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Whether you had a good cry session at night, or ate too much salt for dinner, waking up with puffy eyes is never fun. But the skin around your eyes is thin and delicate, so most people will experience under-eye swelling occasionally. Medical conditions and genetics may also play a role, particularly as you get older and tissues under your eyes start to weaken. But what exactly causes puffy eyes, and how can you get rid of them?
Click on to find out, and learn what can be done to help smooth out the area.
Lack of sleep could make your eyes appear swollen in the morning. Sleepless nights can weaken the muscles around your eyes. This can also lead to a loss of collagen under the eyes. This causes fluid to collect in the area, making the area beneath your eyes swell up.
Allergies can, of course, also cause puffy eyes. Triggers release histamine into your system, which causes inflammation and under-eye swelling.
Similar to period bloating during your monthly cycle, your eyes can retain water as well because of higher hormone levels. It generally goes away after a few days.
The salt in tears can cause fluid retention around the eyes when you cry. The more you cry, the worse the swelling can potentially be.
Extra sodium can make your body retain water. The excess water causes puffiness in the face and body, especially in the morning after a salty meal.
Just like salty foods, alcohol also has a high concentration of sodium, making the eyes appear puffy the next day after consumption.
Sometimes, puffy eyes can be a side effect of a bigger medical condition. People with some types of hyperthyroidism can experience thickening of the fat around their eyes.
Your eyes look naturally puffier when you've got a cold. That's because the cavities that drain fluid out of your face are blocked with sinus congestion.
Aging causes tissues and muscles to weaken around the eyes. What's more, the fat pads descend and bulge, causing puffy under eyes.
If you're too sedentary, you could experience fluid retention. Also, if you're sick or injured and lying down often, fluid can collect in your face.
Although it's more likely that your diet or sleep schedule is causing your eyes to swell, kidney or liver issues could be an explanation for puffy under eyes.
You could have inherited a tendency toward puffy eyes from one or both of your parents. If there are several people in your family with puffy eyes, this could be a sign of a genetic condition that causes the puffiness.
Smoking cigarettes, shisha, or cigars can irritate your eyes. You may also have an allergic reaction if you're around secondhand smoke.
An eye infection can cause under-eye swelling in one or both eyes. It can be an infection in the eye or eyelid.
Puffy eyes are generally harmless and don't require treatment. However, there are ways you can reduce the swelling.
Chill a spoon in the fridge and use the back of the spoon to massage the area gently.
Tea contains caffeine, which may help bring down swelling. Try soaking two tea bags in cold water. Place them over your closed eyes and relax for 15 to 20 minutes.
Experiment with cooling gel pads under your eye. Keep in the fridge and then pop them on your under eyes when needed.
Use your fingers or a cold facial roller to massage your face. Gently massage or tap around your eyes and sinuses to help drain away extra fluid.
Many moisturizing eye creams can help you reduce puffiness and restore a radiant appearance.
A concealer isn't going to take away the puffiness, but one that's a little bit lighter than your skin tone can reduce its appearance.
If you struggle with swollen eyes in the morning, increase the number of pillows you sleep with at night. This helps keep the head elevated throughout the sleep cycle. Of course, a full seven or eight hours of sleep helps!
Moving around and exercising regularly can also promote circulation and move fluid out of the face, thus reducing puffy eyes.
Try limiting your total daily sodium intake to about one teaspoon of table salt, or less if you have certain health conditions.
If you choose to drink, and even consume salty foods at the same time, staying hydrated during and after can help minimize eye swelling later on.
A daily antihistamine should do the trick when it comes to helping with allergy-related puffiness. Also, try to avoid allergens as much as possible to help prevent symptoms.
Quit smoking of any kind and avoid secondhand smoke to help prevent eye puffiness and other possible symptoms.
This includes checking local pollen levels and staying indoors when the counts are high. Vacuum and dust your home to limit your exposure to pet dander and dust mites.
Blepharoplasty is the plastic surgery of choice to remove herniated fat pads under the eyes. There's also the option of fillers and chemical peels. However, talk to a professional to find out if these options apply to you.
If your eye puffiness remains despite a healthy diet, good sleep hygiene, and other remedies, experts recommend seeking medical attention. Otherwise, occasional eye puffiness is typically normal.
Sources: (Healthline) (Women's Health) (Verywell Health)
Puffy eyes: possible causes, and how to get rid of them
That late-night salty snack could be the source of the problem!
HEALTH Under eyes
Whether you had a good cry session at night, or ate too much salt for dinner, waking up with puffy eyes is never fun. But the skin around your eyes is thin and delicate, so most people will experience under-eye swelling occasionally. Medical conditions and genetics may also play a role, particularly as you get older and tissues under your eyes start to weaken. But what exactly causes puffy eyes, and how can you get rid of them?
Click on to find out, and learn what can be done to help smooth out the area.