Puffy Eyes: What Causes Them, How To Prevent and Treat Them

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There are so many causes of puffy eyes; late nights out, lovesickness, too much screentime, lack of sleep, poor diet and dehydration. Swollen eyes are caused by an inflammatory response to an allergen, infection or injury while puffy eyes or under eye bags are caused by water retention, insufficient sleep or genetics. In this article, we’ll take a deeper dive into puffy eyes, what causes them and how to prevent and treat them.

What are Puffy Eyes?

Puffy eyes are soft and swollen eyelids that occur due to water retention, lack of sleep, or genetic traits such as sagging or puffiness of the eyelids. Puffy eyes aren’t a cause for concern and don’t require medical care, however, they may be a cosmetic concern for some. If you’d love to get treatment for puffy eyes, there a lot of effective solutions to reduce eye bags. But before we get treatment solutions for under eye bags, it’s important to correctly identify whether you have puffy eyes and the causes and symptoms to look out for.

Puffy Eyes Symptoms

Some symptoms of puffy eyes can include:

swelling under the eyes or on the eyelid
swelling around the eye
dark circles
saggy or loose skin under the eye

What Causes Puffy Eyes

As the skin around the eyes is very thin, swelling and discoloration can be very noticeable. Swelling around the eyes occurs because of excessive accumulation of fluids in the surrounding skin tissue. This may occur due to:

Diet

High salt or sodium consumption can lead to eye puffiness. Foods and drinks high in sodium cause water retention and swelling. Try to maintain a low sodium diet and eat fewer processed foods especially salty ones. Also limit alcohol consumption and up your water intake.

Lack of Sleep

Being irritable, having trouble concentrating and looking tired aren’t the only symptoms of lack of sleep. Puffy eyes can also give away that you haven’t had that much sleep. Try to get about 8 hours of sleep every night. And watch your sleep deprived eye bags go poof!

Sleeping with Makeup On

Going to bed with makeup on can irritate the tissue underneath your eyes and cause your eyes to swell. To prevent this from happening, use a gentle yet effective makeup remover to rid your face of any makeup and accumulated dirt on your face, especially underneath your eyes.

Stress

When you’re stressed, your cortisol levels rise, which in turn, intensifies eye puffiness. To help bring your cortisol to a low, try stress-relieving mechanisms like meditation and deep breathing to help get rid of eye bags caused by stress.

Crying

After a good cry, the tissue around the eyes can reabsorb the tears and make the eyes appear puffy.

Aging

As we age, the collagen levels in our skin begin to lower and the skin losses its tightness and elasticity. The delicate skin around our eyes is no exception and collagen loss can result in the appearance of puffy eyes. When the tissues around our eyes sag and become lax, the fat layers beneath those tissues start to bulge and cause eye puffiness.

Genetics

For some, puffy eyes occur due to genetics. If several people in your family have puffy eyes, you’re also likely to have them for this reason.

How to Prevent Puffy Eyes

With a few protective measures, you can keep eye puffiness at bay. Some of the things you can implement are:

Staying hydrated . Drinking enough water during the day will help you replenish any lost fluids and balance salt and water levels.
Reducing salt intake. By cutting back on your salt or sodium intake, you can prevent eye bags which can be because of sodium holding onto salt.
Keeping your head elevated. Avoid sleeping with your head flat on the bed and instead, prop yourself up on at least two pillows. This will keep your head elevated and prevent water from filling up in your facial tissues.
Getting enough sleep . Lacking a good night sleep, every night, can take a toll on your energy levels and also cause eye bags. To prevent this from happening, prioritize a good night’s sleep and make sure you’re well-rested.
Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol can dehydrate your body and overconsumption can result in puffy eyes. While you don’t have to cut off alcohol completely, reducing how much you take can do wonders in the prevention of eye bags.

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Products To Help You Treat Puffy Eyes

If you experience eye puffiness and are seeking treatment for eye bags, eye creams can be an effective solution. We have some NIVEA eye treatment recommendations that can help get rid of eye bags in just a few weeks.

NIVEA LUMINOUS630 Even Glow Eye Serum depuffs tired eyes and reduces eye bags. It’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. This even glow serum is formulated with NIVEA patented Luminous 630 to reveal more radiant, luminous skin.

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NIVEA LUMINOUS630 Even Glow Day Fluid SPF50 protects your skin from sun rays and helps deaccelerate aging which in turn reduces the appearance of puffy eyes. It contains patented Luminous 630 and is suitable for all skin types.

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Frequently asked questions about Puffy Eyes

Does drinking water help puffy eyes?

Yes, drinking a lot of water can help reduce puffy eyes. Drinking water keeps your body hydrated and this helps balance salt levels and improves the skin’s appearance.

What is the difference between puffy eyes and Swollen eyes?

Puffy eyes are soft, swollen eyelids that occur because of water retention, lack of sleep or genetics. Swollen eyes are caused by an inflammatory response to an allergy, infection or injury.

What is the common cause of puffy eyes?

Some common causes of puffy eyes are aging, water retention, lack of sleep, genetics and sleeping with makeup on.

How do you prevent puffy eyes?

You can prevent puffy eyes by removing makeup before going to bed, drinking a lot of water, getting enough sleep, reducing salt intake and reducing stress.

Do creams really work for puffy eyes?

Yes, eye creams are an effective way of treating puffy eyes. Eye creams are hydrating, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and the appearance of eye puffiness. We recommend NIVEA LUMINOUS630 Eye Serum for hydrating and depuffing the skin.