What Causes Bags Under Eyes and How to Get Rid of Under Eye Bags

What Causes Bags Under Eyes and How to Get Rid of Under Eye Bags | Have your eyes been looking very tired and puffy off late? Have you been noticing pouches under your eyes in all your selfies and been worried sick? Worry not – this is a classic case of under-eye bags which can be cured with simple remedies. Read on to find out the causes of under-eye bags and what you can do to get rid of them soon with help of some handy and useful tips. Here are some common causes of under-eye bags

Age Causes Bags Under Eyes

As you age, the appearance of under-eye bags is a part of such a natural aging process. The skin around our eyelids which is extremely delicate tends to sag as we grow old. Moreover, the muscles and fat supporting our eyelids also loosen up making the under-eye bags more prominent and making them appear swollen up.

Food Habits and Lifestyle can Cause Bags Under Eyes

Do you consume excessively salty food or live off refined carbohydrates such as potato chips, pizza, pastries, cakes, etc.? Excessive consumption of such foods causes dehydration. As a result, the body tends to retain the available water and fluids in any other area of the body so as to ensure an adequate supply of the same in the body. This water retention results in the appearance of puffed eyelids and under-eye bags.

Also, Read: What Causes Red Eyes and How to Get Rid of Red Eyes

Missing Your Eight Hours of Beauty Sleep

have you been skimping on your eight hours of restful sleep? Missing your sleep is not only detrimental to your well-being but also a culprit behind those under-eye bags. When the body doesn’t get adequate rest and relaxation which is extremely essential for the recovery of muscles from daily wear and tear, the blood vessels around the eyelid area tend to dilate. These dilated blood vessels then tend to give an appearance of under-eye bags. Poor sleeping habits result in retention of blood and fluid around the eyelid area and thus result in the appearance of under-eye bags.

Binging on Alcohol and Excessive Smoking

Gulping down a few pints of beer and smoking a few packs of cigarettes seem to have become the favorite pastime of the millennials. However, consumption of alcohol and smoking cigarettes can be injurious to health in more ways than one. Alcohol is a diuretic and thins your blood. Excessive consumption of alcohol makes the appearance of under-eye bags more prominent. It also contributes to the appearance of dark circles.

Similarly, smoking prevents you from getting a restful night’s sleep and as explained above, lack of sleep is a major cause behind waking up with those horrible under-eye bags. Nicotine which is a major component of cigarettes plays an important role in reducing the level of blood flow. This, in turn, leaves the eyelid area dry, discolored and puffy.

Also, Read: What Causes Eye irritation and How to Get Rid of It

Any Allergens

Puffy eyes are symptomatic of any allergies. If you have any known allergies, such allergies contribute to under-eye bags. Allergies cause our sinus system to react and our body releases histamines to counteract the allergens. This results in the appearance of swollen under-eye bags. Excess fluid is also retained around the eyelid area and contributes to the appearance of under-eye bags.

Hereditary

It could be sheer genetics that is responsible for the under-eye bags! Yes, one could inherit these because your parents have under-eye bags. There is not much you can do about it but you can surely check out the remedies below which will help you.

Now let’s look at the various ways in which you can reduce your under-eye bags

How to Get Rid of Under Eye Bags

Use a Good Sunscreen

As we all know, UV rays are our skin’s biggest enemy and the same goes for our eyelids as well. Eyelids are very sensitive to sun rays. The harmful rays destroy the collagen around our eye area which accelerates the aging process. Therefore, make it a point to use a good dermatologist-recommended sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day. While applying sunscreen, pay special attention to your eyes.

Apply the sunscreen at least 20 mins before stepping out and keep reapplying the sunscreen while you are out in the sun. Sunscreen helps to slow down the aging process. Therefore ensure that your eyes don’t look so puffy as the skin loses its elasticity.

Cold Compress

Woken up with the worst ever under-eye bags and need to go to a party? When in need of a quick fix, refrigerate four-five used tea bags for an hour and then place them on your eyelids. This helps in reducing the inflammation around the eyelid area and reduces puffiness. If you don’t have tea bags readily available, use cucumber slices or cold teaspoons.

Eat Clean

Cut down on your salt intake and refined carbohydrate intake. Say goodbye to alcohol. Include green leafy vegetables in your diet which are a storehouse of vitamin B and essential for our body. Include fruits and vegetables which are rich in water content such as watermelon, tomatoes, celery, berries, etc. Consume a fiber-rich diet and consume lots of beans.

You can also consider supplementing your diet with vitamin D and vitamin E supplements. Which slows down the aging process and counters the various harmful effects of pollution on our skin.

Change Your Sleeping Position

Sleeping on your back or keeping your head elevated on a pillow can prevent fluid retention around the eyelid area. In case you wake up with very puffy eyes, gently tap on your eyes to reduce fluid retention. However, be cautious – make sure that your sleeping position does not affect the quality of your sleep and that you are not restless after a night’s sleep. Lack of sleep is one of the major causes of under-eye bags.

Exercise

Your body is your temple and exercise is the worship required every day. Make sure to get at least 60 mins of physical exercise every day. This will ensure restful sleep and reduce the appearance of under-eye bags to a great extent. You can also consider practicing simple eye exercises such as face tapping and lower lid lifting to exercise away your under-eye bags.

Face tapping involves tapping your outer eye area and moving on to your under-eye area very gently. Doctors recommend practicing face tapping at least five to six times a day for a prolonged period of time for effective results. You can also lift your lower eyelid very gently four to five times a day to ensure that puffiness is reduced.

Apply Eye Creams/Serums

Eye creams and serums loaded with retinol, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C can help combat under-eye bags. However, refrain from purchasing such creams over-the-counter and consult a dermatologist for a prescription cream. Retinol can also increase sun sensitivity; so apply such creams with extreme caution.

Remove Makeup Before Going to Bed

This is one tip that every actress swears by and it is indeed one of the best ways to reduce puffiness. Taking off your makeup, especially any makeup applied to your eyes ensures that there are no traces that can give you an allergic reaction. Any allergic reaction can also contribute to under-eye bags. Secondly, keeping the makeup on your face at night may also fasten the aging process. Which is in itself a cause of under-eye bags.

Drink it up (water!)

As explained earlier, dehydration leads to fluid retention, which is one of the causes of the appearance of under-eye bags As per the recommendation of health authorities, a human body requires at least 2 liters of water daily to keep functioning smoothly. Once your body is adequately hydrated, the unnecessary water retention will not continue anymore and under-eye bags will be a rare occurrence.

Fix it Up With Makeup

When all else fails, women can surely depend on their makeup! Choose a concealer with orange undertones and apply it to the shadow of the under-eye bag. Doing so can give a temporary appearance of no under-eye bags but ladies – don’t treat this as a permanent solution.

Use a Gel Eye Mask

These days various over-the-counter gel eye masks are available on the market. Choose one which is suited to your skin type and refrigerate the gel mask ahead of your bedtime. When you go to sleep, gently place the eye mask over your eyelids. This should help reduce the under-eye bags to a great extent.

If under-eye bags are due to an allergic reaction, you can consider taking an antihistamine.

If these remedies have not worked for you, it is perhaps a case of severing under-eye bags which requires the intervention of a dermatologist. Consult with a good dermatologist and undergo either micro-needling or get some fillers done. Your dermatologist might also recommend laser treatments. Laser treatment can reduce the appearance of under-eye bags to a great extent.

Don’t ignore the appearance of under-eye bags on your face. Puffiness around the eyelids could indicate serious underlying health conditions such as anemia, kidney problems, insomnia, and liver diseases.