Cures for Puffy Eyes

Many of us have experienced puffy eyes at one time or another, which usually makes our eyes look more tired and bloated. There are a variety of treatments and remedies that can be applied to the eye.

Causes

• Puffiness of the eye is caused by body fluids that have settled under they eye area. Early morning puffiness is caused by the previous day's activities, which may include drinking liquids before bed, not getting enough sleep or eating salty foods. Usually this swelling goes down after a couple of hours and the fluids are reabsorbed back into the body.

  An allergic reaction to foods like strawberries and nuts may caue puffy eyes. Retaining water prior to a woman's menstrual cycle may be another source. Allergies may also cause puffiness and redness of the eyes. A more serious condition can cause sagging skin on the face, especially around the eye area, as we age. Most of these can be fixed easily with over-the-counter treatments or items around your home.

Home Remedies

• One easy way to reduce puffiness is splashing cold water on your face. It gets the circulation moving and the swelling goes down. Light pats with your fingers around your eye also helps to remove the fluid away from the eyes.

  Refrigerated eye masks can be used upon waking for about five minutes. Tea bags also work. Wet the tea bags with cold water and lay them over your eyes for 15 minutes to let the antioxidants take effect.

  Concealer is another option. Apply it under the eye and pat to blend into the skin.

  If suffer from allergies, try an antihistamine.

Surgical

• As we age, our face tends to sag around the eye area. This causes our eyes to look puffy and home remedies and over the counter creams don't really work. These bags form because fat has deposited under the eye. A surgery called transconjunctival blepharoplasty can be an option. This procedure involves an incision which is made on the inside of the lower eye lid. The fat is exposed, and the tissue is tightened. Recovery time takes about two weeks.

Prevention/Solution

• To avoid puffiness, take some precautions. Avoid drinking any fluids before bed. Stay away from salty foods. Switch to a gel-based make-up. Don't use wrinkle removers, as they may cause the eye to plump up. Cold compresses may also prevent puffiness from occurring overnight.

Concerns

• If puffiness last for more than a week and seems severe, then seek the advice of a doctor. Also, if your eyes become red or painful then there may be an underlying problem associated with the eye.