Puffy Eyes; Prevention Better Than Cure
Your eyes can tell you a lot about your internal health. Dark circles? You probably need to focus on sleep quality. Fine lines? You might be dealing with dehydration or loss of collagen.
And what about puffiness? Well, there could be multiple factors at play, some of which aren't exactly in your control. If you consistently wake up with puffy eyes, take a peek at the most common causes below—after all, you can't expect to treat the swelling without getting to the root of the issue (but don't worry; we outline some quick fixes as well):
Lack of sleep: Ever wondered why you wake up with swollen under-eyes? Lack of sleep leads to increases in certain hormones that cause fluid retention. Additionally, lack of sleep means less lymphatic fluid available to clear toxins and waste products, so buildup leads to puffiness. Sleep is a time for your body to clear out everyday waste; when you don't get enough sleep, your body can't clear out that debris, and those toxins can start to build up—in addition to other health concerns, this buildup can lead to puffiness.
Sleep position: But it's not just a lack of sleep that can cause puffiness—how you sleep can totally impact your appearance. For example, if you sleep with your face smashed into the pillow, you'll likely wake up with swollen eyes. Sleeping with your face down pulls fluid toward your face, especially the eye area. Lying flat can also cause puffy eyes, thanks to gravity. You may want to prop up your body with extra pillows so your head is tilted up a bit to help reduce puffiness. That way, gravity pulls the fluid downward, away from the eye area.
Hormones: If you're an individual who menstruates, you might notice some puffiness right around the time of your cycle. During the early pre-menstruation phase when progesterone levels are high, the body will retain extra fluid, and this will be seen as puffiness of the face, especially around the eyes.
Allergies: Seasonal allergies tend to go hand in hand with itchy, puffy eyes—if your eyes swell up at the first waft of spring blooms, you're certainly not alone. An increase in histamine release causes inflammation and swelling, which is most often seen on the face. Not to mention, constantly rubbing at your delicate eye area can cause even more irritation, which only exacerbates the puffiness.
Dehydration: When your body lacks hydration, it may have a hard time getting rid of fluids since it wants to hold on to the precious water it does have. Over time, the excess fluid accumulates, which can lead to puffiness (this is known as fluid retention).
Poor Diet: High sodium intake dehydrates your skin and causes the body to retain more water, and this change can become most obvious around the eyes and the face. Processed foods are often deceptively high in sodium so you might be getting a lot more then you think.
Other reasons may include crying, when you cry, the tissues around your eyes can reabsorb the tears that don't run out of your eyes or nose. That leads to puffy eyes. Hastily wiping those tears away can irritate the orbs and make them puffy. Alcohol can cause water retention and facial puffiness, and lack of sleep, so we are back on the loop. Unfortunately, genetics, and medical conditions like Thyroid disorders, can inevitably cause puffy eyes too.
How can you help reduce puffy eyes when possible?
Prioritize in having your 8 hours of peaceful sleep as much as you can.
Take care of what you eat, keep in mind a clean diet and drink plenty of water.
You can use cool tools, like Gua-Sha cold stones, and lymphatic drainage massage to assist with any current fluid retention around the eyes.
Taking care of your skincare routine and maintaining your face hydrated is important too. Make sure than when applying cream around the eye area, you do it by using a soft pressure finger like your middle finger and apply any cream by touching the bone over the eyes, and not beyond. This may cause product getting inside your eyes and provoking puffiness and irritation too.
Protect from UV Rays, wear sunglasses when possible and don’t forget to apply your sunscreen.
Interested in natural home remedies?
Chamomile tea: Chamomile tea bags are another great solution need to eliminate eye puffiness. Steep the tea bags in hot water, take them out until they cool, and put one on each eye for 10 minutes. You could also place the tea bags in the fridge overnight and apply them in the morning—the cool temperature paired with soothing chamomile will help dial down inflammation.
Green tea: Green tea is also a vasoconstrictor, meaning it has the ability to constrict blood vessels in the skin. Follow the same instructions as the chamomile version above; just swap your tea for an antioxidant-rich green variety.
Cucumbers: Not only are cucumbers incredibly cooling and hydrating, but they also contain vitamin C and caffeic acid to help soothe irritated skin and reduce swelling. Simply cut a clean cucumber into slices and lay them on your eyes for 10 minutes.
The key is consistency. Listen to what your eyes are telling you, adjust your routine accordingly, and remember that the best beauty "secret" will always be a solid restful night of sleep and a hydrated soul. Whether you’re simmering bone broth or slicing up cucumbers, you’re taking the lead in your own wellness journey—and that’s exactly where the real glow begins.
Wellness to your health,
Virginia
