Bags under the eyes can be caused by many factors, such as not drinking enough water or it being a sign of allergies or an infection. Are you someone that has tried everything to get rid of your bags and still haven't found a solution? This post will give you helpful tips on how to relieve your bags for good.

What you can do?

Whether it's other products that don't work, one of the quickest ways to get bags under eyes, eye puffiness and dark eye circles is by using cool compresses.

Bags under your eyes aren't always a sign of health problems. The best way to reduce the appearance of these bags is to decrease water intake and apply ice.

You can achieve this by making a few lifestyle changes. Though lasting relief will only be achieved if you make long-term changes.

Other common causes include:

• allergies
• eczema
• chronic fatigue
• pigmentation issues
• sun exposure
• aging

Keep reading to learn how you can get rid of your under-eye bags for good!

1. Apply tea bags

You can use caffeinated tea bags under your eyes to help brighten dark circles and reduce puffiness.

Tea contains powerful antioxidants. This may improve blood flow and protect against UV rays. It's also said to slow the aging process, but that hasn't yet been proven in a scientific study.

Anti-inflammatory effects is one of the reasons green tea has gotten so many fans. For making your own brew at home simply...

Step up your iced tea game with these fancy and novelating steps. Not only does this simple recipe enhance the herbal properties of the loose leaf, but it also refreshingly cools off on a scorching summer day. Then, squeeze out the extra liquid and apply to your under-eye area.

Leave the tea bags on for 15 to 30 minutes.

2. Use a cold compress

Dark circles around the eye area are most often caused by nocturnal swelling. Treating dark circles can be as simple as using a cold compress, which helps constrict your blood vessels for relief in some cases.

Hot or cold compresses can help reduce bags under your eyes and often works just as well as do-it-yourself methods.

Some DIY options include a:

• chilled teaspoon
• cool cucumber
• wet washcloth
• bag of frozen veggies

Before applying, wrap your compress with a soft cloth to preserve the temperature of your skin. Applying the cold compress can improve the appearance of bags under your eyes. You only need a few minutes for an effective compress.

3. Clear out your sinuses with a neti pot

Using a neti pot to drain your sinuses can help reduce the appearance of under eye bags and dark circles. The neti pot is a simple device that helps your sinuses by draining them of mucus and bacteria. In turn this reduces the appearance under eye bags or dark circles. By draining away fluid from around eyes it reduces puffiness in skin below eyelids that causes shadows on face (bags).

To do this:

1. Fill your neti pot with a saltwater solution — 1/2 teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of water. Heat the water to dissolve, then cool to body temperature before use. Warm or lukewarm is best for comfort.
2. Tilt your head sideways over the sink. Place the spout of the pot in the upper nostril, the one now closer to the ceiling.
3. Breathe through your mouth as you gently pour the solution into the nostril. The solution should drain through the other nostril.
4. Repeat this process with your head tilted the other way.
5. Rinse your pot after use with filtered, distilled, or otherwise sterile water.
6. Let the pot air dry before storing.

The bags under your eyes may seem like a cosmetic concern, but they are typically just an issue of aging. With aging, the tissue around your eyes weakens and fat accumulates in that area to contribute to the appearance of bloating.

4. Stay hydrated

Hydration is a powerful tool that assists in the daily prevention of many conditions ranging from sinus pain to sore eyes and

Hydration will never hurt you. Use hydration as your partner!

Would you like to know about how much water and how often a person should drink? Well, the amount of water a day can vary from person to person but it's important for every individual at all times. For men its about 13 cups, and about 9 cups of fluids for women, per day.

Water is a healthy part of your diet. It's low in calories and can be infused with fruit to make it more exciting,  so why not give something else a shot?. If you're looking for a low to no caffeine drink, herbal decaffeinated tea is great. There's nothing quite like a warm cup of spicy decaf while sitting by the hearth, listening to Native American flute music.

5. Take an antihistamine

Allergies are not to be taken lightly. Those pesky little buggers can have some serious consequences, both for you and your skin. Many people experience redness or watery, itchy eyes. The histamine reaction is an immune system response. You may experience this as a result of allergies or environmental irritants.

If you have persistent allergies, ask your doctor about OTC allergy medications. Many times the allergy symptoms come up because of outdoor activities such as pollen or dusty weather.

You should also be aware of your surroundings, and avoid potential allergens. Personal care products, like soaps, makeup and hair dyes often contain a range of chemicals or allergens. This makes it difficult to know which product is safe.

If you're allergic or sensitive to any one of these ingredients you may want to stay away from the majority of personal care products in general.

