Bags underneath the eyes can put years onto your face. Instead of suffering in silence, use home remedies to help reduce your sagging, baggy eyes. Bags under the eyes that are caused by skin sagging, which may be a result of age or heredity, must be reduced with a surgical procedure, like eyelid surgery. Bags under the eyes due to fluid retention, as a result of allergies or diet, can be treated at home.
Cold Compresses
A cold compress might help reduce swelling and encourage drainage underneath the eyes. Rinse a washcloth in very cold water, then apply it to the face for several minutes. If you do not have a washcloth, rinse two black teabags in cold water, then place one over each eye. Additionally, you can use any cold item you have available at home, like a bag of frozen vegetables, suggests an article in “Real Simple” magazine.
Antihistamine Medication
Bags underneath the eyes that are caused by allergies may be swollen, red and itchy. When allergens come in contact with the body, it releases histamines, which create swelling. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine to temporary reduce under-eye swelling due to allergies, recommends the Mayo Clinic. To permanently reduce puffy eyes due to allergens, avoid any food or environment that causes an allergic reaction in your body. This way, your body will not release the histamines that cause the under-eye area to swell.
Change Your Diet
Puffiness underneath the eyes occur to high levels of sodium, caffeine or alcohol in the body. Decrease your sodium levels by putting less salt on your food, rinsing canned vegetables before cooking them, and avoiding fast food. Limit your caffeine intake by drinking herbal tea instead of black tea, decaf instead of regular coffee, and drinking water or juice instead of soda. Limit alcoholic beverages as much as possible.
About this Author
Madison Whitfield has been a freelance writer and editor since 2006. She has written hundreds of health, fitness, travel, beauty and grooming articles for numerous print and Internet publications. Whitfield earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University, where she studied writing.
