One common sign of aging is the appearance of puffy bags beneath the eyes. As you naturally age, the skin production of proteins (called collagen) and elastin slows. This reduction in proteins can result in sagging skin. At the same time, muscles beneath the eye can also weaken. The mixture of sagging skin and weakened muscles result in a puffy look beneath the eyes. As these eye bags develop, there are several ways to treat the affected areas.
Sleep Elevation
One possible solution for under-eye bags is to insure that your head is elevated as you sleep at night. When you lay your head flat on the bed, excess fluid can build up beneath the eyes, created the look of bags. By placing an extra pillow under your head at night, you can prevent fluid pooling, resulting in less eye puffiness. Raising the head off your mattress by a few inches may also help, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cold Pack
Placing a cold pack on the affected puffy areas may also help reduce eye bags. Commercial cold compress equipment that is specifically made for eyes is available on the market, but the Mayo Clinic recommends applying a cold damp washcloth while pressing on the skin with mild pressure. This process can be done for a few minutes each day to relieve puffiness.
Chemical Peel
Chemical peels may also be beneficial in reducing the look of under-eye bags. Chemical peels can be performed by your dermatologist; they involve placing specialized chemicals, such as phenol, beta hydroxy acids or alpha hydroxyl acids, on the skin of the eye bags. The chemicals detach the outer layer of skin from the surface of the eye bags, revealing smoother, tighter skin beneath. The effect of the procedure reduces the overall look of the eye bags, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Laser
Laser skin resurfacing is another cosmetic procedure that can achieve similar results to a chemical peel on under-eye bags. Laser skin resurfacing uses the energy of a specially calibrated ablative laser to remove the outer layer of skin from the eye bags. The resulting effect tightens the under-eye skin and reveals smoother skin tissue, reducing the look of the eye bags.
Surgery
In extreme cases, surgery may be used to remove under-eye bags from the face. A common surgery for this purpose is called a blepharoplasty. During a blepharoplasty, excess sagging skin and fat is surgically removed from beneath the eyes, making the skin look flatter.
