruises are not a feature of their appearance, then you should consult a pediatrician. The doctor will prescribe laboratory tests of blood, urine, and feces. If necessary, an ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary tract will be performed. If the cause is in the kidneys, the child will be treated by a nephrologist and urologist.

If your kidneys are normal, your pediatrician will refer you to a cardiologist to check your heart function. The doctor will find out if the child has vegetative-vascular dystonia, measure blood pressure, and, if necessary, do an electrocardiogram and ultrasound of the heart and blood vessels.

If the reason remains a secret, then the pediatrician is obliged to send the child to an allergist, who will conduct allergy tests and find out if the child is allergic to something. Treatment can be prescribed in a variety of ways (depending on the true cause). If there are worms, then antihelminthics and vitamins; if there are allergies, then antihistamines; if there is kidney damage, then diuretics and antibiotics. Since circles themselves are not a disease, there is no need to treat them directly. The pathology that caused such a “cosmetic effect” should be treated.

Usually there are no problems with diagnosing the causes, says Evgeny Komarovsky. In 70% of cases (and even more), parents’ worries turn out to be false—no pathologies are detected. If for their own peace of mind the mother and grandmother urgently need to take the child to specialists’ offices and undergo a bunch of tests, then let them do it. According to Evgeniy Komarovsky, unnecessary examinations have made no one feel worse.

It will be much better for the child himself if mom and dad reconsider his daily routine, provide him with a good night's rest (in a room that is well ventilated, where it is not hot or stuffy) and finally “tear” the child away from the computer and send him for a walk. Fresh air.

As a rule, all circles and bruises under the eyes disappear within a few days if the child begins to lead an active lifestyle and eat properly. Household members should definitely add foods high in iron to their baby’s diet - chicken yolk, buckwheat porridge, seaweed, liver.

There should be no hint of any allergens in the house - mom should clean without detergents, especially those containing chlorine. Children's linen and bedding should only be washed with hypoallergenic baby powders.

Komarovsky advises not to forget about proper drinking regimen . If the baby consumes little fluid, his metabolism is disrupted, as evidenced by circles under the eyes. The water requirement is calculated using the formula “child’s weight x 30”.

You should not drink soda, but clean drinking water, fruit drinks, homemade compote, tea. All drinks, reminds Evgeny Komarovsky, should be at room temperature, so it will be absorbed faster in the small intestine.

See the short video below for the reasons for the appearance of bruises under the eyes of a child.

medical reviewer, psychosomatics specialist, mother of 4 children

They say that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. And they reflect everything that happens inside, clearly evidenced by dark bluish circles under the eyes.

This is how our problems accumulated by a “saturated” life are highlighted.

What about our children? Why do these little ones get swollen and puffy eyes, bags and bruises? This is a serious reason to think about visiting a doctor or you just need to reconsider your baby’s daily routine.

Due to thickening of the skin of the lower eyelid.

Treatment methods

Treatment of bruises under the eyes in children involves many different methods, which are selected by the doctor depending on the cause of the phenomenon.

How to get rid of dark circles under the eyes

Table. Methods of getting rid of the disease and their descriptions.

Attention: specialists prescribe any of the methods only after a thorough diagnosis. It involves an initial examination, taking into account the patient’s complaints and laboratory tests. If necessary, ultrasound, x-rays and other manipulations are required.

The bruises under the eyes are red. Red bruises under the eyes of a child: look for the cause in allergies

Red circles are not a black eye for no reason, but a serious phenomenon.
Most often, allergic reactions of the body are to blame. This is not exactly a disease, but the condition is not the most pleasant. Komarovsky and colleagues associate red bruises under the eyes with allergies. So, if you find red bruises under your child’s eyes, look for reasons in dust, plants, pets or food. Take your child to an allergist and get tested. All this is treated with antihistamines. Remove all potential allergens from your home, wash children's clothes and bedding with hypoallergenic powder, and wash floors with chlorine-free products.

Rarely, but there are other reasons for this problem. Occasionally, Komarovsky associates red bruises under the eyes with diseases of the oral cavity or teething. And tonsillitis may also be to blame.

If a one-year-old child has bruises under the eyes, the reasons can be quite simple. For example, a baby’s teeth are growing.

"Painful Reasons"

Very often, dark circles appear as a result of illness. So, if you find dark and intense bruises under the eyes of a child, Komarovsky looks for the reasons in heart disease. VSD may also be to blame. Against the background of all diseases of this organ and blood vessels, oxygen starvation develops, which also affects skin color.

They can also be almost black. The already mentioned tonsillitis, as well as adenoids, that is, an enlarged palatine tonsil, may be to blame here. In general, if the baby has difficulty breathing, there is plaque on his tonsils, and there is swelling on his face, in addition, the child has bruises under the eyes for reasons, Komarovsky recommends examining the nasopharynx for the presence of respiratory diseases. Sometimes the problem can only be solved through surgery. Such ailments also provoke oxygen starvation.

