Puffy Eyes: Some Do's and Don'ts

People often talk about puffy eyes and bags under the eyes as if they were the same thing. But the two conditions are actually quite different. Bags under the eyes are caused by fat that has accumulated in the under-eye area over time. Once you have bags under your eyes, there’s not much short of plastic surgery that can get rid of them. (Although there are ways to conceal them.)

Puffy eyes are a temporary condition often caused by fluid retention. Changes in your hormones (which can occur during pregnancy or menstruation), or even changes in the weather can cause puffy eyes.

Other things that can cause puffy eyes are lack of sleep, crying, drinking alcohol, eating salty foods, or sleeping on your stomach. Drinking a glass of water as much as two hours before going to bed can make you wake up with puffy eyes. If your puffy eyes are red and itchy, they may be caused by allergies. And, in some cases, puffy eyes are hereditary.

Here are some home remedies that can help you deal with puffy eyes.


Use a cold compress on puffy eyes.

Wet a washcloth with cold water (you can use tap water or ice water), and ring it out. Hold the compress over your puffy eyes for fifteen minutes. (Whenever the compress starts to get warm, dunk it in cold water again.) This should relieve the swelling.


Cucumbers are good for puffy eyes.

For decades, people have been using chilled cucumber slices to take away the swelling of puffy eyes. So, if you have a cucumber handy, give it a try.


Sleeping with your head elevated could prevent puffy eyes.

If puffy eyes are a constant problem for you, try sleeping with a few extra pillows. This may help prevent fluids from accumulating around your eyes.


If your puffy eyes are itching, don’t rub them.

Rubbing puffy eyes will only irritate them, and make them even puffier. So, no matter how much your puffy eyes itch, resist the urge to rub them.


Don’t use hemorrhoid cream on your puffy eyes.