Allergic Shiners, Venous Pooling, and Airway Issues

Have you ever noticed those dark circles under your child’s eyes—or maybe your own—and wondered where they came from? We often call them “allergic shiners,” but they’re not just about allergies. These dark shadows can actually tell us a lot about what’s going on with your airway and breathing.

Let’s dive into what’s happening, why it matters, and how myofunctional therapy can help.

What Are Allergic Shiners and Venous Pooling?

Let’s break it down:

• Allergic shiners are those bluish or purplish circles under the eyes. They happen because chronic nasal congestion slows blood flow in the tiny veins under the skin there (Pacheco-González et al., 2016).
• Venous pooling is when blood kind of “hangs out” in one area instead of circulating properly. Around the eyes, this can happen when the airway is blocked or breathing isn’t working as it should (Moseley et al., 2019).

These aren’t just cosmetic concerns. They’re often signs that your body is working extra hard to breathe—especially through the mouth instead of the nose.

Why Are Breathing and Airway Issues to Blame?

Breathing is supposed to be easy, right? In through the nose, out through the nose. But when the airway is blocked—because of allergies, swollen tonsils, or even the habit of mouth breathing—it throws everything off. Here’s how it can cause those dark circles:

1. Congestion: If your nose is blocked, you might breathe through your mouth. That disrupts the blood flow in your face, making those under-eye circles more obvious (Jefferson, 2010).
2. Inflammation: Allergies or chronic nasal issues cause swelling and irritation, which doesn’t help blood flow either (Settipane & Lieberman, 2001).
3. Poor Oxygen Flow: Mouth breathing isn’t as efficient as nasal breathing, so your body doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. This affects your skin, your energy, and even your sleep (Guilleminault et al., 2013).

If you or your child has constant dark circles and stuffy noses, it might be time to think about what’s happening with your breathing.

How Myofunctional Therapy Can Help

Here’s the good news: myofunctional therapy can make a huge difference. It’s a simple, non-invasive way to retrain the muscles of your face, tongue, and mouth to support proper breathing.

Here’s how it works:

1. Switches You to Nasal Breathing: The exercises help strengthen the muscles around your nose and mouth so you naturally breathe through your nose. That clears up congestion and improves blood flow (de Felício et al., 2016).
2. Fixes Tongue Posture: Believe it or not, where your tongue sits in your mouth can affect your airway. Proper tongue posture helps open the airway and encourages better breathing (Huang et al., 2015).
3. Improves Sleep: When your breathing improves, so does your sleep. Better sleep means less fatigue and inflammation, which can help reduce those dark circles over time (Camacho et al., 2015).
4. Sets Kids Up for Success: For kids, these exercises can guide healthy facial growth and prevent long-term airway problems (Guilleminault et al., 2013).

When Should You Get Help?

If you’ve tried everything for those under-eye circles—extra sleep, hydration, allergy meds—but nothing seems to work, it’s worth exploring whether airway issues are the cause. Myofunctional therapy, paired with support from an allergist or ENT doctor, can be a game-changer.

References

1. Camacho, M., et al. (2015). Myofunctional therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep, 38(5), 669–675.
2. de Felício, C. M., et al. (2016). Orofacial myofunctional therapy applied on patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 90, 42–48.
3. Guilleminault, C., et al. (2013). Mouth breathing in children: A marker of future respiratory dysfunction. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 8(1), 17–25.
4. Huang, Y. S., et al. (2015). Clinical utility of orofacial myofunctional therapy in pediatric populations with sleep-disordered breathing. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 79(1), 134–141.
5. Jefferson, Y. (2010). Mouth breathing: Adverse effects on facial growth, health, academics, and behavior. General Dentistry, 58(1), 18–25.
6. Moseley, M. J., et al. (2019). Venous stasis as a contributor to periorbital dark circles. Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, 9(2), 149–155.
7. Pacheco-González, R. M., et al. (2016). Allergic rhinitis and its effect on facial growth and development. Allergy, 71(4), 499–509.
8. Settipane, R. A., & Lieberman, P. (2001). Update on allergic rhinitis. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 86(6), 937–945.