Common Tips for Treating Puffy Eyes
Even though puffy eyes are often associated with aging, there are many other factors that can cause temporary puffy eyes; such as late nights, allergies, high salt intake or general stress can cause the unsightly phenomenon of puffy eyes. Luckily, there a number of tips and tricks to help with this common problem. Dr. Amiya Prasad, M.D., a New York-based Oculofacial plastic surgeon advises many patients to try any or all of these remedies to alleviate the look of temporary puffy eyes.
Cold Water: Splash your entire face with the coldest water you can stand immediately after you wake up. Use either cold tap water or a mixture of cold water and ice cubes in a large bowl or tub. Splash your face for up to 5 minutes, if possible. The coldness will constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling.
Tea Bags: Prepare two tea bags by soaking them in hot water, wringing them out and chilling them in the refrigerator or freezer. Once they are chilled, lie down and place the bags on closed eyelids for 5 to 10 minutes.
Cold Cucumbers: Cut two slices off a cold cucumber, each approximately ½ inch thick. Place a slice on each eyelid for 5 minutes.
Hydrate: Drink lots of water. Puffy eyes often indicate water retention, which you can alleviate by drinking plenty of liquids; this flushes excess salt from your system.
Eye Cream: Use an aloe-based eye-soothing gel or cream.
Eye Rubbing: Avoid rubbing your eyes, the more you rub the more irritation, redness and puffiness you cause..
No Hemorrhoid Cream: Do not use hemorrhoid cream near the eye area. It’s unsafe and won’t diminish puffiness.
If the problem persists, see your doctor. You may be reacting to dust, pets, medication or other irritants, or you may have an underlying medical condition. When puffy eyes are regularly prevalent you may want to consider non-invasive cosmetic treatments like dermal fillers and laser therapy, or for more extensive puffiness and bags under the eyes then eye rejuvenation surgery may be the best option.