7 surprising reasons behind your puffy eyes and what to do about them

Baggy eyes or puffy eyes are mild swelling under your eyes. It is caused when the tissue structure and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken, the skin begins to sag, and the space below your eyes collects fluid, which makes the area look puffy or swollen. Puffy eyes are usually a symptom of an unhealthy lifestyle like not sleeping enough, smoking or dehydration . It can also happen due to fluid retention, ageing, or kidney disease.

Here are 7 reasons behind your puffy eyes and how to cure them:


Lack of sleep

One of the main reasons behind puffy or baggy eyes is lack of sleep. Staying glued to screen or binge-watching late in the night can lead to this condition. Students may also get them if they stay awake all night to study. Lack of sleep can cause many health problems and have a severe impact on their mental health. A study published in the Journal of Sleep in 2013 mentions the effects of sleep deprivation on facial appearance.

Crying

You must have noticed when you cry for too long, your eyes start to feel heavy or your eyes get tired, giving them a puffy appearance. Crying and rubbing your eyes can cause irritation and inflammation, causing puffy eyes. A study published in the Journal of Emotional Psychology discusses the effects of crying on health and facial appearance.

Allergies

Many allergic reactions can cause puffiness under your eyes. Allergies can make your eyes feel itchy, and rubbing them can irritate the eyes, which can cause puffiness below your eyes. A study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology discussed various allergic reactions, including food allergies, environmental allergens, and their effects on the eyes.


Pregnancy or menstruation

During pregnancy and menstruation, the body goes through many hormonal changes; it increases estrogen and progesterone. Such a level of hormonal changes may cause puffiness around the eyes. You may find puffiness around your eyes in the morning.


Smoking and alcohol

Smoking can cause puffy eyes as it dehydrates your skin, harmful chemicals damage skin, cause irritation, and cause red eyes, which leads to puffy eyes. Alcohol can cause swelling in the eyes; it contains high levels of sugar or salt that may contribute to bloating and puffiness around the eyes. According to a study published in the Journal of Dermatological Science, smoking can increase skin aging, including around the eyes.

Dehydration

Dehydration can also cause puffy eyes. When your body is dehydrated, it can lead to water retention in many areas of the body, especially around the eyes. It causes the tissues around the eyes to swell. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, not drinking enough water can cause swelling and puffiness in the eyes.

Aging
Aging is a huge factor in puffy eyes. The skin loses elasticity as you grow older and fat accumulates around the eyes, which may give your eyes a puffy appearance.

Here are a few tips to cure your puffy eyes

Stay hydrated: It is very important to stay hydrated; it helps you keep away from many health diseases, and it can flush out toxins and excess salt, reducing water retention, which causes puffiness around the eyes.

Use a cold compressor. Use a cold compressor to help reduce the puffiness around the eyes.

Get enough sleep. When you get enough sleep, it can reduce the puffiness around the eyes. Getting enough sleep for 6 to 8 hours can help give the body enough rest. It may reduce the swelling.

Avoid rubbing your eyes. Rubbing can irritate the eyes and increase the swelling near the eyes. Instead of rubbing the eyes, you can gently massage around the eyes.

Avoid alcohol and smoking. Smoking and alcohol can increase risk of health disorders. Avoiding smoking and alcohol can reduce swelling and puffy eyes.