How To Get Rid of Bags Under Your Eyes
Are unsightly, bulging bags under your eyes getting you down? Do you hate how tired and old those bags under your eyes make you look?
You’ll be glad to know that there are a number of steps you can take to minimize the appearance of eye bags.
What are bags under the eyes?
Bags under the eyes occur when weakened and sagging skin relaxes, forming a pouch. The fat pads located under the eyes slip down to fill the space.
Excess fluid in the body can also pool there, making the lower lids look even puffier and more swollen. Shadows and discolored skin under the eyes cause eye bags to look more prominent.
Under-eye bags are primarily a cosmetic issue and usually are harmless. But sometimes they can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Most bags under the eyes are more noticeable in the morning, when fluid has had all night to settle in.
What causes bags under your eyes?
The most common cause of bags under the eyes is aging. As we get older, we experience a loss of fat padding and collagen, the major component of connective tissues in skin, muscles and other body parts.
Lower collagen levels cause the skin and underlying muscles all over the body to lose elasticity and tone. This sagging is especially noticeable around the eyes because the skin there is very thin.
Other factors that contribute to the development of bags under the eyes include fluid retention, chronic medical conditions like thyroid disease, infections, allergies, stress, eye fatigue, smoking, lack of sleep and inherited facial features.
If the swelling becomes severe, painful, itchy, red or persistent, see an eye doctor for a medical diagnosis.
Remedies for bags under eyes
Identifying the underlying cause of bags under the eyes is the first step in choosing a remedy.
For example, if eye bags are a result of aging or run in your family, a cosmetic solution like plastic surgery may be the best option for getting rid of them.
Know up front that cosmetic eye surgery done solely to improve appearance will not be covered by medical insurance.
When bags under the eyes are the result of environmental or underlying health issues, there are some simple home remedies and lifestyle changes that may help to lessen their appearance. These include:
Get plenty of sleep (average 8 hours daily).
Sleep with your head elevated a few inches to keep fluid from pooling around your eyes.
Avoid fluids before bedtime and salt throughout the day.
Use a damp, cool washcloth as a compress on your eyes, preferably while sitting upright. Alternatively, cucumber slices or cold, damp tea bags can be used to help bring down swelling.
Keep your allergy symptoms under control by avoiding triggers and taking prescription or over-the-counter allergy medications.
Use cosmetic concealers to cover up dark under-eye shadows.
One popular home remedy for reducing bags under the eyes is the use of hemorrhoid creams. (Yes, really.)
PRODUCE YOUR OWN NON-SURGICAL FACELIFT USING YOUR FINGERTIPS
Hemorrhoid creams contain phenylephrine, which constricts blood vessels and can temporarily tighten the skin under the eyes, making eye bags less noticeable. Be careful not to get the cream in your eyes as it could irritate them.
If you’re a smoker, make every effort to quit. Avoiding smoking not only is good for your general health and eyesight — it also will slow down collagen loss that thins the skin. And if you choose to have cosmetic surgery to remove bags under your eyes, you’ll heal quicker if you don't smoke.
There are also wrinkle treatments and skin therapies designed to tighten under-eye skin and reduce puffiness. The list includes chemical peels, laser resurfacing and injectable dermal fillers.
The benefits, side effects, and risks associated with these options or surgery should be discussed with your ophthalmologist, oculoplastic surgeon, or plastic surgeon.