Puffiness under the eyes or Periorbital edema, is caused when the tissues around your eyes weaken and the fat pads move into the lower eyelids.
Eye bags are a cosmetic issue and are usually harmless. Sometimes the puffiness can hide an underlying medical condition. In case of severe, painful or itchy swelling you should seek medical attention.
What causes the puffiness under the eyes?
There are several factors that can lead to puffiness under the eyes. These factors include:
Aging
Infections/Medical conditions such as eye disease, thyroid, or renal disease
Smoking/Drinking alcohol
Eye fatigue
Fluid retention
Stress
Hormones
Allergies
Lack of sleep
Another reason may be the genetics and under-eye bags can run in families.
If one or both of your parents has eye bags there is a chance of developing them as well.
Natural home remedies to get rid of eye bags
Along with a good night sleep, here are some simple home remedies and lifestyle changes you should consider that may help reduce the puffiness:
- Limit salt in your diet and cut down on fluids and alcohol especially before bedtime. Drinking caffeine and alcohol cause dehydration.
- Avoiding smoking will slow the collagen loss that thins the skin.
- Cold compresses, topical/caffeine creams. Cold compresses, such as an ice pack or refrigerated spoons over you eyes, helps reduce the blood flow that is causing the swelling.
- Eye caffeine creams – Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor. Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of blood vessels. The eye creams with caffeine can be a great help with the puffiness under your eyes.
Medical treatments for under eye bags
Cosmetic eye lid surgery – or blepharoplasty – is a surgical procedure done under local anesthesia with sedation, to improve the appearance of the eyelids. This option can rejuvenate the area surrounding your eyes and it can also be used to treat puffy or dropping eyelids.
Non surgical options – injectable dermal fillers that can be used anywhere around the eyes, to soften the wrinkles, to smooth out the curved line under your eye, or to erase any other fine lines and puffiness. This procedure takes only a few minutes.
Along with dermal fillers, chemical peels and laser resurfacing are other options you should consider.
So if you’re ready to rejuvenate your appearance, contact us to schedule an appointment at our offices in Englewood, Colorado.