If you suspect a potential cause of the swelling or puffiness, consider keeping a diary ow what products you use. This is to see which substances or other things cause the most reaction. If this is a chronic problem talk with your doctor about allergy testing.

6. Add retinol cream to your routine

You may have used creams in the past, but once you learn more and where to look for quality them it's not nearly as difficult. Retinol creams have been used for many different skin issues, including:

Retinol creams are used for a variety of facial cosmetic concerns. Things like (but not limited to) acne breakouts, scarring from acne or dermabrasion procedures, and fine lines.

Retinol is derived from vitamin A and comes in two forms: cream, gel, or liquid. It delivers a potent dose of hydration to the eye area that helps reduce bags under eyes.

This ingredient can improve which is the main protein in skin and help tighten it. When shopping for over the counter products you will notice different concentrations of retinol. This is because prescription-only creams have much more potent forms of retinoid that require a doctor’s prescription.

7. Use lightening products

Skincare products with hydroquinone, typically found in skin lightening creams and lotions.

Skin lightening creams contain an ingredient called hydroquinone. These usually produce side effects like irritation of the forehead, face and neck; dryness or flakiness. This ingredient helps reduce the appearance of dark bags or under-eye circles.

Many creams, moisturizers, and eye gels contain 2 percent  of hydroquinone. You can get higher concentrations by prescription from your dermatologist. As you age, it can be common for your eye area to swell ever so slightly. These products take time and patience but these products are best used daily to see lasting results.

8. Wear sunscreen every day

Help protect your skin from the sun! When you are exposed to ultraviolet rays, people often develop skin conditions like sunburns or dark spots.

After only a few minutes of being outside, people lose the ability to produce vitamin D. 

To combat this problem, we should consider putting on sunscreen before going out every day and wearing hats. Too much sun exposure can cause:

1. premature aging

2. skin cancer

3. discoloration

As a result, wearing sunscreen may also help with your under-eye bags and dark circles.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is one of the larger medical organizations to suggest wearing sunscreen. Broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays is important.

You have to be very careful when choosing a facial moisturizer with SPF, especially if you are an adult. Look for water-resistant/sweat resistant formulas that meet the FDA’s standards. If applied correctly and following guidelines on your package or label.

You can also avoid the sun’s harmful rays by:

• sitting in the shade
• wearing protective clothing
• avoiding tanning beds

9. See your dermatologist about micro-needling.

Micro-needling is an aesthetically pleasing procedure for people who suffer from wrinkles and fine lines in their skin. With just one session, you can improve the appearance of your skin by stimulating collagen to fill in fine lines with more abundant cells.

Proponents say it reduces wrinkles, scarring, and even pigment issues such as dark circles.

The treatment is very safe, often resulting in less than a day's downtime. The top layer of the skin (the epidermis) will then be treated with dermabrasion. This is done before being replaced to restore its normal appearance.

This procedure relies on tiny needles that are applied to the skin and cause discomfort. The pain is only temporary — although maybe a little longer in some cases than others! It’s also costly, but it is often less time-consuming and requires significantly less downtime. Especially compared to other treatments offered as alternatives like lasers or chemical peels.

There are also some risks, though the recovery time is relatively fast. People may run into issues like:

• bleeding
• bruising
• infection
• scarring

Dermatologists don’t recommend using at-home kits to reduce bags under the eyes. These can be less effective and there is some danger of infection transmission from the procedure.

10. Take your makeup off before bed

Preventing you from getting bags under your eyes could be as easy as changing your nightly routine. Just stay on top of the little maintenance stressors.

General prevention methods include:

• washing away dirt and makeup before bed
• soaking in cool water to minimize puffiness early in the day
• using cold compresses for more dramatic results after waking up.
• Wash your face before bed. 
• Soak in cool water to minimize puffiness early on the day and reduce swelling.

Waking up with a face full of makeup is usually one of the worst parts of our day. There are several health risks associated with sleeping in fatty substances such as mascara and foundation.

First, if you sleep with mascara or other eye makeup on your eyes, it can: Create a problem with the eyelids' natural oil production and cause pieces of mascara to be absorbed by the skin thus adding toxins and inflammation.

Complications of this condition manifest as an infection, redness, inflammation, or puffiness.

In order to reduce the appearance of dark circles, there is a lot of debate about washing your face before going to bed will help you avoid getting tanned.

The University of Pittsburgh conducted a study. They determined it's possible that when you apply chemicals to the skin at night, they have an opportunity for an aging effect.

