What causes dark circles under baby's eyes?

Speaking of dark circles, everyone knows that it is a common phenomenon among young people. Because of staying up late, the dark circles will be very serious. However, patients with dark circles under the eyes include not only young people but also infants. Dark circles under babies' eyes can scare parents, after all, a baby's main job is to drink milk and sleep. So, what are the causes of dark circles under babies’ eyes? Let’s take a look at it below.

The two obvious dark circles under the baby's watery eyes often make people think that it is caused by staying up late at night. In fact, if parents find that their baby has dark circles, they should be alert. It may be a symptom caused by an allergic disease. They can take the baby to a pediatrician for diagnosis to avoid allergies affecting future learning and attention.

Dark circles are caused by the thin skin around the eye sockets and less subcutaneous tissue. When blood circulation is not smooth or blood vessels dilate, the eye area will become dark and dark. Some appear red, some appear black and purple. At the same time, there will be a thick, almost swollen feeling around the eyes. Since they usually surround the eyes in a semi-moon shape, they are commonly known as dark circles.

Causes of dark circles under baby's eyes

Dark circles under the baby's eyes are generally not related to sleep time. Babies sleep more than ten hours a day, so dark circles caused by lack of sleep will generally not appear. Generally speaking, the most common causes of dark circles under the baby's eyes are:

1. Allergic rhinitis. Children with allergic constitutions may suffer from allergic rhinitis and respiratory tract infections. Due to poor circulation in the nasal triangle, they develop so-called allergic dark circles, which are the most common cause of dark circles. Usually, as the symptoms of rhinitis become more severe and the duration of the disease increases, the color, size, and depth of the dark circles under the children's eyes become more obvious.

To diagnose whether a child has allergic rhinitis, you can learn from the following points:

(a) Family history: whether the parents, especially the mother, have allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma or atopic dermatitis.

(b) Personal history: Does the baby have atopic dermatitis?

(c) Clinical symptoms: In addition to dark circles caused by nasal congestion, changes in temperature and humidity, and exposure to allergens such as dust and dust, in addition, does the baby often sneeze, itchy nose, runny nose, itchy eyes and other symptoms.

(d) Laboratory tests: Skin tests or blood draws to see if the baby is sensitive to allergens in the environment.

2. Acute and chronic sinusitis. It is a common complication of upper respiratory tract infection or allergic rhinitis. In addition to nasal congestion, patients often have purulent and yellow nasal discharge, accompanied by irritating cough.

3. Other factors. Such as heredity, pigmentation, keratinization of eyelid skin, etc.

Allergies occur, dark circles become worse

Therefore, when a young child at home has dark circles under his eyes, you must first find out the cause before you can prescribe the right medicine. If the cause is not eliminated, the dark circles will persist or even worsen. Whether it is a sign of allergy or a genetic factor requires further understanding through allergy testing. It is generally recommended to test after the age of three. Nasal mucosal cell staining can also be performed to understand whether the allergy is caused by a high level of eosinophils in the nasal mucosal cells.

[Note]: Blood cells can be divided into many types, including: neutrophils, eosinophils, alkaliphils, lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. Different causes of disease cause an increase in different types of white blood cells. The eosinophil content ratio can be used as a treatment indicator, such as nasal mucus blood cell microscopy. A high ratio of neutrophils to eosinophils in nasal mucus is associated with allergies.

Since dark circles are mostly caused by allergic constitution, this may be related to allergic rhinitis, which causes edema of the sinus mucosa. Currently, there is no special and effective treatment except for treating allergies. Parents can be advised that they should feed their baby breast milk as much as possible in the first 4 to 6 months after birth, because the mother's colostrum contains immunoglobulin A, which can help fight pathogens and allergens that infiltrate the intestines. If it is not convenient to feed, hydrolyzed milk powder can be used instead.

Dark circles are a physical condition and therefore cannot be completely cured, they can only be improved. Even if the condition improves, allergies will still cause dark circles to reappear or worsen.

Prevent allergies through lifestyle and diet

The formation of dark circles under the baby's eyes is closely related to allergies. The following points are recommended for attention in life:

＊Life tips:

1. Eating functional lactic acid bacteria can improve allergy symptoms.

2. Women should avoid eating highly allergenic foods during pregnancy to reduce the birth of allergic babies.

3. It is best for babies to consume breast milk for 6 months during breastfeeding, which can reduce the baby's allergic symptoms in the future.

4. Avoid inhaling secondhand smoke and other irritating gases.

5. Eating more foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids (such as deep-sea fish) and reducing fried foods can reduce the incidence of allergies.

6. Keep the house ventilated, let in sunlight, and avoid dust accumulation.

7. Do not place potted plants indoors to prevent pollen from flying.

8. Wear clothing made of chemical fibers and do not use cotton or feather products.

9. Do not use carpets, cloth curtains or sofas in the house. In addition, it is best not to keep pets because animal dander can easily cause allergic symptoms in babies.

10. Take your baby to do more outdoor activities to enhance resistance and reduce allergic symptoms, such as swimming, cycling or jogging.

11. Use dust-proof bedding or change bedding frequently.

*food:

Many reports show that the degree of respiratory inflammation and sensitivity in patients with asthma or chronic lung disease is closely related to the intake of vitamin C. The less vitamin C a person takes, the more severe the allergic symptoms. Green vegetables, green peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, citrus fruits, grapefruit and other fruits are rich in vitamin C. In addition, colored fruits and vegetables are rich in beta-carotene, which has antioxidant properties, and children should be encouraged to consume more of them.

In addition, proper intake of deep-sea fish

Oil or fish can provide high amounts of ω-3 unsaturated fatty acids, which can reduce the production of inflammatory substances in the body.

As for foods that need to be avoided, they are proteins, soy products, and shellfish such as shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, scallops, etc., which are more likely to cause allergies. For children who have already developed allergic symptoms, they should also eat less cold and high-fat, high-calorie foods.

Keep the environment clean and say goodbye to dark circles

The proportion of children with allergies continues to rise worldwide, making modern parents pay more attention to their children's allergy problems. Since allergies are mainly caused by congenital constitution and acquired stimulation, if both parents have allergic constitutions, they should pay special attention to the child's physiological phenomena and environmental changes to ensure the child's health.

Dark circles are usually a sign of allergies. Manifestations of allergies include allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis, conjunctivitis, food allergies, and systemic anaphylaxis. The symptoms and severity vary from person to person depending on the allergens and constitution. Because symptoms often recur, they are very annoying.

If parents suspect their children have allergies, they should take them to a professional medical institution for testing and follow the doctor's instructions for treatment. Usually, if it is identified early, most cases can be well controlled and their symptoms can be alleviated through a combination of diet, environment and medication. Only by maintaining their quality of life and a clean environment can we keep children away from the trouble of dark circles.

The above is an introduction to what causes dark circles under babies’ eyes. What needs to be reminded here is that since babies have low resistance and are often unable to express their feelings, dark circles under their eyes may be caused by harmful factors such as allergies, allergic rhinitis, and asthma, so they need to be taken very seriously and it is best to seek medical attention in a timely manner.