There's an old wives' remedy for almost everything. Preparation H to reduce puffiness--specifically around the eyes--is purportedly a handy home remedy. Preparation H is a topical medication specifically made to treat hemorrhoids and is generally not used as a cosmetic application. Scientists warn that the benefits of using Preparation H for puffiness around the eyes are overrated at best. Moreover, using this medication in such a delicate area of the face may be hazardous.
Puffy Eyes: The Causes
Puffy can be caused by any number of factors, including fluid retention due to hormonal fluctuations, weather changes or consuming too much salt, say Mayo Clinic experts. Getting inadequate sleep and sleeping flat on your back can also cause eye puffiness, as can untreated allergies and dermatitis. Puffiness in the eye area can be simply the result of aging, as the fat that was once poised over your eyes migrates down below your lower eyelids. Some people are genetically predisposed to puffy eyes. The cosmetic scientists behind the BeautyBrains.com consumer website point out that because there are so many reasons for the dreaded eye puff, finding the right remedy means determining and addressing the physiological cause.
About Preparation H
Preparation H is a topical drugstore application used to reduce hemorrhoid swelling, as well as itching and inflammation. Preparation H is sold in many different formulations and product types, such as creams, ointments, suppositories and wipes. The active ingredients in these products vary, but the one said to be of particular benefit to dark eye circles is phenylephrine HCI, a vasoconstrictor. Preparation H also includes various protectants, such as white petrolatum, glycerin, mineral oil, shark liver oil and cocoa butter and astringents, such as witch hazel.
Preparation H In Theory
Theoretically, it makes sense that phenylephrine HCl, an ingredient also used in many nasal decongestants, works to constrict blood vessels under the eyes, says BeautyBrains cosmetic scientists. However, when taken to task, Cecil Adams, the "Straight Dope," debunked the Preparation H myth by phoning the manufacturers, Whitehall-Robins. Preparation H, according to the company's spokesperson, "helps shrink hemorrhoidal tissue and is not meant for the area around the eyes. There is no clinical evidence to support that it reduces eye puffiness." According to Adams, Preparation H has undergone reformulation; one of the active ingredients, live yeast, which was said to have an effect on puffy, baggy eyes, is no longer used in Preparation H.
Preparation H Cautions
Home experimentation using Preparation H is ill-advised for one very compelling reason: it's not formulated to be used under or around the eyes. Some of the other ingredients in this product can get in your eyes and cause extreme duress, says BeautyBrains.com, "and then, unfortunately, under-eye puffiness will be the least of your concerns." Lest you be tempted to use Preparation H for its anti-itch properties, BeautyBrains.com points out that these products contain a small amount of the topical steroid hydrocortisone (1 percent) compared to other over-the-counter steroid creams, which contain up to 2.5 percent. Hydrocortisone creams are not considered safe to apply to the eye area.
Home Remedies That Help
Lacking clinical studies to support Preparation H as a sure-fire way to puffy eyes, it's best to consider this treatment as yet another urban legend, says BeautyBrains.com. Some home remedies and lifestyle changes that might be beneficial include cold compresses, elevating your head when you sleep, getting enough shut-eye, treating allergies and making sure that your sinuses are clear, says the Mayo Clinic. You can also resort to camouflaging baggy eyes with a good concealer. The Mayo Clinic advises seeing your doctor about medical treatments if puffy eyes are an ongoing cosmetic concern.
