The Causes Behind Puffy Bags Under the Eye, and How to Treat Them
Puffy bags underneath the eyes are one of the leading reasons people look tired when glancing in the mirror.
Under-eye bags can form when the muscles beneath the skin weaken, leaving them unable to hold the skin tight to the body. Additionally, as we age, the skin around the eyes begins to lose elasticity, causing it to sag. Combining these occurrences causes an empty pouch of space under the eye. Fluid and fat can begin to slip into this empty pocket, filling it and pushing it out, causing the area to swell, similar to a balloon being filled.
Undereye bags are relatively harmless, though they can be an unflattering and unwanted occurrence, especially when enhanced with other signs of aging around the eye, such as dark circles and drooping eyelids. Additionally, many additional triggers can cause this condition to worsen over time.
“In most cases, it’s unavoidable and a natural part of what happens to your face as you age, but there are several things that can accelerate the sagging. For example, if you’re frequently rubbing your eyes due to fatigue and/or stress, that’s putting a lot of extra tension in the area.” writes Dr. Mulholland, a cosmetic surgeon and one of the top Toronto eyelid surgery specialists.
So, besides aging, what exactly causes eye bags?
Other Causes of Puffy Eye Bags
Unfortunately, the skin around the eye is a very thin and sensitive area, and thus even gentle stresses to the area can accelerate conditions such as puffy bags around the area if they occur frequently enough. Some of these aggressors include:
- Improper sleep
- High and prolonged bouts of stress
- Eye infections
- Allergies
- Thyroid conditions
- Smoking
- Skin Dehydration
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Prolonged sun damage
- Excessive rubbing
- Frequent application and removal of makeup
- Alcohol-based cosmetics
How to Combat Under-Eye Bags
As the list of causes behind under-eye bags is so extensive, treating them can be difficult, as multiple contributing factors can all be behind them. In general, the following are some great tips that can help to combat and relieve the signs of under-eye bags.
Follow a Regular Sleep Schedule
You can almost immediately tell the difference in the condition under your eyes when looking in the mirror after a bad night’s sleep. Ensuring you receive a proper eight hours of sleep and keeping to a constant schedule of going to bed at the same time every night can help your body renew itself and allow you to appear more renewed.
Use Allergy Medication
Pollen, dander, and other common airborne allergies can aggravate the eye and cause swelling and puffiness. Taking daily allergy medication can help relieve these symptoms, as can purchasing an air purifier for your home and ensuring regular cleaning to keep allergy triggers minimal in your everyday setting.
Stay Hydrated
Your body is on average over 60% water and thus requires constant hydration to help keep everybody flowing smoothly and keeping your skin youthful, smooth, and reducing inflammation.
When the body does not have enough hydration, it can respond by retaining water elsewhere in the body, which can lead to puffiness in areas such as the face and under the eyes.
