Bags Under The Eyes

Bags under the eyes are a problem for a number of people and contrary to popular belief, they are not always caused by aging or lack of sleep. Whilst it is true that both factors can exacerbate the problem, there are many other reasons as to why they occur and, similarly, many different forms of treatment.

Sometimes bags under the eyes are caused by an underlying illness, usually kidney or thyroid disease. Once both these problems have been ruled out by a doctor, the next culprit may be an allergy, either to food or more likely, to feathers in the bedding. For a lot of people, bags under the eyes are due to fluid retention, a problem that may be helped by reducing the amount of salt in the diet. Unfortunately, when we sleep, the horizontal position allows for fluids to settle in the eye area, which is why bags under the eyes are often more visible in the morning. One way to resolve this is to first, cut down on the amount of liquids later in the day, and also try sleeping in a slightly upright position, allowing gravity to pull fluid from the area.

Because the skin in the eye area is generally thinner than elsewhere on the face, swollen fat cells are more noticeable and, combined with the loss of elasticity as we age, can certainly make bags under the eyes more severe. Although some people decide to opt for surgery (blepharoplasty) to resolve the problem, for many it is costly and undesirable. For those people, a good alternative would be to use a cream specifically made to treat bags under the eyes. Most good eye creams will combine skin tighteners and toners with antioxidant ingredients and moisturizers. It is important not to make the mistake of using a wrinkle cream however, as often these are designed to ‘plump’ the surface, thus making existing bags appear worse.

Whilst no solution apart from surgery, is permanent, using a reputable cream, eating a healthier diet and generally getting restful sleep should all help in reducing bags under the eyes quite significantly.