We all know that the eyes reflect genuine emotion and connect us in conversation. But waking up to puffy eyes is a horrible surprise. Luckily there are a plethora of solutions to this age-old dilemma. Here are a few treatment options to consider to help restore your eyes to glory.
Quick Fixes
Regular eye cream use
Consistently use an eye cream that is developed both for puffiness and age prevention. Also, make time for a three-minute eye massage in the morning with a brightening eye cream. A caffeine-spiked eye cream is best. Applying the product cold, will speed the de-puffing process as well. Just put a small amount of cream around each eye and gently massage. A gentle massage should help flush the fluid buildup and decrease the puffiness.
Drink an adequate amount of water
The body will retain water when there are high amounts of salt present. This is why eyes appear puffy after a night of crying, drinking or eating a highly salty meal. To reduce the puffiness you see in the mirror in the morning, try gulping down several glasses of water first thing in the morning.
Cold compress
Just like other types of swelling, cooling properties can help reduce the puffiness of eyes when they are inflamed and irritated. One popular method to cure puffy eyes is to rest chilled cucumber slices on them, as they are the perfect size for eyes. Cucumbers also contain an astringent that may help constrict blood vessels and reduce the accumulation of fluid. If you don’t have cucumbers on hand use chilled spoons as a substitute place them in the freezer or fridge for 5-10 minutes and then rest them over your eyes until they return to room temperature. If it doesn’t work the first time around, try again. You can also wet a towel with cold water and put that on your eyes.
Elevate your head while you are sleeping
Sleeping horizontally flat can cause fluid to build up around your eyes, which can lead to waking up with puffy eyes. Try putting one extra pillow underneath your head before you drift off to sleep to reduce fluid retention around the eyes.
Longer-Lasting Solutions
Get more sleep
Lack of sleep is one of the most common causes of puffy eyes. If you’re waking up to swollen eyelids, try to make time to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night. This alone may cure your puffy eye problem.
Lessen your salt intake
If you eat too much salt, your sodium levels rise and your kidneys will signal your body to retain water. This leads to bloating, which will affect the area underneath your eyes. As a result, the more salt you eat, the more you are at risk of puffy eyes. Try not to add any extra salt to your food, as you typically get enough sodium from your daily diet without adding anything extra. Also, try to eat foods containing low amounts of sodium. Most foods with added preservatives, including canned and frozen food, have higher sodium levels.
Drink less alcohol and more water
Alcohol can lead to fluid retention in your face, which causes puffy eyes. If you’re prone to swollen eyes, try to limit your alcohol intake to one or two drinks one or two times a week. This will keep your entire body looking healthier, including your eyes. You should also drink at least eight glasses of water a day in order to flush out the sodium in your body, reducing puffiness and keeping your skin hydrated and healthy.
See if a medical condition is causing your eyes to swell
If none of these longer-lasting solutions work, you should check with your doctor to see if you have a condition associated with puffy eyes. Swollen eyes are a symptom of several conditions, including allergies, blepharitis, eye infections, pregnancy, hormonal variation during menstrual cycle, conjunctivitis, skin disorders, and more.
A more permanent fix
Blepharoplasty
If the issue is a fat pocket in the upper or lower eyelids and not just puffiness, eyelid surgery, may be the best option. The best candidate for blepharoplasty is a physically healthy man or woman who has realistic expectations for looking to improve the appearance of drooping upper eyelids and/or puffy bags beneath the eyes. Usually eyelid surgery takes about one to three hours to complete, and eliminates the fatigued, tired-looking and puffy eyes that commonly occur with aging.
If you have a skin care question for Kaitlin, please feel free to reach out via email: kaitlin@trueskincarecenter.com and include the subject line “Skin Care Question”
