How to get rid of bags under your eyes
What are bags under the eyes?
Bags under the eyes, also called eye bags, form when weakened and sagging skin relaxes and creates a pouch. The fat pads under the eyes then slip down to fill the space, giving the appearance of a “bag.”
Excess fluid in the body can also pool in this area, making the lower eyelids look even more puffy and swollen. Any shadows or discolored skin under the eyes will make eye bags look more prominent.
Under-eye bags are mostly a cosmetic issue. They’re usually harmless, but can sometimes be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Most eye bags under the eyes are more noticeable in the morning, after the fluid has had all night to settle in.
What causes bags under the eyes?
Aging is the most common cause of bags under the eyes. As we get older, we experience a loss of fat padding and collagen, the major component of connective tissues in skin, muscles and other body parts.
Lower collagen levels cause the skin and underlying muscles all over the body to lose elasticity and tone. This sagging is especially noticeable around the eyes because the skin there is very thin.
Other factors that can contribute to bags under your eyes include:
Fluid retention
Stress
Inherited facial features
Smoking
Chronic medical conditions (such as thyroid disease)
If the swelling becomes severe, painful, itchy, red or persistent, see an eye doctor.
How to get rid of bags under your eyes
To get rid of eye bags, you need to find out what’s causing them in the first place.
When the bags under your eyes are a result of environmental or health issues, simple home remedies and lifestyle changes may help reduce their appearance.
Remedies include:
Get plenty of sleep; the CDC recommends at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night for adults, depending on your age.
Sleep with your pillow elevated a few inches to keep fluid from pooling around your eyes.
Drink enough water. Common guidance suggests adult women drink 2.3 quarts of water a day and adult males drink 3.2 quarts a day. But Cleveland Clinic recommends talking to your doctor to get the most accurate amount.
But avoid fluids before bedtime — and excess salt throughout the day.
Use a cool, damp washcloth as an eye compress, preferably while you’re sitting upright. You can also use cucumber slices or cold, damp tea bags to help reduce swelling.
Keep your allergy symptoms under control by avoiding triggers and taking prescription or over-the-counter allergy medications, as directed by your doctor.
Use cosmetic concealers to cover up dark under-eye shadows.
One popular home remedy for reducing bags under the eyes is the use of hemorrhoid cream. (Yes, really.)
Hemorrhoid creams contain phenylephrine, which constricts blood vessels and can temporarily tighten the skin under the eyes. This can temporarily reduce some of the swelling, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. But be very careful not to get the cream in your eyes.
If you’re a smoker, make every effort to quit. Avoiding smoking is not only good for your general health and eyesight; it will also slow the collagen loss that thins the skin.
If you choose cosmetic surgery to remove the bags under your eyes, you’ll also heal quicker if you don’t smoke.
There are also wrinkle treatments and skin therapies designed to tighten under-eye skin and reduce puffiness. These include options such as:
Chemical peels
Laser resurfacing
The benefits, side effects and risks associated with these options should be discussed with your ophthalmologist, oculoplastic surgeon or plastic surgeon.