Having baggy eyes can mess with your self-confidence and make you feel unattractive. So what causes them? There may be multiple factors at play. Some of the causes are hard to fix, while others have simple solutions. They run the gamut from chronic health problems to simple dietary mistakes.
Lack of Sleep
The most cited cause for eye bags is a lack of quality sleep. This means not only enough sleep each night (seven to nine hours for adults), but also an uninterrupted sleep. Many sleep disorders can disrupt the sleep cycle, which leads to eye bags.
Dehydration
Even mild dehydration can cause eye bags. The Mayo Clinic says there is no scientific evidence to the "eight glasses of water per day" rule, and there is no simple formula for exactly how much fluid each person needs. However, the Institute of Medicine suggests that men should drink about 13 cups of liquids and women should drink about nine cups of liquid per day.
Heredity
Unfortunately, this one is a major player in the game of eye bags. If your parents and grandparents had chronic eye bags, you likely will, too.
Aging
Skin under the eyes gets thinner and you lose some of the volume in the fat pads under the eyes as you age, so the problem tends to get worse with time.
Allergies and Colds
Any cause of sinus congestion, such as nasal allergies or colds, can cause or worsen eye bags. Food allergies can also cause swelling under the eyes.
Rubbing or Scratching the Eyes
Skin under the eyes is very delicate, and any rubbing or tugging at the eyes can damage the tissue and create swelling. It can also darken the skin under the eyes, making any existing bagginess appear more prominent.
Menstruation
Hormonal changes can add to the problem of eye bags, causing fluid retention. This usually lasts for a few days, beginning prior to the start of menstruation each month. Pregnancy is also a culprit.
Smoking
Smoking dries out the skin and eyes, causing eye irritation. If your eyes are irritated and you rub them, this compounds the problem.
Sun Exposure
Too much exposure to the sun, or sunburn, can cause eye bags.
Crying
The salt in tears can cause major swelling under the eyes that lasts for hours.
Alcohol
Too much alcohol dehydrates the body and can cause eye bags.
Sodium
A diet high in sodium causes fluid retention. Some foods high in salt include: potato chips, pickles, soy protein products, processed lunch meat, most Mexican food, pretzels, canned vegetables, and teriyaki sauce.
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