Puffiness: Can You Get Rid of Bags Under Your Eyes?

While under-eye bags are a normal part of the aging process, there is also nothing wrong with wanting to reduce their appearance. Eliminating puffiness doesn’t only wake up your tired eyes or make it look like you’ve had a restful sleep, but also takes some years of your age and gives your face a refreshed appearance. 

So, what causes under-eye bags?

A number of factors contribute to the appearance of puffiness under the eyes, these include: 

• Aging – due to collagen loss and skin laxity, or shrinking and sinking of fad pads in the face. 
• Genetics – eye bags can run in the families and make you more susceptible to having them.
• Fluid retention – can occur after a salty meal or waking up.
• Allergies – sinus congestion can result in congestion in the small veins under the eyes, causing swollen veins that can lead to puffiness and dark circles.
• Lack of sleep – can trigger dark circles and eye bags, as well as an overall tired appearance. 
• Smoking – nicotine and tobacco restrict blood flow and constrict blood vessels in the skin and cause eye bags and dark circles.
• Chronic rubbing – can cause the under-eye area to swell and your blood vessels to break.

How to address under-eye bags

It is worth noting that as genetics can be the cause of eyebags, getting rid of them can be a bit difficult. The good news is there are a number of things you can do to reduce their appearance or prevent them from becoming worse or more noticeable. 

Include an eye cream in your skincare regimen

If an eye cream is still not a part of your daily skincare routine, it is now the time to incorporate it. Many formulas today are specifically formulated to address specific concerns, such as dark circles, under-eye bags, and crow’s feet or wrinkles. 

Dr. Sylvia Skin Care’s Brilliant Eye Complex is a multitasking eye cream that hydrates delicate areas and combats the most common signs of aging. It can also:

• Minimize the look of puffiness
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines
• Improve the look of dark circles
• Provide tailor-made hydration
• Prepare the skin for makeup

Aim to get enough hours of sleep

The recommended number is seven to nine hours. This gives your body enough time to recover and repair daytime damage, as well as improve or eliminate under-eye bags and dark circles. You may also want to elevate your eye on a pillow to minimize swelling that collects around the eyes during your slumber. 

It is, however, understandable that some of us may have a hard time falling and staying asleep. Dealing with sleep issues like insomnia is a major culprit. Talking to a doctor for medication or treatment can help, as well as adopting healthy sleep habits such as: 

• Go to sleep and wake up around the same time daily (even on the weekends).
• Keep your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine close to bedtime.
• Avoid naps in the afternoon.
• Get regular physical activity, but not too close to bedtime.
• Avoid big meals before bed or late-night dinners. 

For further reading: 7 Ways to Get Beauty Sleep

Don’t rub your eyes

Allergies or skin conditions like eczema can cause you to rub your eyes, resulting in puffiness or increased inflammation. This only makes it important to address your allergy or skin issue first; they may indirectly aid in addressing or reducing your under-eye puffiness. 

It is also important to note that frequent rubbing can also do more harm than good. It can cause the tiny blood vessels in the area to break, leading to bloodshot eyes and discoloration under the eyes. This can contribute to dark circles and make existing ones darker, as well as cause dryness and irritation. 

Don’t forget to wear sunscreen

Protect your eyes from sun damage by applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. And while most sunscreens are safe to use around the eye area, you may want to use a product that is suitable for sensitive skin. You can also invest in products specifically formulated for the eyes such as tinted concealer or eye cream with SPF for added protection. 

Here are a few other sun protection tips for the eyes:

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Wear UV-blocking and wraparound sunglasses.
• Seek shade through umbrellas, trees, and shade structures.
• Limit or avoid sun exposure when UV rays are the strongest (10 am to 4 pm). 

Make an appointment with a skin or aesthetic doctor

If under-eye bags, wrinkles, sagging skin, and other skin concerns bother you, seeing an aesthetic doctor can help. They may recommend non-surgical treatments that can tackle these concerns or make your eyes more youthful. Our aesthetic clinic in Singapore shares a few treatment options that can help:

• Microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) – this can lift the skin on your face, brow, and under the chin. It triggers the production of collagen and enables the skin on your brows and other areas to achieve a visible yet natural lift.
• Botulinum toxin – can improve the look of crow’s feet and other types of facial wrinkles. It temporarily paralyzes or weakens the muscles to prevent wrinkles from forming. This injectable can also lift the brows by relaxing the muscles responsible for sagging brows. 
• Microneedling with Exosomes – exosomes are expert formulations used as a glide in microneedling. This helps accelerate the restorative process and can reduce the look of enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, and give the skin a radiant glow.
• Dermal fillers – commonly made of hyaluronic acid (HA), fillers can help improve eye bags by restoring volume, filling in hollows, and lightening dark circles. They can also soften fine lines and wrinkles, contour the face, and plump up the lips.

Don’t let the bags under your eyes betray your age. Browse through our website for more skincare and product recommendations or get in touch with our aesthetic clinic. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics in Singapore and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor for a tailored treatment plan for your concerns.