How to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes
Almost everyone has woken up to be greeted by not-so-friendly puffy eyes in the mirror at one time or another. Puffy eyes may be caused by a number of factors, including fluid retention, stress, allergies, and hormonal changes. To get rid of them, the following are often helpful:
Reduce sodium intake.
This should work because lower eyelids often become puffy due to excess fluid retention, and an increase in sodium causes the body to retain more fluids. The FDA recommends that the average 150-pound adult consume no more than 2300 mg of sodium (1 tsp of salt) per day. In addition, groups at particular risk for high blood pressure, such as African-Americans, the middle-aged and elderly, and those with high blood pressure, should pare back even more, should consume fewer than 1500 mg of sodium per day. However, despite these recommendations, one recent survey amongst 7154 people found that reducing sodium intake below 2300 mg made patients 37% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. At any rate, the average American consumes 2900 to 4300 mg of sodium per day, clearly well above the 2300 mg mark. Consequently, it is safe to reduce sodium intake within reasonable limits in attempts to get rid of puffy eyes.
Apply a bag of well-thawed frozen peas to eyes for 10 minutes.
It sounds surprising, but take a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer and let it thaw for about ten minutes, and then hold the bag under your eyes for about ten minutes, and your puffy eyes may be gone. According to dermatologist Dr. Katie Rodan, one of the developers of ProActiv Solution, told Allure magazine, “The reason frozen peas work so well in particular is that the little peas settle and mold to the eye area.” Two caveats: sometimes the coloring from the bag can rub off on your face, or the cold can make your face a bit red, so be sure you don’t try this technique right before leaving the house!
Elevate your head while sleeping.
Puffy eyes can be caused by an excess of fluid retention in the blood vessels behind the thin skin of the eyes. While sleeping, poor circulation may cause an accumulation of fluid in the blood vessels. Elevating your head while sleeping (while ensuring that your neck has proper support) has been reported to help some patients.
Apply cold tea bags to closed eyelids for 10 minutes.
Dr. Leslie Baumann, author of The Skin Type Solution, told Allure of tea: “The caffeine shrinks blood vessels, which helps reduce swelling and redness.” Dermatologist Dr. David Leffell, a professor at Yale, adds that tannic acid from the tea may temporarily tighten the skin. Tea bags should be dipped in cold water and placed onto closed eyelids for three to four minutes. Caution should be taken, however, to avoid Earl Grey tea, according to Dr. Douglas Altchek, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine: “[Earl Grey] has oil of bergamot, which may cause the redness and itching of contact dermatitis.”
Apply cucumbers under eyes for 10 minutes.
According to Dr. Karyn Grossman, chief of the division of dermatology at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica, “Cucumber slices have soothing and anti-irritating properties.” According to Allure, place the cucumber slices in a bowl of ice water for ten minutes, and then apply them to eyes for ten minutes to deflate the area.
Limit use of alcohol, remove eye make-up before bed, and beware of contact lens irritation.
All have been associated with puffy eye formation.
What if none of the above helps me?
An additional article on puffy eyes is available via Google answers here.
At times, puffy eyes, particularly those formed before age 30, are caused by ill health or hereditary factors. If none of the above tips help your puffy eyes, see your dermatologist, as there may be another cause, such as seasonal allergies or even an allergic reaction to a skin care or cosmetic product you are using.
When puffy eyes are caused by heredity, a surgery known as blepharoplasty has been shown to help. More information on the procedure is available here, but speaking to a cosmetic surgeon about blepharoplasty is most beneficial.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have more tips or information to share.
This article is very well worded and presented. I’ve been searching the internet for information on eye bags, and this article sums up almost all the logical advice available.
I agree this is a good summation. I am very interested in eye bags caused by sinusitis. I have had it constantly for 10 years and I noticed that I have had the persistant eye bags (no dark circles) under my eyes for the same time period. I will definitely check with an Eye Nose Throat specialist. Every time I fly or feel stressed I have terrible sinusitis! It’s very debilitating and now I wonder if it is taking a toll on my eyes!
The link in google answers to the sinusitis discussion is broken.
Hi, i read this article and it was helpful to me. But i have a weird problem. Yes i do get puffy eyes and i think it is due to allergic reactions to specific medicines containing molecules like paracetamol and diclofenac sodium. Whenever i take any medicine with these molecules in it, my eyes swell completely and my eyelids gets closed. I have the pictures of the same, if u want i can post them. this also happens whenever i use a strong perfumes or deodorants. i have consulted many ophthalmologists, dermatologists and other specialists but no one was able to find a cure for it. they say tht i shud avoid such medicines and fragrances. but my body accepts Nise (Nimesulide) but not paracetamol. so i m looking out for a cure coz this way life has become difficult. i cant even take a asprin or a combiflame for a simple headache or a muscle sprain. if u can help me or want to study more on my case pls mail me on vedanup@yahoo.co.in
i will wait for ur reply. thank you.
Hi,
Nice Article. Very well written!
I personally used to get bags under my eyes all the time mostly due to my inability to fall asleep easily. I would stay up late thinking about something then wake up early next morning only to see little bags under my eyes. I somehow managed to kick the habit of staying up late but my eye bags wouldn’t go away.I then recently read an article by a woman who supposedly got rid of her eye bags using a particular eye care product. I tried it and it worked really well. Within 3 weeks my eyebags were very much reduced ans soon disappeared .You can read more about the lady’s article at the link below
http://mypuffyeyes.wordpress.com/
good advice..thanks
http://www.2homeremedies.com/puffy-eyes.htm
http://www.free-makeup-tips.com/skin-disorders/puffy-eyes.htm
http://www.hairstylescut.com/skin/puffy-eyes.htm
I am one of the unfortunate women to have had puffy eyes since seventeen. Absolutely hate-detest-abhor them. I got them operated at 23 but the cosmetologist screwed up and I have a twio inch scar under my right eye, make them look uglier than ever.
I have tried every cream for scar reduction and yet nothing works!!!
i have tried everything for my puffy eyes nothing works.i can’t afford to go to a doctor.please tell me is there another way.
Dear Lillie,
I am sorry…this is all that I know!
Please do try to see a derm in your area; a great way to do so is through AAD’s website: http://www.aad.org/findaderm/
Hope that this helped.
Sincerely,
Nicki