Puffy eyes are a common problem that becomes more pronounced with age. As we age, the skin and tissue around the eyes weaken, causing puffiness under the eyes. However, aging is not the only cause of puffy eyes. Many people experience puffiness under the eyes after waking up in the morning, which can be due to lack of sleep, an unhealthy lifestyle, or many other reasons. In this post, we will discuss the various causes of puffy eyes and their remedies.
What causes puffy eyes?
There can be several reasons behind puffy eyes, but the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) explains that one of the main reasons is the aging process. As we age, the body undergoes many changes, one of which is the loss of elasticity of the skin around the eyes. This skin begins to loosen over time, and the fatty tissues, which normally reside behind the eyes, begin to move towards the front of the eyes. This results in the accumulation of fat under the eyelids, which causes puffiness.
Also, aging can cause the muscles and tissues in our body to weaken, which can cause excess puffiness in the under-eye area. This eye puffiness can make us look tired or sick, although it usually does not pose any serious health risks.
But not only old age but also other reasons can cause puffy eyes. For example, allergies, lack of adequate sleep, unhealthy diet, smoking, excessive salt intake, and even excessive crying can cause puffy eyes. They can also cause water to accumulate or puffiness in the tissues around the eyes.
As a remedy for puffy eyes, proper skin care and some lifestyle changes can help with age-related puffiness. Puffiness can be reduced by following a healthy diet, adequate rest, and proper eye care regimen. In some cases, it may be necessary to take special creams or treatments under the doctor’s advice to reduce the swelling of the skin.
Hence, although eye puffiness is a normal process, it is possible to maintain eye beauty and health by controlling it.
Some possible causes of puffy eyes
Eye puffiness can have many causes, related to various physical, lifestyle or health issues. Here are some possible causes of puffy eyes discussed in detail:
Excess salt intake: Excess salt in the diet can cause puffiness around the eyes. Salt adds sodium to the body, which causes water retention. This causes water to collect in the soft tissue around the eye, causing the eye to swell. Especially, those who consume high salt foods regularly, may often face this problem.
Fluid retention (kidney disorders): Kidney problems can cause changes in the body’s ability to retain fluid, which can be one of the causes of puffy eyes. When kidney function decreases, excess fluid cannot be removed from the body properly, resulting in accumulation of water in various parts of the body, especially around the eyes. It can cause eye swelling as well as swelling in other parts of the body.
Trauma: Any type of trauma or injury around the eye can cause immediate swelling. Concussions can damage blood vessels and cause blood or fluid to accumulate around the eye. This type of swelling is often associated with pain and can also be chronic, depending on the extent of the injury.
Lack of sleep: Lack of adequate sleep is a common cause of puffy eyes. Without sleep, the body’s muscles and tissues do not get enough rest, resulting in puffiness under the eyes. In addition, lack of sleep affects the overall functioning of the body, which can increase eye fatigue and puffiness.
Keeping these factors in mind and making lifestyle changes can help control eye puffiness. Eye puffiness can be reduced with proper rest, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle practices, which will help maintain the beauty and health of the eyes.
Fluid retention or lack of sleep: How to tell the difference?
Differentiating between puffiness caused by fluid retention or lack of sleep can often be challenging, as both conditions cause puffiness around the eyes. However, it is possible to make some distinctions by analyzing their sources and symptoms.
Fluid Retention: Fluid retention can occur due to various reasons, including consuming high salt foods. Salt helps to store sodium in the body, which increases the tendency to retain water. This can cause puffiness under the eyes and other parts of the face. This type of swelling usually increases at different times of the day and may be more noticeable after waking up in the morning.
If bloating occurs from fluid retention, it is usually chronic and does not go away easily without lifestyle changes. Fluid retention problems can be linked to health problems such as kidney disease, which may require proper treatment.
