How to Get Rid of Bags Under Eyes: Treatment at home or Therapies?

How to reduce bags under eyes?

What is Bags under eyes?

Bags under eyes?— mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes — are common as you age. With aging, the tissues around your eyes, including some of the muscles supporting your eyelids, weaken.

Normal fat that helps support the eyes can then move into the lower eyelids, causing the lids to appear puffy. Fluid also may accumulate in the space below your eyes, adding to the swelling.

Causes of Bags under eyes

As you age, the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that is normally confined to the area around the eye (orbit) can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can accumulate fluid, making the under-eye area appear puffy or swollen. Several factors cause or worsen this effect, including:

• Fluid retention, especially upon waking or after a salty meal
• Lack of sleep
• Allergies
• Smoking
• Heredity — under-eye bags can run in families

At-home remedies for Bags under eyes

Bags under eyes are usually a cosmetic concern and rarely a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. At-home remedies, such as cool compresses, can help improve the appearance of bags under eyes.

1. Apply tea bags

Tea isn’t just for sipping. You can actually use caffeinated tea bags under your eyes to help with dark circles and bags.

The caffeine in the tea contains powerful antioxidants and may increase blood flow to your skin. It’s also said to protect against UV rays and potentially slow the aging process.

Green tea, in particular, has been touted by researchers for its potential anti-inflammatory effects, as shown in one studyTrusted SourceTrusted Source.

To do this:

Steep two tea bags for 3 to 5 minutes.

Let the tea bags chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

Then, squeeze out the extra liquid and apply to your under-eye area.

Leave the tea bags on for 15 to 30 minutes.

Shop a selection of green tea bags.

2. Use a cold compress

Toss out those pricey creams. Relief from dark circles may be as simple as using a cold compress you make using materials you already own. Applying cold to the area can help the blood vessels constrict quickly for some temporary relief.

Although you can purchase a cold compress at the store, do-it-yourself methods can work just as well.

Some DIY options include a:

chilled teaspoon

cool cucumber

wet washcloth

bag of frozen veggies

Before applying, wrap your compress with a soft cloth to protect your skin from getting too frosty. You only need to apply the compress for a few minutes to see results.

3. Clear out your sinuses with a neti pot

Some people swear that using a neti pot can help remove your under-eye bags and dark circles. A neti pot is a device you fill with a saltwater (normal saline) solution. You place the spout in your nose and irrigate your sinuses, removing mucus and other debris.

To do this:

Fill your neti pot with a saltwater solution — 1/2 teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of water. Heat the water to dissolve, then cool to body temperature before use. Warm or lukewarm is best for comfort.

Tilt your head sideways over the sink. Place the spout of the pot in the upper nostril, the one now closer to the ceiling.

Breathe through your mouth as you gently pour the solution into the nostril. The solution should drain through the other nostril.

Repeat this process with your head tilted the other way.

Rinse your pot after use with filtered, distilled, or otherwise sterile water.

Let the pot air dry before storing.

You can find inexpensive neti pots online. If you choose to try this method at home, be sure to use distilled or sterilized water to create your saltwater solution. You may also use boiled tap water that has cooled to a safe temperature.

At-home remedies for Bags under eyes

4. Stay hydrated

Water makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Given this, it may not be surprising that dehydration can contribute to under-eye bags. Upping your water intake should help.

How much is enough? Experts recommend drinking around 13 cups of fluids a day for men, and about 9 cups of fluids for women, per day.

Don’t like water? The good news is that all fluids count toward your daily total. Still, water is a low-calorie option. Try sparkling waters, flavored waters, or even water infused with fruit. Hot or cold herbal decaffeinated tea is another good choice.

5. Take an antihistamine

Allergies can cause puffy, dark circles under your eyes. You may also experience redness or watery, itchy eyes. This reaction is caused by your immune system’s response to something that irritates it, or allergens.

If you feel your under-eye bags might be allergy related, ask your doctor about taking over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications. Some brands include:

Benadryl

Zyrtec

Claritin

Purchase antihistamines online.

It’s also a good idea to avoid potential allergens whenever possible.

Certain personal care products, like soaps, makeup, or hair dyes, may be allergens. If you’re having trouble identifying the cause, consider keeping a diary to see what substances or other things cause the most reaction. If this is a chronic problem talk to your doctor about allergy testing.

6. Add retinol cream to your routine

You may have used creams in the past, but concentrating on specific ingredients is key. Retinol creams have been used for a variety of skin issues, including:

acne

psoriasis

aging

certain cancers

This ingredient is related to vitamin A and it comes in cream, gel, or liquid form.

