Question: Why do some people get dark circles under their eyes? It makes me feel very self-conscious. I always look tired!

Answer: Genetics is the most common culprit for those dark circles. Other possible causes include allergies or chronic nasal obstruction, extreme fatigue, overexposure to the sun, and smoking.

The skin directly under the eyes is probably the thinnest skin you can find on your body, and, not surprisingly, is very delicate. The older people get, the thinner the skin may become. (That is why many older people seem to have blue skin under their eyes. With thinner skin, the blood vessels underneath become more obvious.) Unfortunately, the dark circles are hard to overcome. Our suggestions are:

If you normally don't drink much water, try to consume a few more glasses each day.

Get plenty of rest.

Try not to rub your eyes excessively, as this can make the dark circles worse.

Cold compresses may give some relief.

If you have allergies, try to keep them under control.

If you are a smoker, quit.

Since the dark circles bother you, you may want to check out the many cosmetic products on the market.

You may find comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your concerns. We went to www.google.comm and typed in "dark circles under eyes." There were 1,140 sites listed!