Lack of sleep: Insufficient sleep is also a common cause of eye puffiness and dark circles. According to a study published in the journal Sleep, it is possible to determine lack of sleep by looking at people’s faces. Studies have shown that observers can easily identify sleep-deprived individuals by their tired facial features, such as puffy eyes, dark circles, pale skin and droopy eyelids.
Bloating due to insufficient sleep typically resolves after getting enough rest. After a night or two of good sleep, signs of puffiness and fatigue around the eyes may return to normal. However, if the swelling persists and does not subside with rest, it may indicate an underlying problem in the body, such as fluid retention or kidney disease, that requires diagnosis and treatment.
How to tell the difference: An easy way to differentiate between fluid retention and swelling caused by lack of sleep is to observe if the swelling goes away after getting enough rest. If the swelling persists after rest, it is likely due to fluid retention or another physical problem that requires medical attention. On the other hand, if the swelling subsides after adequate sleep, it is likely a lack of sleep.
Based on these symptoms, you can understand the condition of your body and take necessary steps, which will help you in solving eye puffiness and other problems.
Ways to get rid of puffy eyes
There are some effective ways to relieve eye puffiness that can help you get quick relief and reduce puffiness. These methods are discussed in detail below:
Use cold compresses: An easy and effective way to reduce eye puffiness is to apply cold compresses on the eyes. Cold temperatures constrict blood vessels, which helps reduce swelling. Using something like a cold cloth, spoon, or cold table provides quick relief.
Adequate sleep: Ensuring adequate sleep is an important way to reduce eye puffiness. Most experts recommend 7-9 hours of sleep per day. Adequate sleep relieves eye fatigue and helps reduce puffiness. It also maintains the overall health of the body.
Sleep with your head elevated: Try to sleep with your head slightly elevated while sleeping to reduce swelling. It helps the body get rid of fluid and reduces the amount of swelling. The head can be elevated using an additional pillow.
Avoid drinking fluids before going to bed: It is better to avoid drinking excess fluids before going to bed at night. It reduces the tendency to retain excess water in the body, thereby reducing eye puffiness upon waking up in the morning.
Limit salt in the diet: Keep the amount of salt in your diet under control. Excess salt causes the body to retain water, which can cause bloating. Eating a balanced diet and keeping salt levels in check can help prevent bloating.
Quit smoking: Smoking reduces the elasticity of the skin around the eyes and increases puffiness. Quitting smoking can reduce eye puffiness and improve skin health.
Keep allergy symptoms under control: If allergies are causing your swelling, try to keep allergy symptoms under control. Taking allergy medication or staying away from allergens can help reduce swelling.
Avoid rubbing the eyelids: Excessive rubbing of the eyelids can increase puffiness. The skin around the eyes is very sensitive, so try to avoid rubbing the eyes.
Following these steps can help reduce eye puffiness and keep your eyes fresher and healthier.
Pay attention to the food
Paying attention to food can be significantly helpful in preventing eye puffiness. In particular, eating foods rich in potassium helps counteract the negative effects of salt, which is one of the causes of puffy eyes.
Eat foods high in potassium: Foods rich in potassium help maintain proper water balance in your body and can help reduce swelling caused by salt. Some foods rich in potassium include bananas, yogurt, coconut water, dried fruit, potatoes, and dried apricots. By including these foods in your diet, you can easily help prevent puffy eyes.
However, it is important to remember that such foods should be eaten in moderation. Excess of anything is not good for the body, even healthy foods. Therefore, potassium-rich foods should be consumed in proper amounts, so that other body balances are not affected.
Reduce salt intake: Also, reducing salt intake can help reduce eye puffiness. Salt causes water retention in the body, which causes bloating. So, by controlling the amount of salt in your daily diet, you can reduce eye puffiness and other health risks.
This type of diet maintains your body’s water balance and can play an important role in solving the problem of puffy eyes. By including potassium-rich foods and low-salt foods in your diet, you can take a step towards healthy eyes and a puffy-free mouth.
