Bags under eyes are usually a cosmetic concern and don't require medical treatment. Home and lifestyle treatments may help reduce puffiness. But if you're concerned about the appearance of under-eye swelling, medical and surgical treatments are available.
The best way to get rid of eyebags long-term is to make certain lifestyle changes. Drinking more water and applying a cold compress can help shrink eye bags quickly, but these are not long-term remedies. This is especially true if your eye bags and dark circles are genetically inherited.
Bagginess under the eyes may also be due to genetics, and in these cases, are difficult to resolve and may be more permanent. They may appear almost overnight, may develop over time, and may stay for as long as the underlying cause is unresolved.
Bags under eyes are caused when the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that's usually around the eye can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can gather fluid, making the area look puffy or swollen.
Get enough sleep. Being well-rested can help reduce swelling around your eyes. Try sticking to a low-sodium diet. Salt induces your body to retain water, which can cause bags and puffiness.
You can reduce eye puffiness by resting a cool washcloth on your eyelids for about 10 minutes. This can help drain excess fluid from under your eyes. A compress of green or black tea bags may also do the trick. The tea contains antioxidants and caffeine that can reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels.
Stress levels affect the cortisol levels which, in turn, increase the appearance and intensity of puffiness and bags under the eyes. “That is also why those with high stress levels experience acne,” Dr. Sandy notes. Meditation is one approach to reduce stress, as is exercise.
A lower eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) is an outpatient procedure where the surgeon readjusts the fat in the lower eye area and tightens the muscle and skin to create a smooth appearance. In most cases, a lower eyelid lift gets rid of under-eye bags for life — it's rare for people to need future touch-ups.
Dark circles under the eyes may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia . In those cases, an iron supplement may be helpful to normalize blood levels.
Non-surgical and minimal invasive, tear trough fillers are an effective way to tighten skin under the eyes, treat wrinkles, improve the hollowed-out look under the eyes and brighten dark circles. Hyaluronic acid fillers are made of a transparent gel that mimics the natural substance that our bodies produce.
Most people find that swelling and bruising decreases significantly in about 10 to 14 days.
Surgery for eye bags can range from between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the doctor, the type of surgery being performed, and what exactly is required. Talk to your doctor ahead of time to discuss all potential costs and fees that may be associated with a blepharoplasty.
Vitamin E:
Vitamin E is an excellent source of minerals and fights against wrinkles, puffiness under the eyes.
Vitamin K: This vitamin increases blood coagulation and improves circulation. When combined with caffeine in a base of emu oil, vitamin K was shown to reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles.
B vitamins help to reduce water retention, which often causes puffy eyes and result in dark circles under the eyes. The different B vitamins work together, so you should ensure that you take all of them.
Many experts suggest that there's a correlation between lack of sleep and those dark circles or bags under your eyes. That's because lack of sleep tends to increase the retention of blood and fluid around the eyes. Sleepy eyes are often dry eyes.
There are many treatments that can eliminate the appearance of under eye bags without the need for surgery including dermal fillers, microneedling, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and a variety of topical skin care products.
"Preparation H is a vasoconstrictor," explained Dr. Sejal Shah, founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York City. "By narrowing the vessels, it helps reduce puffiness. It can also make any bluish discoloration less noticeable."
Try a Gentle Double Tap or Facial Massage Technique
Rubbing cream or moisturizer on your eyes can cause them to be puffy. Instead, try lightly tapping the area of your eyes and massaging the pressure points to encourage lymphatic drainage. For more significant puffiness, try a gentle facial massage technique.
This swelling usually subsides when the body reabsorbs the fluids, though this can sometimes require a few weeks of waiting time. In the meantime, Knaggs suggests gently massaging your face, including the skin under your eye, to help improve the circulation and temper the fluid buildup.
Although alcohol is a liquid, it dehydrates the body. When you are dehydrated, the skin under your eyes becomes flabby and weak, causing bags to form.
“Caffeine is soothing, anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictive, which can decrease redness and puffiness,” explains certified clinical and research dermatologist Dr. Jeannette Graf. By narrowing blood vessels and calming skin, caffeine can temporarily reduce under-eye bags.
When performed solely for cosmetic reasons, eyelid surgery is considered to be elective and therefore cannot be covered by medical insurance. Eyelid surgery can be covered by medical insurance if it is deemed medically necessary.