How does retinol help with eye bags? When applied to the skin, this ingredient can improve collagen deficiency. You may find lower concentrations of retinol in different OTC products, but stronger creams require a prescription from your dermatologist.

Retinol is generally applied to skin once a day, about a half hour after washing your face. Don’t use retinol creams or take extra vitamin A if you’re pregnant.

7. Wear sunscreen every day

Protecting your skin against the sun’s rays can help with a number of dermatological issues, like:

premature aging

skin cancer

discoloration

As a result, wearing sunscreen may also help with your under-eye bags and dark circles.

The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that all people wear sunscreen. Broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays is important. So is choosing a formula that is SPF 30 or higher and water-resistant. Reapply as necessary or directed on the package instructions. Choose a daily face moisturizer that’s also SPF 30 or higher.

Here’s a selection of sunscreens with high SPF.

You can also avoid the sun’s harmful rays by:

sitting in the shade

wearing protective clothing

avoiding tanning beds

Bags Under Eyes Treatment at home

8. See your derm about microneedling

Microneedling is also known as collagen induction therapy. Proponents say it reduces wrinkles, scarring, and even pigment issues, like dark circles and under-eye bags.

The procedure involves fine needles that are used to puncture the skin. This creates a controlled injury of sorts that, in turn, rejuvenates the skin being treated.

This procedure isn’t for those who want instant gratification. It’s usually performed over the course of six sessions spaced a month or so apart. Microneedling costs less than more traditional laser procedures.

There are also some risks, though the recovery time is relatively fast. People may run into issues like:

bleeding

bruising

infection

scarring

Dermatologists don’t recommend the at-home kits as they’re less effective and there’s some danger of infection transmission. Don’t share needles with other people to prevent disease transmission. This approach isn’t a good choice for people who have a history of keloids or who easily scar.

9. Take your makeup off before bed

Improving your nightly routine may also help you avoid bags under your eyes. In particular, it’s important to wash your face before bed each night.

There are several reasons why you shouldn’t sleep in makeup. First, if you sleep with mascara or other eye makeup on your eyes, you may:

irritate them

experience an allergic reaction

develop an infection that creates redness, puffiness, or other symptoms

Some say forgetting to wash your face may cause wrinkles or damage the skin in other ways. How exactly? When you sleep in makeup, you’re exposing your skin to free radicals. This has the potential to create what’s called oxidative stress, which may prematurely ageTrusted SourceTrusted Source your skin.

10. Cut back on alcohol

You may consider also cutting back on alcohol to see relief. Why does this work? It’s a similar idea to drinking more water. Drinking alcohol contributes to dehydration, and dehydration may lead to bags and dark circles under your eyes.

If you’re craving a special drink, try grabbing flavored sparkling water or infusing regular water with fruit.

For persistent or bothersome under-eye puffiness, eyelid surgery may be an option.

Beautiful Woman With Green Tea Bag Under Eyes On White Background

When to see a doctor - Therapies

Medical and surgical treatments are available if you're concerned about the appearance of under-eye swelling. Treatment may not be covered by medical insurance if it's done solely to improve your appearance.

If you think the swelling under your eyes is caused by an allergy, ask your doctor about prescription allergy medications.

Various wrinkle treatments are used to improve the appearance of puffiness under the eyes. These include laser resurfacing, chemical peels and fillers, which may improve skin tone, tighten the skin and rejuvenate the look of bags under the eyes, as the mayo clinic.

Your doctor will want to rule out other possible causes that can contribute to the swelling, such as thyroid disease, infection or an allergy. He or she may refer you to a doctor who specializes in the eyes (ophthalmologist), plastic surgery or plastic surgery of the eyes (oculoplastic surgeon).

Eyelid surgery

Depending on what's causing bags under the eyes, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) may be a treatment option. During blepharoplasty (BLEF-uh-roe-plas-tee), the surgeon removes excess fat through an incision in the natural crease of the upper eyelid or inside the lower lid. He or she then rejoins the skin with tiny dissolving stitches. The procedure is usually done as an outpatient procedure.

In addition to correcting bags under eyes, blepharoplasty can also repair:

- Baggy or puffy upper eyelids

- Excess skin of the upper eyelid that interferes with your vision

- Droopy lower eyelids, which may cause white to show below the iris — the colored part of the eye

- Excess skin on lower eyelids

Talk with your doctor about the side effects of eyelid surgery — dry eyes, watery eyes, pain, swelling, bruising and blurred vision. Rare complications include visual loss, bleeding, infection, injury to eye muscles, corneal abrasion and drooping of an eyelid.