Vitamin C, zinc or iron deficiency: responsible for the appearance of dark circles around the eyes?

Diet plays a significant role in skin health. Indeed, the onset of certain skin diseases, such as eczema or psoriasis, is sometimes correlated with nutritional deficiencies. It is not uncommon for a dietary rebalance to be accompanied by an improvement in skin appearance. Regarding dark circles, it is sometimes suggested that a deficiency in vitamin C, zinc, or iron, three nutrients that the body needs to function, could promote their appearance. It is true that vitamin C, zinc, and iron are involved in several skin mechanisms, the disruption of which could favour the development of dark circles.

While it is possible that a deficiency in Vitamin C, zinc, or iron could contribute to the onset of dark circles, there is currently no research establishing a solid link.

Vitamin C deficiency and dark circles: could there be a link?

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps combat free radicals, compounds that damage the proteins, lipids, and DNA of skin cells. By neutralising these free radicals, this vitamin aids in protecting collagen from oxidative damage and degradation. In the periorbital area, a lack of collagen results in weakened and thinned skin, making the small subcutaneous blood vessels more visible and thus exacerbating dark circles. Furthermore, vitamin C is a key cofactor in collagen synthesis. It indeed facilitates the hydroxylation of pro-collagen, a precursor of collagen. Lastly, it should be noted that vitamin C can curb the production of melanin by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for the conversion of tyrosine into melanin, which could have a lightening effect on brown dark circles.

Taking into account these various mechanisms, it is plausible to hypothesise that a deficiency in Vitamin C could lead to the development of vascular, pigmented, and structural dark circles. However, this has not yet been the subject of any studies.

Can a zinc deficiency cause dark circles under the eyes?

As a member of the trace elements group, zinc plays a significant role in numerous chemical reactions within the body. For instance, it is involved in the synthesis of proteins, including elastin and collagen, which, as previously explained, can help to conceal dark circles. Zinc also assumes a crucial anti-inflammatory role for the body and skin. It is notably involved in the modulation of the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and interleukin-6, and promotes the activity of regulatory T lymphocytes. It can be hypothesised that a zinc deficiency could trigger chronic inflammation of the periorbital area, likely to disrupt blood and lymphatic circulations and cause dark circles and bags.

It seems plausible that a zinc deficiency could disrupt these biological processes and promote the appearance of dark circles. However, once again, it is impossible to confirm this without scientific research.

Dark Circles and Iron Deficiency: Another Avenue to Explore?

An iron deficiency could also be linked to the occurrence of dark circles due to the major role that iron plays in blood circulation. Indeed, iron is a key component of haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that ensures the transport of oxygen throughout the body and the removal of carbon dioxide. When iron levels are insufficient, haemoglobin can no longer function properly, resulting in a decrease in the amount of oxygen delivered to tissues, including those in the periorbital area. This tissue hypoxia can cause dilation of the small blood vessels under the thin skin around the eyes, making the vessels more visible and thus accentuating the dark colouration of the circles.

The potential link between dark circles and iron deficiency was suggested in a recent clinical study. This involved 130 adults with pronounced dark circles. Several biological analyses were conducted, and researchers noted an iron deficiency in 61 individuals, equating to 46.9% of the volunteers. Although it is impossible to attribute the dark circles of these individuals entirely to their iron deficiency, it is possible that this contributes to their prominence. It would be interesting for more studies on this subject to be conducted, in order to confirm or refute this hypothesis.

The emergence of dark circles under the eyes is a multifactorial phenomenon. Although scientific evidence linking their formation to nutritional deficiencies is currently lacking, this avenue remains promising and could be the subject of in-depth research in the coming years.