What Makes My Eyes Puffy
Dusk Lace has a question:
I adore your blog! You are my everyday-must-read!
I have a question on puffy under-eye-bags. Almost everyday, I have these terrible puffy bags under my eyes. People tell me to drink more water and use a firm pillow, but the more water I drink everyday (at night), I wake up with a more severe under-eye-bags. I was wondering are there any ingredients that would help to relieve the bags? I`ve been using Benefit`s Depuffy Action Gel and I don`t see the long last effect in this product. This makes me think that is there any real treatment product out there (not temporary relief ones, like Benefit)?
The Right Brain`s Reply:
Thanks for the question, Lacey. We’ve seen over 150 different products that claim to make your eyes look better, but we`ve never seen evidence that any of these depuffers” really work. We’ve even heard of using hemorrhoid cream on under eye bags!
Our favorite is Eyederma because it contains the magic ingredient “Ocupeptide-3. We’ve never heard of this particular chemical but we assume the name comes from “Ocu” because it sounds like “ocular,” “peptide” because EVERYONE knows peptides are good for you, and “-3″ because numbers always give a product that extra-special scientific cache.
Ok, all sarcasm aside, we can’t give you a magic product to make your bags go away, but we can help explain why your eyes puff up in the first place. Once again, we turn to our Guest Blogger Dr. Michael Breus, PhD, author of the book Good Night: The Sleep Doctor`s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health. Take it away, Dr. Breus:
Why Your Eyes Get Puffy
Awakening to puffy, swollen eyes is frustrating, especially when you know there’s no simple 10-minute solution that will get you out the door looking brand new. Puffiness or bags under the eyes can be caused by several factors: fluid retention, irritation causing inflammation, loss of skin firmness and elasticity as we age, allergies, eye disorders secondary to medical disorders, fat deposits, and fatigue. Several of these triggers come from poor sleep.
Excess fluid (edema) under the eye is one of the major causes of eye “puffiness,” and an increase in blood pressure is the likely culprit for many as a direct consequence to sleep deprivation. An elevated blood pressure causes vessels to constrict and invite fluid retention. Many of the known sleep disorders can also cause excess fluid or edema to occur not only in the eye area but in several parts of the body.
Is it possible for a person with retained fluid to reduce that baggage and puffiness under the eyes with getting a good night’s sleep over time? Certainly. And if you can reduce the fluid retention, you’ll also change the surrounding tissues for the better, especially since the accumulated excess fluid in the under-eye area may cause additional inflammation and swelling.
Medical conditions can also change the appearance of the eye, particularly thyroid problems like hypothyroidism (which can also be linked to sleep apnea). For most, however, getting enough sleep is all that’s necessary. Avoiding excess alcohol will also alleviate eye bags (as well as disrupted sleep!).
Attention allergy sufferers : Those with allergies typically have issues with puffy, inflamed eyes. They also face the challenge of getting quality sleep when bothered by allergies during the night. Sometimes taking anti-histamines can help to reduce baggy eyes, but this can come with a hefty price-tag because these medications can cause daytime sleepiness. What’s worse, the act of coughing and sneezing itself can cause forced air to escape through the sinuses. This, in turn, pushes air behind the fat pockets under the eyes, which then causes those fat pockets to protrude forward. Ask your doctor how best to manage your allergies so they don’t interfere with sleep, and neither does your medication.
Fat Pockets? Isn`t that one of those microwavable snack foods? Oh, that`s Hot Pockets. Nevermind.But seriously, thanks again to Dr. Breus for the teaching us about puffy eyes. If you’d like to learn more about sleep and beauty, you can visit him at Theinsomniablog and Soundsleepsolutions.
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jasmin Latona Says:
Hello,
I am 28 and have suffered from puffy bags under my eyes for the last two years now. The right side being much worse.
