Genes and fluid retention can cause swelling around your eyes, but if you wake up most morning with puffy eyes, allergies are probably the culprit, according to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Swelling around your eyes isn't usually dangerous, but it tends to be very noticeable because the skin around your eyes is naturally thin, says Jody A. Levine, M.D., a New York City dermatologist, in Good Housekeeping magazine.
Identification
When allergies strike, they can trigger a reaction that causes inflammation in the membranes around your eyes. When you're not allergic, your body processes potential allergens without causing a reaction, but when you have allergies, allergens stimulate chemicals in your immune system that cause inflammation, including puffy eyes, explains the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center.
Types
Several different types of allergies can affect the eyes and cause puffiness, according to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis is a type of seasonal eye allergy that can cause puffiness. Atopic keratoconjunctivitis causes puffiness similar to vernal keratoconjunctivitis, but atopic keratoconjunctivitis isn't seasonal and occurs more frequently in older people. Hay fever conjunctivitis is usually a short-lived response to airborne allergens. Medications and contact lenses can also cause allergic reactions.
Prevention and Solution
Cold compresses are the quickest way to soothe puffy eyes, according to Real Simple magazine. Whether you use an ice pack, chilled cucumber slices or a bag of frozen vegetables, keep the chiller on your eyes for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center suggests using an oral or topical vasoconstrictor and antihistamine to calm the allergic reaction causing the puffiness.
Considerations
Other factors can exacerbate the appearance of puffiness caused by allergies. Lack of sleep can cause short-term bags, says Mehmet Oz, co-author of the book "YOU: Being Beautiful," on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Oz says age can make puffiness more noticeable, too, as the fat stores around the eyes seep down, causing swelling and bags. If bags are an ongoing problem, Oz says plastic surgery is usually a safe and effective treatment.
Expert Insight
If your puffy eyes are worst in the morning, Allure magazine recommends taking an antihistamine before you go to sleep to reduce nighttime swelling. Try using an inclined pillow or propping your pillows up at night so fluids don't pool around your eyes, causing puffiness while you sleep.
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