There are studies which suggest that wearing makeup could lead to facial wrinkles as well as premature wrinkles.

Be careful if using cosmetics at nighttime while visiting friends who might report seeing fine lines in our skin!

11. Get at least eight hours of sleep

Unfortunately, there are very few similarities between our day and night lives. Your intellectual capability tends to get sacrificed when we sleep too much or don't get consistent quality sleep. Meaning, it is not only about quality of sleep but also quantity.

Prolonged sleep deprivation has the evidence of what causes these dark circles. It makes the complexion more pale and the shadows or under-eye bags seem even worse.

How much sleep do you need? Most adults should aim to get between  seven and eight hours a night, but that can change as you might be the type who needs more or less. Just make sure you know your body and what's best for yourself!

According to  our medical staff here at Dermaclara, if you’re having trouble settling down to rest, try these tricks:

• Try creating a sleep schedule, or a regular bedtime and wake-time.
• Avoid caffeinated beverages and foods 6 to 12 hours before your bedtime.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages around bedtime.
• Finish all meals and snacks two hours before bedtime.
• Finish all strenuous exercise a few hours before bedtime.
• Turn off televisions, cell phones, and other electronic devices one hour before bedtime.

12. Eat more collagen-rich foods

As you age, normal fat deposits that help support your eyes move downward and cause puffiness below the area.

In addition to including a vitamin C supplement in your diet, upping your intake of hyaluronic acid can also help to alleviate the puffy bags.

Many foods high in vitamin C also contain amino acids that can help with collagen production and promote healthy skin cells.

Good sources of vitamin C include:

• oranges
• red peppers
• kale
• Brussels sprouts
• broccoli
• strawberries

13. Eat more iron-rich foods, too

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when there are too few red blood cells. It can cause dark circles under the eyes, paleness in the skin.

If you think you may be anemic, visit your doctor. To check this, your doctor will order a blood test. If you have mild anemia or want to get back on track with your iron levels, increasing dietary intake of the mineral can help.

Iron-rich foods include:

• red meat, pork, and poultry
• seafood
• beans
• leafy green veggies, like kale and spinach
• raisins, apricots, and other dried fruits
• iron-fortified foods, like cereals, breads, and pastas
• peas

14. Cut back on salty foods

Salt may be the reason for your under eye bags and puffiness. Salt contributes to fluid retention which can lead to other health risks like heart disease and stroke.

The American Heart Association recommends adults consume no more than 1,500 milligrams (mg) of salt per day. Ideally, we should consume no more than 2,300 mg of salt intake each day.

As a guide, here’s how many milligrams are in different teaspoon (tsp) measurements of salt:

1/4 tsp = 575 mg sodium

1/2 tsp= 1,150 mg sodium

3/4 tsp = 1,725 mg sodium

1 tsp = 2,300 mg sodium

One simple change to an otherwise healthy diet is not using salt. When you use too much salt or too many processed foods, it can cause problems like swelling under your eyes.

The appearance of bags under your eyes may be related to aging. Make sure you're following a diet that's high in antioxidants and whole foods to keep them from appearing prominently.

15. Cut back on alcohol

Alcohol is a contraindicated for everyone with bags under the eyes. This is because of its greater potential to cause, rather than relieve, swelling.... aka the bags under your eyes.

Drinking alcohol contributes to dehydration and makes it harder for your body to perform normal functions. This can lead to bags under your eyes, or dark circles depending on which are problematic for you.

If you’re looking for a refreshing drink, try adding flavored sparkling water to your diet or making infused waters at home.

16. Quit smoking

Smoking decreases the appearance of collagen in your skin. If you are a smoker, you may find that wrinkles, discoloration, and under-eye bags are becoming an issue.

Quitting smoking habits helps improve health in many ways and you can only get rid of this life-long habit if you're willing to put the time into it. Quitting is a little tougher than some make out, but with determination there's no reason why it shouldn't be possible!

Causes of swelling and discoloration under the eyes may respond well to at-home treatments.

But if you notice symptoms on just one side or worsen over time, schedule a call with your doctor.

"Under-eye bags" are a sign that your body needs more rest, or an infection that you need medical attention for.

You should also see your doctor if your swelling is:

1. Severe and long-lasting

2. Joined by redness, pain, or itching

3. Affecting other parts of your body, like your legs

Your doctor may offer some temporary solutions that reduce swelling and discoloration.

Options include:

• laser therapy
• chemical peels
• injectable fillers to treat puffy eyelids
• These treatments may need to be repeated for the best results.

Conclusion

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