6 Ways to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes
Have you ever wondered why you wake up with puffy eyes? Let's take a look at what the causes are and what you can do to minimize swollen eyelids!
Let’s be honest, waking up with swollen, puffy eyes is not the best way to start your day.
Unfortunately, puffiness is a common concern for middle-aged women so let’s discuss what the main causes are and what you can do to try and combat them!
When you are asleep, your eyes are at rest. Swelling starts when your eyes are inactive.
The tissue surrounding your eyes is very thin. When fluids accumulate in this thin layer, it is difficult to conceal. The accumulation of fluid intensifies overnight and pools while we are laying down and results in swollen and puffy eyes when it comes time to rise and shine.
There is no cause of concern if the puffiness or swelling lasts for a day. For most women, it naturally goes away on its own as the day progresses in large part, thanks to gravity.
What are the common causes of puffy eyes?
Lack of Sleep
Sleeping gives your body enough time to heal. It is during this time that damaged tissues are repaired.
Adults usually need 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night. If you don’t get a well rested nights sleep, you will most likely wake up with puffy eyes.
Lack of sleep weakens the muscles around your eyes. This forces collagen production around the eyes to slow at a more rapid speed. This results in fluid build-up, which is ultimately what causes puffiness.
Fatigue and Stress
There are numerous physical manifestations that occur due to stress. Low energy, aches and tense muscles are common discomforts brought on by fatigue and stress.
When you are stressed out, your adrenal glands release cortisol, a stress hormone. Too much cortisol in the blood is what raises health concerns.
One consequence of high cortisol is the imbalance of salt and water in the body. Too much salt has a bloating effect on the body, so it is no surprise that this leads to dry, swollen, puffy eyes.
Unhealthy Diet
Indulging in salty and sweet food may be comforting at times. However, using too much table salt and consuming too much canned or processed food causes salt imbalance and water retention in the body.
Likewise, drinking too much alcohol or drinks containing refined sugar have the same consequence.
Water retention causes bloating in the abdomen area, swollen legs and feet, as well as puffiness in the face, including the eye area.
Allergies
The common triggers of eye allergies are pollen, dust, mold, smoke, pollution, animal hair, chemicals and perfumes.
When you are exposed to allergens, the protective cells of the eyes secretes proteins called histamines.
The histamines fight the allergens. The eyes become sensitive and watery, which causes the eyes to become puffy.
Crying
Crying has a soothing effect on the body. It is a way of relieving stress.
However, it is almost impossible to cry without having your eyes become red and puffy. This is because when you cry, your lacrimal glands secrete tears.
Tears collect around your eyes, causing temporary puffiness. This under-eye swelling subsides on its own after a short time.
Premenstrual Syndrome
Aside from mood swings, most women become bloated before or during their monthly cycle.
There are changes in the levels of hormones during this period. The levels of estrogen and progesterone increase or decrease depending on the phase of the monthly cycle causing the body to retain salt and water.
Belly bloating and eye swelling is common during this time but usually decrease after a few days.
Inactivity
Those who are physically inactive for an extended period tend to have fluid retention due to the lack of circulation.
Your blood does not circulate properly when standing, sitting, or lying down for long periods. The body is programmed to move around and when we do not, it causes the tissue to hold water that results in swelling of the muscles, joints, and in the face and eyes.
Aging
Aging is a natural process and it is inevitable.
As we age, the tissue in our eyelids weaken and fat from the upper eyelid settles down to the lower eyelid. Blame it on gravity, if you will! This causes fluid to get trapped in the lower eyelid which leads to puffy eyes.
Puffy eyes become more noticeable as we age since the skin around the eye area becomes thinner.
Here are 6 ways to get rid of puffy eyes
Healthy Lifestyle
Indulge in healthful and nutritious foods that boost your overall health. Consuming a healthy diet provides energy and contributes immensely to your skin health as well.
Keeping away from salty and processed foods, as well as cutting down on alcohol and sugary drinks, will also do wonders for your health, internally and externally.
Engaging in regular exercise not only increases muscle strength and boosts the immune system but it also enhances blood circulation which helps reduce bloating and eye swelling.
Antihistamines
Prevention is better than a cure. Try as much as possible to avoid getting in contact with things that trigger your allergies.
When eye swelling is due to a change in weather or coming into contact with something that triggers an allergic reaction, taking over the counter antihistamines can do the trick. Be sure to consult a doctor if symptoms persist.
Facial Massage
Gentle massage relaxes the muscles and stimulates blood circulation. Face massage also has tremendous beauty benefits.
Gently roll a derma roller around the eye area. It stimulates collagen production to help reduce wrinkles and deflate the swelling around the eyes.
Be sure to disinfect the derma rollers before use to avoid skin irritation.
Additionally, lightly massage the sinuses to help drain fluids that cause eye swelling.
Encouraging circulation in the facial muscles will help drain inflammation and work out tensions we don’t even realize we are carrying in our face.
Cooling Pads
An excellent remedy to reduce eye swelling is to put some cooling gel pads on the eyes. You can easily buy cooling gel pads from convenience stores or beauty and health stores.
Another simple and practical alternative is using chilled tea bags. The tannin in tea is known to significantly help reduce swelling. If you are experiencing extreme puffiness, opt for tea that has caffiene in it. Caffeine is known to drastically help with puffiness and dark circles.
Whichever cooling method you opt for, it will do wonders at decreasing puffiness.
Cucumber
You can reap numerous health and beauty benefits by adding cucumbers to your diet.
Applying cucumbers directly to the skin hydrates and brightens your skin as well. Cucumbers contain a high water content so whether you snack on them or apply chilled cucumber slices to your eyes, you are providing a burst of hydration either internally or externally that will help decrease puffiness.
Eye Gels and Eye Creams
The skin around the eyes is extremely delicate and can quickly become dull and dry. The signs of aging become very apparent in this area in the form of puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and crow’s feet.
Eye gels or eye creams are carefully formulated with potent ingredients to address the specific concerns around the eye area.
Regular use of eye gels or eye creams dramatically diminish fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, and can significantly help alleviate puffy eyes.
Do you want to say goodbye to puffiness, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles? Try YEOUTH Radiance Eye Gel with Hyaluronic Acid and Tripeptide.
YEOUTH Radiance Eye Gel is infused with two powerful ingredients, Hyaluronic Acid and Tripeptide to pamper the delicate skin around your eyes to help get rid of crow’s feet, dark circles, sun spots and puffiness.