I get plenty of sleep so this could not be the cause. I recently went on a gluten free diet for my digestion and noticed that my under eye bags temporarily went away. However after being on the diet for 1 month they have come back. Im getting very upset with people teling me i look tired all the time. Do you think its just an ageing
issue? or could i have some sort of fluid retention or allergies? Help
Regards,
Jasmin Latona
the sleep doctor Says:
It does sound like it could be allergies — you should go see a doctor and if you need to, get a second opinion. Allergy testing may give you some insight into this, too.
thebeautybrains Says:
Thanks Sleep Doctor. The Beauty Brains agree, maybe you’ve got an unidentified allergy. Go see a doctor.
carly Says:
Thanks again for teaching me about this stuff and I had alot of fun reding it too!
Thanks Again,
Carly
carly Says:
Umm I was wondering about the bags under my eyes,I am only 12 but I am trying to find salutions on the internet that I could try. Ok heres my story!
I have had bags under my eyes ever since I was about three I guess it runs in the family but as time went by and I got older I just started putting base makeup over the puffyness and the problem was solved! And now that Im 12 I want the bags under my eyes to go away before the 7th grade!
Please please help me!
Carly
carol Says:
I wake up with puffy eyelids. I look like I have been on an all nighter. I also have the black and blue look underneath. I remember growing up and mom saying to me that my bags were packed. What can I do to get rid of this extreme puffiness?
Left Brain Says:
Check with your doctor to see if it is the result of some allergy.
patsy Says:
I recently saw a plastic surgeon about the bags under my eyes. He said there was absolutely nothing that could be done about it that it is fluid. I can’t remember the name of the condition but would like to know what he called it. Is there really nothing at all that works ?
austin Says:
I am 27 yr. old female & have been suffering from under eye environmental allergies as well as puffy under eye lids every morning. Some days I’m not sure if it’s allergies or just fluid under my eyes. Either way, the doctor said beside my nasal spray for allergies, the under eye puffiness & bags are from other reasons. I still can’t get rid of looking so tired under my eyes. I am feeling stressed over this because nothing is getting rid of it. Any suggestions? My doctor said to sleep with a high pillow & lay on my back but its not helping.
austin Says:
thanks for the input..anything is helpful
The Beauty Brains » Blog Archive » Preparation H For Puffy Eyes Says:
[...] and rather use a cooling compress, head elevation, and rest. (For info on puffy eyes check out this post.) Please remember to read cautions and warnings on packaging of products you are not sure about [...]
Preparation H For Puffy Eyes | Beauty Secrets Blog Says:
[...] and rather use a cooling compress, head elevation, and rest. (For info on puffy eyes check out this post.) Please remember to read cautions and warnings on packaging of products you are not sure about [...]
Uriel Says:
I know this isn’t a solution, but when i wear glasses you can’t really see the puffyness under my eyes, and nowadays glasses have become more fashinably accepted, so try getting some gucci or chanels. Other thenn that I recommend more sleep.
Paula Says:
Hey, I have had baggy eyes all my life, and have had a major complex about it most of my life b/c I was teased about it in middle school and told often (too often) after that that I ‘looked tired.’ I’m not in my 30’s and recently had lower transcunjuctival blepharoplasty. It helped A LOT, my eyes are by far much less puffier and the increase to my self esteem is amazing. However, I still suffer from occassional puffiness still, but it is from allergies…. and sometimes PMS. I have discovered that diuretics help a lot, but I don’t know if it is safe to have on a regular basis. I only take them when I have PMS, which is when I notice I have bad puffy eyes. Nonetheless, every little bit helps. Lower bleph helps a lot, and after that, if you still have puffy eyes, figuring out what you are allergic to, as well as knowing when you have fluid retention helps you know how to get rid of the rest.
Other issue with having the lower transconjuctival bleph (laser procedure that simply removes fat), if your skin does not resiliate, you will have saging skin but no longer the fat that made you have fat protruding… You may benefit from having the skin tightened. My Dr. and I are going to have a laser procedure to tighten the skin sags which will help.
Other than that, just pay attn to you body and what it is telling you. Some days I have no bags anymore at all… other days they are there. Much better than having them there every day… It could be a multi step process to get ‘em gone for good. Just know you aren’t alone and chances are you notice more than others do.