How To Get Rid Of Under Eye Bags

 

Under-eye swelling or puffiness is a common cosmetic concern. Often referred to as “eye bags,” these areas of swollen tissue under eyes can add to the appearance of aging or sleepiness. According to the Mayo Clinic, bags under eyes rarely signal a serious health condition, but many people still struggle with this feature of their appearance. 

Puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes occur for many reasons, including genetics, allergies, stress, eye fatigue, and salt consumption. Swelling around the eyes is caused by an accumulation of fluid in the surrounding skin tissue. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, swelling and discoloration can be easily visible.

Bags under eyes generally result from a variety of factors, including:

• A weakening of the muscles around the eyes, which happens naturally with age
• Consuming too much salt
• Allergies
• Genetics
• Dehydration
• Lack of Sleep 
• Stress

Lifestyle Changes

Reduce your salt intake: Too much salt in your diet can cause your eyes to puff, as excess sodium levels can lead to fluid retention. If you think too much salt may be the cause of your puffy eyes, cut back on salty foods

Eat potassium-rich foods: A healthy intake of potassium acts as a counterbalance to high sodium levels. The combination of too much sodium and not enough potassium not only causes puffy eyes but relates to your cardiovascular health as well. Bananas, avocados, spinach, sweet potato, coconut water, yogurt, and other potassium-rich foods help restore the balance of potassium in your body and reduce the water retention that contributes to bags under the eyes.

Stay hydrated: When your body is dehydrated, it tries to retain more water, causing your under eye area to swell. The Mayo Clinic’s water drinking recommendations are that men drink about 3.7 liters of water per day, while women drink about 2.7 liters.

Manage Stress

Medical studies show that stress changes the salt balance in your body. If salt and water balances are off, your eyes can retain more water and swell as a result. Stress also causes some people to lose sleep. Lack of sleep causes the blood vessels under the thin skin of the eyes to dilate, creating the appearance of dark circles and puffiness. Look for ways to reduce your stress, such as the following recommended by the Cleveland Clinic:

• Exercise
• Quitting smoking
• Meditation
• Deep breathing
• Counseling

Another way to reduce stress is by maintaining a relaxing bedtime routine.

Home Remedies for Puffy Eyes

To accelerate your treatments of puffy eyes, you can also use home remedies such as: 

• Chilled spoons
• Frozen bags of peas
• Gentle facial massages
• Eye creams*

*Be aware some eye cream preservatives and retinoids around the eyes can cause skin dryness to the sensitive under eye area, or even do damage to the glands that nourish the eye, and can cause dry-eye syndrome. [dry eye syndrome or blepharoconjunctivitis are the most common side effects, appearing in 20-50% of patients treated with retinoids. They often contribute to other occurrences or side-effects such as ocular discomfort and contact lens intolerance.]

Surgery

With aging, and in other cases, the only true treatment might be a surgical procedure known as lower eyelid blepharoplasty. It’s always good to talk to our doctors who can recommend qualified surgeons in our area.

And last but not least…

Skin Protection 

Protect your skin from the sun (sunlight damages the skin and makes eye bags worse)

• Use UV protection sunblock 
• Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection (polarized vs non polarized sunglasses-we’ll post that in another blog article)

Schedule an appointment for your yearly eye exam and discuss this information with our doctors to get the best medical advice for your personal situation.

(909) 596-6756  2443 Foothill LaVerne CA 91750 

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#undereyebags www.drboyeroptometrist.com