Bags underneath the eyes occur when the skin of the lower eyelid sags due to age or heredity. Additionally, bags underneath the eyes may be caused by allergies, lack of sleep, sleeping flat on your back or large amounts of sodium, caffeine or alcohol in the diet. Bags underneath the eyes are usually not serious and do not require a doctor’s care.
Cold Compress
Placing a cold compress over the eye area may help temporarily reduce the appearance of eye puffiness, says “Real Simple” magazine. A cold compress is not a long-term solution for puffy eyes, but may help reduce puffiness a few hours. Wet a washcloth with cold water, then apply the washcloth to the face. Leave the washcloth on for several minutes, until puffiness diminishes. If you don’t have a washcloth, you can use cold, wet teabags or frozen spoons to help reduce bags under the eyes.
Elevating the Head
The Mayo Clinic recommends propping your head up with a few extra pillows before going to bed. Lifting the head above the rest of the body will help fluid under the eyes to drain. If you’ve consumed too much sodium, caffeine or alcohol, or are experiencing allergies, fluid builds up in the under-eye area. Sleeping flat on your back will trap the fluid, while propping the head up will make it dissipate. Sleeping on one side may also cause fluid to pool under one eye.
Addressing Allergies
Allergens trigger a histamine release in the body, which adds more fluid to the body. This fluid may collect underneath the eyes. To help reduce bags under the eyes due to allergies, get an allergy test and avoid allergies when possible. If allergies are unavoidable, take an over-the-counter antihistamine.
Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery is an effective way to tighten eyelids for baggy eyes due to age or heredity. As the skin becomes less elastic, it may sag, creating a bag underneath the eyes. Eyelid surgery is performed by a cosmetic surgeon, and involves stretching and trimming the lower eyelid to make the under-eye area look smoother and tighter. Eyelid surgery is expensive, but provides drastic results.
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.
