Cross-sectional pilot study of clinical and histopathological features of periorbital dark circles in South Asians

Abstract

Background: Periorbital dark circles are common in all races. Proposed causes include increased vasculature, tear-trough deformity, pigmentary demarcation lines, spongiotic dermatitis, lichenoid dermatitis, acanthosis nigricans, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and heredity. Aims: To evaluate the clinical features and histopathological features of dark circles compared to nearby unaffected skin in South Asians. Methods: Clinical evaluation, skin biopsies, and narrow-band reflectance spectrophotometry of periorbital dark circles and nearby unaffected skin were performed on all subjects. Results: There was a positive correlation between the clinical severity of dark circles and increased melanin based on spectrophotometry. Histological evaluation showed increased dermal melanin content in dark circles compared to normal skin. Limitations: Single-center pilot study. Conclusion: Dark circles in this cohort of South Asians are associated with increased dermal melanin. Other contributing factors may include exaggerated tear trough depression, translucency of eyelid skin, and pigmentary demarcation lines.

Keywords

• dark circles
• melanin
• melanocytes
• periorbital
• pigmentary demarcation lines
• pigmentation
• skin of color
• south asian