Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hello,

I was wondering if any other MTFs have come across this kind of issue before. Maybe it's not related to transition but the timeline seems similar.

Over the last year (since around the time I started HRT) my eyes have been gathering these horrible blue shading. This starts around the tear duct and radiates outward from there, but mainly underneath the eye. I get the same amount of sleep I always have (around 7 hours) and drink plenty of liquids. Nothing has changed in my diet but the blue colour under my eye is very strong and is becoming difficult to cover up.

I've read in some places that this could be iron deficiency or possibly Vitamin K but I wanted to canvas the opinion of the trans community in case anybody else has suffered with this?

Thanks in advance,

Emily x


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Hi Emily!
I'm at a much earlier stage of HRT than you, but I did see a still very faint shadow similar to those you describe. I think it is due to the fact that the feminine hormonal environment leads to a thinning of the skin (which is already especially thin) and to a certain degree of atrophy of the sebaceous glands (which are remarkably abundant in the eyelid). At most other places this is of no real consequence, but around the eyes these structures confer to the skin much of its opacity... So if they thin out, it becomes more translucid and structures underneath become visible: muscle, blood vessels... And I think that is the explanation for the blue shading... I was partially succesful at reducing it with a moisturizing cream (Diadermine Lift Intense Eye Care Cream) used twice a day, but in order to obtain the best cosmetic result I still need to use a minute amount of concealer (Max Factor Mastertouch All Day Concealer, color "Fair"). Hope this helps...
Hugs, Sarah

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I had that before hormones, still have even after, to me it's not as bad as it was before though. I wish I knew how to make it go away. Makeup hides it easily, but people don't usually notice it. My ex told me he never noticed it and even said that it's not even as bad as I think. I wish it would go away completely.

I had the blue develop under my eyes while I was off hormones. Within a month of returning to HRT, the blue faded. I think what happened was fat was redistributed under my eyes covering up the veins and removing the blue. My thought is you are developing and drawing the fat from your face to your body. It's possible if you are very thin that you need to gain a few pounds.

I've had it about all my life, along with being anemic to borderline anemic. HRT will thin the skin some. It was probably always there, just not all that noticable

For times when I don't feel like using concealer I use Garnier "Anti Dark Circle Eye Roller" - the device is size of a Sharpie pen with a large ball on the end.  Applies in literally 5 seconds, smear it a bit, done.  I keep an extra in the car.  Their main product is a bit light for my skin, switched to slightly darker tint called "medium/deep" works great for me.  I've bought it on Amazon. 

eye bags! My bestie has them and she's cis. She says she's had them since puberty. Maybe it's a hormonal / genetic thing?

Thin skin, veins show.

Occasionally venous pooling under the eyes can related to airway issues - if you happen to tend to breathe through your mouth or tend to snore, then the eye bags can be an indicator that you have some sort of airway restriction that is affecting your breathing.

If that's the case then seeing an ear nose throats specialist wouldn't be a bad idea - if you happen to decide to go for FFS then it may be possible to get the airway sorted at the same time.

Yeah, thin skin. I have it.

At least, you can cover it up with makeup.

Thanks lovely people!


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