Reddish-yellow bruises under the eyes of a child have other causes. So, they can appear due to diseases of the teeth or oral cavity, as well as the digestive system. Show your baby to a gastroenterologist or dentist.

If a child has problems with urination and swelling, as well as bruises under the eyes, Komarovsky suggests looking for reasons in kidney ailments. To understand whether this is true or not, an ultrasound examination of this organ is sufficient.

But brown circles in a child hint at hepatitis. And they can also be provoked by other ailments of the liver, gall and pancreas. The origin of brown bruises under the eyes of a child, the causes and treatment should be found out from a gastroenterologist or hepatologist. Brown circles can also be caused by thyroid problems.

What else can cause such changes on the face? Firstly, circulatory disorders and problems with the lymphatic system, as well as blood diseases. To clarify the diagnosis, perform blood tests.

There is only one conclusion. If you are alarmed by bruises under your child's eyes, check with your pediatrician for the causes and treatment. You will need to examine your kidneys and heart first.

When treating, the main thing is not to get rid of the dark circles themselves, but from the cause that provoked them.

Prevention

To prevent the child's lower eyelids from acquiring a blue tint, parents need to take into account a number of doctors' advice.

1. Fresh air is good for the respiratory system and the body as a whole . You need to take care of the cleanliness and humidity of the air in the house, and also let your child go for walks every day if the weather conditions are favorable.
2. Daily routine is extremely important for a child. Preschoolers are recommended to sleep at least 10 hours, and schoolchildren - at least 8. The earlier the child goes to bed, the better. An afternoon nap helps prevent fatigue and deterioration of the body’s protective functions.

   
   How long should a child sleep?

3. The child's nutrition should be complete and healthy . Parents should ensure that their child consumes the required dose of minerals and vitamins every day. The less preservatives, dangerous fats and toxins in your diet, the better.
4. Parents need to monitor the child's mental and physical activity . When he appears overtired and complains of fatigue, it is recommended to limit his activity and allow him to rest in a calm environment.
5. Any changes in children’s well-being are a reason to be wary . The development of many serious diseases is almost asymptomatic, but some of their signs still make themselves felt. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better the prognosis.
6. Rare use of a computer and other gadgets is one of the keys to maintaining the health of the visual organs and the cardiovascular system. Electronic devices with a monitor are integral assistants of modern people, but their use should not be abused. It is worth recommending that children take walks outside or read books as leisure activities.

Child and computer

Important: the child must be explained that even minor injuries can be extremely dangerous to health. Particular care should be taken to protect the head from bruises and cuts.

Bruises under the eyes of a child are a feature that requires attention

Even if parents are confident that the cause of the disease is physiological and hereditary, it is worth paying more attention to the child’s life and health. Prevention in the form of correction of the daily routine, diet and other processes will not be superfluous and will prevent many health problems. If there are doubts or suspicions of illness, parents are advised to show their child to a doctor.

Sometimes bruises under the eyes indicate serious problems.

Bruises under the eyes in women and men

In adulthood, the cause of dark circles under the eyes can be diseases of the kidneys, heart, or vascular system. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor to confirm or deny the presence/absence of diseases.

In women, dark circles under the eyes appear for various reasons. One of the most popular is the use of low-quality or incorrectly selected cosmetics (the skin around the eyes is too thin, so you need to choose a cream and gel with a very light structure), sudden weight loss, increased nervousness or enthusiasm for mono-diets.

In adults, the most popular causes of dark circles under the eyes are:

• too close arrangement of blood vessels under the skin around the eyes - bruises are constantly visible;
• disorders of skin pigmentation, when the color of the dermis is not the same as “wanted”;
• age-related changes - every year the body “dries out”, the skin becomes less elastic, the dermis around the eyes sags and its tint becomes bluish;
• weight loss - if the weight loss is great, then the skin may not “keep up”, so it tightens and turns into blue “bags”, this is typical for women over the age of 30;
• bad habits (use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, which remove vitamins from the body and interfere with the absorption of nutrients);
• deficiency of vitamin C, which is necessary to protect the body from disease and is extremely important for maintaining skin elasticity (eat more garlic, fruits, berries, honey);
• long-term work at a PC (your eyes get tired, your body moves little): if you work or “rest” at a PC for more than two hours a day, you need to lead a more active lifestyle and take a break for 5-10 minutes every half hour (walk, do a warm-up, pull yourself up on the horizontal bar);
• stress and nervous tension: every person is exposed to stress factors every day, but whether they affect health depends on the state of the body, so it is necessary to exercise, strengthen the body and take care of it every day.

Adults who love books but have poor reading hygiene often develop blue bags or circles. They appear faster in women, because... the weaker sex has thinner skin around the eyes. Therefore, it is important to take a break every 20-30 minutes, distract yourself from reading (at least look into the distance, or better yet, get up, walk and do eye exercises).

In men , blue circles appear when the stronger sex leads an unhealthy lifestyle, has bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol), and sleeps little. Allergies to medications, foods, and plants are also possible causes. Or latent (sluggish) diseases that have not yet been diagnosed.