Baggy Eyes

Bags under the eyes is one of the most common cosmetic problems and often quite tough to get rid of. Getting rid of it requires a lot of patience and continued efforts. Most often, under eye bags is either an inherited trait, or results from an underlying health condition. A wrong lifestyle such as, not eating nutritious foods or not getting enough rest or sleep too can contribute towards the development of bags under eyes.

Causes of Puffy Eyes

The most common factor responsible for causing bags under the eyes and puffy eyes is the natural process of aging. Due to aging, the skin loses its elasticity and firmness. This process can be accelerated by several factors including, lack of proper nutrition. Certain vitamins, especially vitamin E and C are crucial for maintaining the elasticity of the skin. Vitamin C is required by the body to produce collagen, the fibrous connective tissue which maintains skin elasticity. Deficiency of this vitamin can cause the signs of aging such as, wrinkles, fine lines and bags under the eyes to appear early.

Many times, tiredness or exhaustion, lack of sufficient sleep, fluid retention and allergies can also cause this condition. Apart from these, some other possible causes of bags under eyes are, smoking, exposure to secondary smoke, thyroid problems, kidney problems and taking too much salt or sodium. But, for some individuals, it can be an inherited condition, passed on from their parents.

Puffy Eyes Treatment

There are usually two options for its treatment, botox injections and surgery. In the first method, botox is injected into the affected area, in order to treat the under eye bags. However, the effect of botox injection lasts only for a few months to years. A more permanent result can be achieved with the help of surgery, which is usually termed as blepharoplasty. This surgical procedure involves removal of the excess fat and skin from the upper and lower eyelids, in order to cure bags under eyes. Surgery for this condition is quite expensive, though it can produce long-lasting results.

Home Remedies for Eye Problems

Most often, bags under eyes can be treated with some simple home remedies. These remedies can help to refresh the tired eyes and thereby, improve their look. A few of the most effective remedies for this condition are explained below:

• Keep the body well hydrated by drinking about 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. Drinking plenty of water can help to reduce water retention, which is one of the most important factors responsible for causing bags under the eyes.
• Like drinking water, getting enough sleep is equally important. Generally, it is considered that one should get 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily to remove puffiness or bags under the eyes, as well as dark circles.
• If the head is kept in a slightly elevated position while sleeping during the night, it can help to prevent accumulation of fluid in the lower eyelids. This in turn, can reduce bags under eyes.
• Put some ice cubes in a towel and place it on your eyelids. It will refresh your eyes. Otherwise, you can soak a soft washcloth or cotton in cold water or rose water, and place them on the eyelids for a few minutes.
• Try some cucumber slices. If possible, place chilled cucumber slices over the eyelids to reduce swelling and dark circles under eyes.
• Potato slice or grated potato can also be applied on the eyelids to cure dark circles and bags under eyes.
• Soak cotton in chilled milk and then place it on your eyelids for a few minutes. This too can help to refresh the eyes and remove puffiness.

Along with these, one should also cut down the intake of salt or sodium, and follow a healthy diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, in order to treat bags under eyes. Even eye exercises can help to get rid of this problem. However, if the problem persists even after taking adequate care, and applying the above mentioned natural remedies, then one can consider surgery or botox injections, but only after consulting a plastic surgeon.