They say the eyes are the windows to one’s soul. But how can others take a peek when your eyes are all puffy and filled with dark circles? What should you do to get rid of those dark circles under your eyes and those puffy eyes?

You would be interested to know that smoking and a lack of enough sleep aren’t the only (or even the majority) of the problem. The leading causes include fat loss behind the eye, damaged blood vessels, and increased melanin (hyperpigmentation). But whatever the reason, those dark circles and puffiness can make you look and feel like you’re in a slump.

Some might say that splashing cold water on your face is the solution. However, this is not the correct answer to the problem. There are far more efficient methods for removing under-eye bags and preventing puffiness around the eyes.

You don’t need to be anxious much about this condition. It’s a cosmetic issue that can be easily treated and even prevented.

Want to get rid of the tiredness from your eyes? Rest assured, puffy eyes and dark circles aren’t a permanent fixture on your face. You can quickly get rid of these puffy eyes and dark circles. Whether you’re just interested or want to reclaim your youthful vitality, we’ve got you covered.

What are Puffy Eyes?

It’s pretty frustrating when we look at a mirror first thing in the morning and see bags and dark circles under the eyes staring back at us. At some point, some of the fat beneath the skin of your face vanishes. And what’s left is pulled downward by gravity. Bags occur partly under the eyes because there is less fat to support the skin, which causes it to sag. Fluid collects under looser and thinner skin, resulting in a puffy appearance.

The following are the most common causes of puffy eyes:

Aging

Because the skin around your eyes is so thin, any changes in your body as you age are amplified. The tissue in your eyelids can deteriorate over time, and fat in your upper eyelid may slip out and settle in your lower eyelid as a result of this.

Also, as you get older, fluid may be more likely to get trapped in your lower eyelid. The medical word for fluid retention is edema. Fluid retention can be highly noticeable around your eyelid due to the thin skin, resulting in puffy eyes.

Allergies

Allergies frequently cause puffy eyes. To combat allergens, protecting cells in your eyes known as mast cells release immune proteins known as histamine. Your eyes become sensitive and moist as a result of this. Tears will form in your eyes as the pollen, or another allergy is washed away.

Some of the most common eye-allergies are because of:

• Smoke

• Perfume

• Chemicals

• Pollen

• Animal fur

• Dust

• Mold

Eating Food with Too Much Salt

If you take too much sodium, your body may retain water. Puffiness develops in the face and body as a result of the excess water. This swelling is especially prevalent after a salty meal in the morning.

Around your eyes, the delicate skin is more prone to puffiness. The body naturally gets rid of the bloating and de-puff the eye area, resulting in under-eye edema or the appearance of under-eye “bags.”

Lack of Sleep

Sleep deprivation can cause the muscles surrounding your eyes to weaken, and it can also cause collagen — the elastic tissue — to be lost under the eyes. As a result, fluid collects in the area, causing swelling beneath your eyes.

Crying

When you cry, fluid collects around your eyes, causing puffiness for a brief period. This kind of swelling under the eyes will most likely go away on its own, and there’s no need for a remedy or treatment.

Eye Infection

An eye infection might cause some swelling in one or both eyes. An infection in the eye or eyelid is possible. In most cases, the infection begins in one eye, but it can soon migrate to the other.

Some eye infections that cause puffiness are:

• Conjunctivitis or the Pink Eye

• Stye

• Periorbital cellulitis

• Chalazion

What are Dark Circles Under The Eyes?

Technically, they are not circles. Blood collecting in the veins beneath the skin causes darkness around the eyes.

Because the skin in that part of the eyes is susceptible to sunlight, some darkening could be due to pigment. Some people have puffy eyes in the morning because they’re experiencing the effects of being in a horizontal position, which causes fluid to build around the eyes and veins to dilate (expand) to accommodate more blood.

Now that it’s clear what each eye condition means, it’s time to find out why they are occurring.

What Causes Dark Circles?

Aging 

As you become older, your skin thins and you lose the fat and collagen that keep your skin supple. As a result, the dark blood vessels beneath your skin become more visible, darkening the area beneath your eyes.

Eyestrain

Long periods of staring at a television or computer screen can put a lot of strain on your eyes. Blood vessels around your eyes may expand due to this stress, and the skin around your eyes may darken as a result.

Dehydration 

When your body is dehydrated, the skin around your eyes becomes dull and sunken. This appearance is the case because of their near proximity to the underlying bone.

Genetics

Additionally, your family history has a role in the development of dark circles under your eyes. It could be an inherited feature that manifests itself early or later in life.

Symptoms of Puffy Eyes and Dark Circles

Although dark circles and puffiness are symptoms themselves, there are some ways to determine if you are currently experiencing or about to develop these conditions. And the other symptoms depend on the cause.

There are times when puffiness is accompanied by redness. Typically, this happens if there’s an infection.

