If your eyes are puffy and red, you’ll look tired and ill even if you’re not. You can temporarily reduce puffy, red eyes, but for a longer-term remedy, determine the cause of the puffy eyes. Water retention, allergies, age or heredity can cause puffiness underneath the eyes.
Cold Compress
Apply a cold compress to the eyes to reduce swelling and redness, recommends Dr. Marianne O’Donoghue, associate professor of dermatology at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center. Apply a cool washcloth, a handful of ice cubes wrapped in a towel, a package of frozen peas or corn, or two cold teabags to the eye area for five to 10 minutes or until swelling and redness has gone down. Applying a cold compress to the eye area is only a temporary remedy, and must be repeated every few hours as necessary to reduce puffiness.
Elevate the Head
Before sleeping, prop your head up with additional pillows to help encourage drainage. When puffy eyes occur because of allergies or fluid retention, water will build up underneath the eyes. Sleeping with your head slightly elevated can allow the eye area to drain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sleeping on one side can make the eye more puffy on this side. Sleep on your back to encourage drainage underneath both eyes.
Antihistamines
Take antihistamines to reduce puffy, red eyes because of allergies. When the body comes in contact with an allergen, it will release histamines, often making certain areas of the body swell. To temporarily reduce these histamines, take an over-the-counter or prescription antihistamine. Get an allergy test, then avoid these allergens when possible. To completely cure puffy, red eyes caused by allergies, you must avoid the allergen altogether.
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.
