The problem of puffy eyes can happen to anybody, regardless of age or gender. It can be the result of stress, allergy, and fatigue. Some people even have a set of facial features that make them inherently more susceptible to this condition.
But how to get rid of puffy eyes? There are many home remedies to choose from, such as covering your eyes with cucumber circles. Anti-hemorrhoid ointments can also deliver a quick, albeit temporary, relief. But to find a more permanent solution, it’s important to look at the reasons behind the puffy eyes.
What Causes Puffy Eyes?
The skin is quite thin around the eyes and it easily swells as fluids accumulate in the area. Edema is the medical name for this fluid accumulation, and it is usually followed by marked skin discoloration.
Besides fatigue, stress, and allergies, there are some less-known factors that cause puffy eyes. Excessive salt consumption makes the body retain fluids and induces a swelling around the eyes. In addition, puffy eyes are also a good indicator of sinus problems.
Crying and a lack of proper hydration can lead to this issue too. Insufficient sleep doesn’t help. Even if you have a regular sleep schedule, you may wake up with puffy eyes because there is no blinking while you sleep. But in this case, the puffiness disappears soon after the blinking is restored.
As people age, their eyes tend to become more swollen. The membrane that holds the fat behind lower and upper eyelids becomes thinner, causing bulges to appear.
Unusually puffy eyes can be an indicator of an underlying medical condition like kidney failure.
Remedies That Help
Assuming that you are in perfect health, there are more than a few methods that aid the reduction of puffy eyes.
Cold Compress
The first line of defense is applying a cold compress to the swollen area. Take a cold wet washcloth and press it gently under your eyes. Keep it on for a few minutes and you should get some immediate results.
Tea Bags
In addition to cucumber circles, tea bags have been quite an effective home remedy for decades. The caffeine found in most black tea varieties is the active ingredient that helps. It gets under your skin, improves circulation, and reduces swelling.
Get a couple of wet tea bags and put them in a fridge for a few minutes. Place them over the eyes once the bags get comfortably cold. Between 15 and 30 minutes is usually enough to significantly reduce the puffiness.
Witch Hazel
This folk remedy is a common sight in many medicine cabinets. It can do wonders for redness and inflammation, which makes it an excellent option for puffy eyes treatment.
Put witch hazel on a couple of cotton pads and keep them on your eyes for about 10 minutes. If you are new to this remedy, it is advisable to go with famous alcohol-free brands like Quinn’s, Thayers, etc.
Face Creams and Serums
Like the chilled tea bags, a comfortably cold face cream of your choice can help get rid of the puffy eyes. Keep the cream or serum in the fridge a few minutes before the application. In addition, most creams contain soothing ingredients like aloe vera that can also expedite the removal of the swelling.
Massage
There are a few massage routines that stimulate the blood flow in the area and quickly reduce the puffiness. What’s more, they can be applied together with a cream or serum.
Start at brow pressure points and move your fingers gently to the outer corners of your eyes. The action delivers some drainage of the swollen area. Massage the sinuses on either side of your nose and slowly work your way outwards. Some people may even feel the fluid move inside.
A gentle downward massage of the neck lymph nodes helps as well, but be careful not to apply too much pressure. If need be, you can repeat each of the massage routines for better results.
Eye Rollers
When it comes to products for removing puffy eyes, the effectiveness of eye-rollers is almost unprecedented. They utilize metal balls and soothing gels to deliver optimal results and there are a lot of different brands to choose from.
Some are caffeine-based and work much like tea bags. More expensive options usually have additional active ingredients to promote hydration and deliver more cooling.
Sleeping Position
There has been some mention of the importance of sufficient sleep. But the way you sleep can also help minimize or remove puffiness in the eyes.
Adding extra pillows positions your head at an angle that prevents the fluid from accumulating around the eyes. If you find it hard to sleep with more than one pillow, try raising the head of your bed.
There are bed risers you can get online. Or you can try placing some sort of a wedge under the bed for a DIY solution.
Stay Hydrated
The lack of proper hydration is one of the major causes of puffy eyes. Increase your water intake to reduce and ultimately prevent puffiness. In general, 8 eight-ounce glasses a day are enough to keep your skin well hydrated.
Those who struggle with this routine can set reminders and use special water bottles designed to make hydration more convenient.
Boost Potassium Intake
Potassium is one of the key macrominerals that keep the fluid levels at an optimum. This is why it can help if you struggle with puffy eyes. Potassium-rich foods include beans, leafy greens, bananas, and yogurt.
Those who have a diet full of potassium should consult with a physician to determine if it’s safe to increase the intake of this mineral with supplements.
Surgery
Blepharoplasty is a procedure that removes the excess skin, fat, and muscle around the eyes. This method should only be considered as a last resort when all the home remedies fail.
In addition, there are also less invasive chemical and laser treatments that effectively remove puffy eyes. So there is no reason to be eager to go under the knife.
Charming Dark Circles
At this point, you should have a perfect understanding of the tried-and-tested methods on how to get rid of puffy eyes. Dealing with this problem is quite easy even when puffiness of the eyes runs in the family. Don’t hesitate to try out different things to determine which one works best for you.
Once again, staying away from salty foods is paramount. And the same advice goes to alcohol intake. A combination of a healthy lifestyle and some hacks to reduce the swelling ensure you will look as fresh as a daisy at any time of the day.
References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287212.php
https://www.thayers.com/natural-complex-brighten-eyes/?v=893f26889d1e
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/witch-hazel-benefits-uses
https://www.karger.com/article/Abstract/343174
Comments