Bags under the eyes make your entire face look tired and dull. Luckily, bags underneath the eyes are not a serious condition and in most cases, do not require medical treatment, says the Mayo Clinic. Bags under the eyes due to fluid retention can be treated at home, while bags underneath the eyes due to sagging skin may require treatment by a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist.
Address Allergies
In some cases, bags underneath the eyes may be caused by allergies, says the Mayo Clinic. When the body is exposed to an allergen, histamines are released, which may cause fluid to pool underneath the eyes.
The best way to reduce puffy eyes due to allergies is to get an allergy test, determine the cause of your allergies and avoid these causes. If avoiding your allergies is impossible, take an over-the-counter or prescription antihistamine to reduce puffiness under the eyes.
Cold Compress
To reduce puffiness under the eyes, apply a cold compress while sitting up. "Allure" magazine recommends dipping two teabags in boiling water, then placing the teabags in the refrigerator for several minutes to cool them. Apply the teabags to the under-eye area until the swelling goes down.
If you don't have teabags, rinse a washcloth in cold water, then apply the washcloth to the under-eye area for 10 minutes. Repeat as necessary throughout the day to reduce puffiness under the eyes.
Laser Resurfacing
Puffy eyes may be the result of sagging skin under the eyes. If sagging skin is the culprit, laser resurfacing may help tighten the skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Laser therapy is performed by a cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist, and may require several treatments over the course of several weeks before the treatment is entirely effective. Laser resurfacing treatments may need to be repeated once or twice a year.
Eyelid Surgery
To drastically reduce the appearance of bags underneath the eyes, the Mayo Clinic recommends eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty.
During eyelid surgery, a cosmetic surgeon trims excess skin underneath the eyes, stretches it taut and sews it in place. Excess fat underneath the eyes that causes puffiness may also be reduced, if necessary.
Member Comments