Sometimes, those who have puffy eyes see “eye floaters.” These are small strings or specks that float into your range of vision, and they can appear as lines, cobwebs, blobs, or black/gray dots. A huge floater can occasionally cast a shadow, resulting in a large, black patch in your line of vision.

For dark circles, accompanying symptoms include eye dryness and itchiness when one has allergies. To alleviate your discomfort, take care of your eyes and keep the area around them clean.

Rest your eyes constantly. Allow them to relax. Wear no eye makeup or contact lenses until your symptoms improve.

Remedies and Treatments

You can try these home remedies for puffy eyes:

1. Apply A Cold Compress or A Gel Eye Mask On The Eyelids 

Use a clean, moist washcloth to the area around your eyes. Alternatively, cool a spoon and gently massage the region with the back of the spoon. You may also use your eye creams or serum as a cooling gel by keeping it in the freezer. You can also try eye patches.

2. Use Tea Bags

Caffeine in tea may assist in pulling water out of your under-eye area and reducing puffiness. So, make sure that you use caffeinated tea. Caffeine helps tighten blood vessels and reduce puffiness by increasing blood flow to the skin.

Soak two tea bags for a few minutes in cold water. Cover your closed eyelids with them and relax for 15 to 20 minutes.

3. Use A Face Roller

Use your fingertips or a cold metal facial roller to massage your face. Gently massage or tap around your eyes and sinuses to drain excess fluid.

4. Use Cucumber Slices

These can reduce swelling and relieve puffy eyes, but you’ll need cold ones. So, first, put the cucumber in the refrigerator. Then wash your cucumber first before slicing it into two 1/4-inch pieces.

You can preserve the rest of the cucumber for another time. Keep the slices on your eyelids until they become warm, then flip them over to the other side for 15 minutes. Repeat if needed.

Apart from the above home treatments, you can also try consulting with a doctor so you can get a prescription for any of the following medications:

• Antibiotics

• Antibacterial eye drops

• Anti-allergy medication

• Steroid eye drops

• Antibacterial ointment

For getting rid of Dark Circles, you can try these:

You can also use tea bags and a cold compress to treat dark circles. And here are a few more at-home treatments:

1. Use A Concealer 

While makeup and cosmetics cannot wholly eliminate dark eye circles, they can at least hide them temporarily. Find concealers that mix in with your natural skin tone. 

2. Use An Over-The-Counter Eye Cream

There are several over-the-counter moisturizers, serums, and creams that can aid in getting rid of dark circles around the eyes. Aloe Vera, hyaluronic acid, vitamin c, niacinamide, licorice extract, caffeine, and/or retinol are all present in several of them.

3. Apply A Combination of Almond Oil and Vitamin E

Natural healers recommend mixing equal parts of these two elements and gently massaging the mixture into the dark circles just before bedtime. Wash the area with cold water in the morning. Repeat the procedure every night until the dark circles go.

Depending on the reason for the circles beneath your eyes, your doctor may recommend some medical treatments or procedures. Here are some possible ones:

1. Laser Therapy

In laser treatments, damaged cells are vaporized with the use of heat energy. It is possible to target the darker pigment under the eyes. Laser therapy may cause new collagen synthesis in addition to lightening darker skin tones.

2. Chemical Peels

A dermatologist may recommend a gentle chemical peel. This procedure would lighten the dark pigmentation under the eyes. Retinoic acid, glycolic acid, and hydroquinone are common examples. 

3. Fillers

An ophthalmologist, dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or another appropriately qualified healthcare provider can inject a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler, such as Restylane or Juvederm, into the skin cells under the eye. Fillers can assist with dark circles caused by volume loss under the eyes.

Prevention

As the adage goes, prevention is always preferable to cure. Here are some long-term prevention tips to get rid of puffy eyes and dark circles:

1. Take Care of Your Allergies. Allergy season is synonymous with watery, swollen eyes, and your over-the-counter medications for allergies, colds, and sinus infections can help you dry out your puffy eyes.

2. Collagen-rich meals can aid in the prevention of drooping around the eyes. Therefore, you should add them to your diet or enhance your consumption of them. Beef, chicken, fish, beans, eggs, and other dairy items are high in collagen.

3. Limit The Amount of Salt You Consume. Adults should take no more than 1,500 mg of salt per day, according to the American Heart Association. Make sure you’re getting lots of water as well.

4. Make sure you receive enough rest and sleep. According to doctors, adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

Final Thoughts

Remedies and treatments for getting rid of puffy eyes and dark circles will depend on the cause. To treat and prevent puffy eyes and dark circles, follow the tips in this article. 

Consult your alternatives with a doctor before deciding on any cosmetic operation. Invasive medical treatments can be costly, unpleasant, and time-consuming to recover from.

When it comes to reducing the look of dark circles and under-eye puffiness, remedies, products, and treatments can assist. But your most powerful tool may be good lifestyle practices.

Good habits can go a long way toward decreasing or even preventing those dark, puffy eyes. Which home remedies do you prefer for puffy eyes and dark circles? Let us know in the comments below!