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Introduction
Skin problems, in general, can be so intimidating due to their effect on your whole appearance. Not only are they an indicator of bad health, but they also have some impacts on people's confidence about their looks.
One of these problems is the under-eye bag which gives you fatigue and a sad look. Many people are annoyed by this common skin problem and try to cover it with makeup and cosmetics that usually don’t work.
Well, you don’t have to worry about covering it anymore, for there are valid solutions to help you get rid of them for good.
What Are Under-Eye Bags?
Under-eye bags are the swelling or puffing that forms under the eyes when the muscles supporting the eyes become weak and the skin beneath the eyes gets loosen and becomes saggy which allows the fat pads to glide down and fill the space. Fluids also can accumulate and add to the swell.
This formation looks like a bag, which is often harmless and painless. However, it can be a source of irritation and can affect one's look.
What Causes Eye Bags?
In fact, there are several factors that can enhance the chance of getting puffy eyes like:
❖ Aging: aging is the main cause of puffy eyes because as we get older, our skin and muscles become more susceptible to weakness, allowing the fluid to form under the eye.
❖ Genetics: having a gene that runs in the family is also considered a primary reason for under-eye bags.
❖ Allergies: they can aggravate under-eye bags by causing inflammation. They could be either seasonal allergies or food allergies.
❖ Medical conditions: Some diseases can increase under-eye puffiness such as thyroid problems, kidney diseases, adrenal deficiency, and excessive stress.
❖ Poor diet: going on a high-salt diet can lead to swelling under the eyes due to its retaining water that forms under the skin.
❖ Lack of sleep
❖ Lack of exercises
❖ Smoking
❖ Medications: taking some medications can increase the swelling in the long term such as overusing painkillers and antibiotics that lead to adrenal fatigue and affecting the digestion system. Several more medications affect beneath the eye area including benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, moexipril, perindopril, and trandolapril.
What Is the Difference Between Dark Circles and Under-Eye Bags?
Frankly, Dark circles and under-eye bags are hard to differentiate due to their resemblance in causes, symptoms, and treatments. However, they differ in several characteristics such as color.
Dark circles cause a change in the suborbital crease which can turn the skin into brownish or bluish colors. Meanwhile, under-eye bags have no color at all.
The two problems share the same causes of poor diet, smoking, and not getting enough sleep. Interestingly, another aspect that contributes to the darkness under the eyes is the face's bone shape, which can sometimes result in more apparent subcutaneous tissue.
Fluids form the under-eye bag, whereas dark circles are caused by poor blood circulation, which causes blood deposits to collect under the eye.
Despite the difficulty of differentiating between the two issues, there is an easy way to discover what condition you have which is by simply pulling the skin taut and checking if it returns to its natural color then this is an under-eye bag, but if it keeps its dark color, then it must be a dark circle problem. Just keep in mind that under-eye bags are puffy and dark circles are colored skin.
It’s worth mentioning that dark circles can be treated easily by applying Vitamin A to the area because it balances the skin and helps it to regain its natural color.
When Should I See a Doctor About My Under-Eye Bags?
Under-eye bags don’t affect overall health or vision, but they can be annoying. So, if you just want to lessen the swelling and puffiness, you better see your ophthalmologist, for he can decide the best way to treat your condition.
Also, if you start to experience weird symptoms such as swelling of one eye, redness, itchiness, then visiting the doctor is necessary.
What Are the Best Treatments for Under-Eye Bags?
Under-eye bags can be reduced by several treatments including at-home remedies, laser treatments, and surgical treatments.
To begin talking about treatments, first, we must define the stage of an under-eye bag whether it’s a small puffiness that can be treated at home, or it’s a severe condition that requires further treatments.
Minor eye puffing and swelling especially after waking up can be reduced by some home remedies and daily habits such as:
1. Cold compresses: applying cold compresses on the eye area can relieve the puffiness and lessens the inflammation and it can be done by using a frozen spoon, ice pack, frozen cucumber, or potato slices.
2. Caffeine: since caffeine constricts blood vessels, it’s a valid solution for the swelling under the eyes. It can easily be used by applying cold tea bags (especially green tea) on the eyes for 15 or 20 minutes whenever needed.
3. Clearing out the sinuses: using a Neti pot to rinse the nasal cavities, decreases allergies which are a primary factor for under-eye swelling.
4. Skin lightening products: skin-lightening creams usually contain hydroquinone, which helps to reduce under-eye bags because it interferes with the production of melanin in the skin. It should be noted that lightening creams must be applied at night for the best results.
Moreover, maintaining a healthy diet, cutting back on alcohol, eating more collagen-rich food, getting enough sleep, and using sunscreen are all helpful home remedies to get rid of eye bags. And It’s worth mentioning that wrong common DIYs should be avoided like applying lemon and baking soda on your skin.
Nonetheless, if the swelling gets worse with time, it might need further treatments. After examining your condition, your doctor can decide the best solution to treat you. Some of the doctor suggestions might include:
❖ Filler: it is filling the space under the eyes with hyaluronic acid which helps to improve its appearance with results that might last for a year.
❖ TCA Peel: This is a non-invasive face treatment that helps to balance out the skin tone and give it a brighter appearance.
❖ Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty): This is the process of removing excess skin to reduce the puffiness under the eyes and helps you to maintain younger-looking skin.
❖ Laser skin resurfacing: this process helps to balance and firm the skin by increasing collagen production. The results of laser resurfacing will appear immediately after the procedure and last permanently.
Furthermore, resorting to these kinds of treatments requires extensive research beforehand to find a trusted medical center and professional beauty expert to guarantee the best results.
Conclusion
As mentioned before, despite the bother that under-eye bags cause, they can be easily treated by following a few healthy daily habits.
In general, maintaining beautiful and clean skin necessitates committing to daily skin care routines that require a small amount of your time in exchange for a lifetime benefit.
And as Coco Chanel said: "Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty".