[Health Tip] If Your Child Has 'Dark Circles' Under Their Eyes... "Consider Suspecting Pediatric Allergic Rhinitis"

The cause of 'dark circles' appearing as dark areas under the eyes can be due to melanin pigmentation in the skin around the eyes, thin skin under the eyes revealing blood vessels, fine wrinkles, or fat deposits. However, in children or women, many cases of dark circles are caused by 'allergic rhinitis.' When allergic rhinitis is present, blood circulation in the nasal blood vessels is not smooth, causing blood flow under the eyes to stagnate, and pigmentation deposits on the skin, resulting in dark circles.

Professor Lee Kyung-hoon, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents, Chung-Ang University Hospital. [Photo by Chung-Ang University Hospital]

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If your child has severe dark circles under their eyes, it is worth considering whether allergic rhinitis might be the cause. Professor Lee Kyung-hoon of the Department of Pediatrics (Respiratory Allergy Division) at Chung-Ang University Hospital explained, "It has been confirmed that about 60-70% of pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis have accompanying dark circles," adding, "There are reports that the darker and larger the dark circles, the more severe the allergic rhinitis."

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis is about 18% among children and adolescents under 20 years old, and about 23% have experienced it at least once, making it quite common. The prevalence is higher in adolescents than in younger children. Especially for children, early treatment of allergic rhinitis is important. Severe nasal congestion from rhinitis can cause mouth breathing, leading to frequent respiratory diseases, and negatively affect the development of oral structures and facial contours, potentially causing malocclusion.

Professor Lee stated, "If allergic rhinitis in young children is left untreated for a long time, not only will the treatment period increase later, but it can also negatively affect the child's growth, appearance, personality, and learning ability, leading to decreased concentration, memorization, and memory." He added, "Studies consistently report that children with allergic rhinitis have reduced academic performance, and appropriate treatment has been shown to improve learning performance."

If a child is suspected of having an allergic condition, a hospital visit can confirm the allergen causing the allergy through blood tests or skin reaction tests. About 100 different causes can be checked at once, allowing observation of progress through avoidance of the relevant allergens and medication. In severe cases, active medication and allergy immunotherapy can be considered. Allergy immunotherapy involves gradually and repeatedly exposing the body to the allergen to induce immune tolerance and treat allergic diseases, typically over 3 to 5 years, which can lead to improvement in allergic conditions.

Professor Lee said, "In cases of allergic rhinitis in children, treatment decisions can be made based on the severity and preferences of the child, including avoidance of the causative allergens, medication to relieve symptoms, and immunotherapy." He added, "Immunotherapy can be attempted if symptom control with medication is difficult or long-term medication is required. For children, immunotherapy is possible from age 5, but it is usually started when they enter elementary school."

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