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Fed up with Puffy Eyes? Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

While having puffy eyes is normally harmless and temporary, it can be uncomfortable and may impact how you feel when you look in the mirror. This will likely lead to you searching for ways to reduce the puffiness. This can start with determining what’s causing the puffiness, which is why we’re explaining a few of the most common triggers and our tips for relieving this symptom.

What are puffy eyes?

Puffy eyes refers to a common condition, temporarily causing the skin surrounding the eyes to appear swollen or puffed up. While it might look similar, puffy eyes are not the same as swollen eyes. The key difference between the two lies in the underlying cause and degree of increased volume in the eyelids. Puffy eyes are usually temporary and often harmless, resulting from factors like lack of sleep, crying, or fluid retention, whereas swollen eyes can be a sign of underlying conditions that may require medical attention. Understanding this distinction can help you determine the appropriate course of action.

Typically, puffy eyes lead to other symptoms, such as dark under-eye circles, watery eyes, itching, discomfort, a heavy sensation and swelling. These symptoms can make people feel uncomfortable due to the irritation, and the puffiness itself may even cause people to feel unconfident in their appearance.

What causes puffy eyes?

As with other eye-related conditions, puffy eyes can be caused by various factors. From existing health conditions to lifestyle choices, pinpointing the cause can help you find a suitable solution to reduce any puffiness and relieve the skin around the eyes.

Some of the most common causes include:

  •  Lack of sleep: Not getting enough rest can lead to puffy eyes.
  • Crying: Emotional tears can cause temporary puffiness.
  • High-salt diet: Excess sodium may lead to fluid retention.
  • Ageing: As we get older, the skin around our eyes becomes less elastic, which may lead to puffiness.
  • Hereditary factors: Some people are genetically predisposed to puffy eyes.
  • Dehydration: Not drinking enough water can cause puffiness in some cases.
  • Sinus problems: Congestion can affect the area around your eyes.
  • Hormonal changes: Pregnancy or menstruation may lead to temporary puffiness.
  • Poor diet: Lack of nutrients can affect the appearance of your eyes. 

Managing any conditions with the help of medications, treatments and support from medical professionals can help reduce your puffiness.

Symptoms of puffy eyes

Symptoms you may experience with puffy eyes include the following:

  • Swelling around the eyes
  • Dark circles under the eyes
  • Redness or irritation
  • Watery eyes
  • Discomfort
  • A feeling of heaviness around the eyes

Things to try to relieve & reduce your under-eye puffiness

Whether you’re experiencing puffy eyes for the first time or are dealing with this as a chronic issue, we have a few suggestions to help you relieve your symptoms.

Gentle massage

It’s recommended that alongside a cool compress, you can then gently massage the eye area using a gentle circular motion to reduce fluid retention and improve circulation.

Try a cool compress

One method you can try is using a cool compress. This can reduce irritation, swelling and puffiness, overall making your eyes feel more comfortable.

Improve lifestyle habits

Often, getting to the root cause of the puffiness can help you figure out how to reduce it. So, if you think you could be experiencing this condition because of your diet, lack of sleep or other lifestyle habits, you can make changes in these areas of your life to rule out the possible contributing factors.

For example, poor dietary habits such as eating too much salt could be the cause of eye puffiness, so the best way to reduce it could be to pay close attention to the salt contents in your foods and reduce it wherever possible. Meanwhile, if you think it could be down to a lack of sleep, making sure you get plenty of rest each night by cutting out caffeine before bed and sticking to a routine might help.3

Apply a suitable eye cream

We recommend using our Blephaderm® soothing eyelid and eye contour cream. Our preservative-free and perfume-free 5-in-1 topical cream soothes, moisturises, repairs, protects and can reduce the appearance of puffiness around the eyes.2

Blephaderm contains trehalose, hyaluronic acid and ophiopogon japonicus, which are all-natural ingredients, each included in the formula to target specific issues. Trehalose supports the regeneration of the skin's natural moisture barrier. Meanwhile, hyaluronic acid offers deep hydration and immediate comfort to the skin. Ophiopogon japonicus supports the delicate eyelid microbiota, helping to minimise itchiness and inflammation.2

If you experience any sudden puffiness, pain or changes in vision, or you have any general concerns about your eyes and the surrounding skin, we recommend seeing a professional. They can help determine the cause of any changes and suggest treatment options that may reduce eye puffiness. 

Sources:

  1. Very Well Health: What Causes Swelling or Puffiness Under One or Both Eyes?: https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-get-rid-of-puffy-eyes-5105091
  2. Blephaderm Patient Information Booklet
  3. Healthline: 10 ways to get rid of puffy eyes: https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/how-to-get-rid-of-puffy-eyes#What-you-can-do-about-puffy-eyes
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