Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and noticed that your eyes look puffy and tired? You are not alone. Many people have this problem sometimes, especially when they get older. But why does this happen, and what can you do to make it better? In this blog post, we will tell you the reasons why your eyes look puffy and tired, and give you some tips and tricks to help you look more awake and happy.
What Makes Your Eyes Look Puffy and Tired?
Your eyes look puffy and tired when there is too much water in the skin around your eyes. This is called periorbital edema. This can happen for different reasons, such as:
Not sleeping enough
When you sleep, your body gets rid of extra water from your skin. If you don’t sleep enough, this water stays in your skin, and makes your eyes look puffy.
Being allergic to something
Sometimes, when you are allergic to something, like dust or pollen, your body makes a chemical called histamine. This chemical makes your blood vessels bigger and leaky, and lets water go into your skin.
Smoking
Smoking is bad for your health and your skin. It can make your skin thinner and weaker, and let more water go into it. It can also make your skin lose a protein called collagen, which keeps it firm and smooth.
Eating too much salt
Salt is a type of mineral that makes your body hold on to water. If you eat too much salt, like in chips or fries, your body will have more water than it needs, and some of it will go into your skin.
Getting older
As you get older, the skin around your eyes gets weaker and looser. This lets fat move forward into your lower eyelids, and makes them look puffy. Water can also stay in this area and make them look swollen. Shadows may also show under your eyes because of aging.
Having it in your family
Some people are more likely to have puffy and tired eyes because of their genes. Genes are like instructions that tell your body how to grow and work. You get them from your parents.
How to Make Your Eyes Look Less Puffy and Tired
Puffy and tired eyes are not usually a big problem, but they can make you feel bad about yourself. Luckily, there are some easy things you can do to make them look better, such as:
Use a cold cloth on your eyes
Wet a clean cloth with cold water and put it over your eyes for a few minutes, pressing gently. This can help make your blood vessels smaller and take away some of the water from your skin.
Sleep enough
Try to sleep for seven to nine hours every night, and avoid things that keep you awake, like coffee, soda, or video games. Sleep with your head a little higher than the rest of your body to stop water from going into your eyes .
Stop smoking
Smoking can make your puffy and tired eyes worse by hurting your skin and making you age faster. Stopping smoking can make you healthier and happier.
Eat less salt
Salt can make you have too much water in your body and in your skin. Eat less salt by choosing fresh foods over processed foods, snacks, sauces, and condiments that have a lot of salt in them.
Take care of your allergies
If you have allergies that make your eyes itch or swell, stay away from the things that cause them as much as you can, and talk to your doctor about medicine or eye drops that can help you feel better.
Use makeup
You can use makeup to hide the dark circles or shadows under your eyes. Pick a color that matches your skin or is a little lighter, and put it gently with a brush or sponge.
Talk to a doctor or a skin expert
If nothing else works to make your puffy and tired eyes better, you may want to talk to a doctor or a skin expert about other options. They may suggest things like laser treatment, chemical peels, fillers, or eye surgery. These things are meant to tighten skin, improve its color, take away fat, or remove extra skin under the eyes.
Summary
Puffy and tired eyes are when there is too much water in the skin around your eyes. This can happen for different reasons like not sleeping enough, being allergic to something, smoking, eating too much salt, getting older, or having it in your family.
There are many ways to make your puffy and tired eyes better at home or with professional help. By doing things like using a cold cloth on your eyes, sleeping enough, stopping smoking, eating less salt, taking care of your allergies, using makeup, or talking to a doctor or a skin expert, you can make your eyes look more awake and happy.
Sources:
: Boyd, Kierstan. “How to Get Rid of Bags Under the Eyes.” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 11 July 2023, https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/bags-under-eyes.
: Ayaga, Vince. “Tired Eyes (Eye Fatigue): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Vision Center, 21 Feb. 2024, https://www.visioncenter.org/conditions/tired-eyes/.
: Larkin, Erica. “Puffy Eyes: Causes and Treatments for Bags Under Your Eyes.” Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2023, https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-get-rid-of-puffy-eyes-5105091.
