Reduce the appearance of puffy, saggy eyes at home
Aging causes eyes to sag resulting in baggy and puffy eyes. As we age, the tissue structure and muscles supporting the eyes weaken. With aging, the skin begins to lose collagen (the rich protein that holds the structure of the skin together), making it sag. Sagged skin can lead the fat pads located around the eyes to slip below making the eyes appear swollen or puffy. Also, fluid accumulation is one of the other factors for baggy eyes.
Here are 8 simple ways to beat the bags below the eyes.
- Get plenty of sleep – Your body needs 8 hours of sleep. How much and how you sleep is one of the factors to consider. If you often wake up with puffy eyes, try to sleep in the right position, that is: sleeping on your back. Sleeping on your stomach or side can cause fluid to gather under your eyes causing puffiness.
- Use an extra pillow while you sleep – Sleeping elevated helps prevent the accumulation of fluid under the eyes. Use two pillows if you like and if propping up your head hurts your neck, you may consider elevating the entire top end of your bed by a few inches. There are bed risers available in the market specifically made for this purpose.
- Neti yoga to clear out sinus – Prevent puffy eyes, dark circles simply by using a neti pot. Neti yoga has great benefits for problems related to the eyes. It clears out sinus thoroughly from the inside. Neti pots are easily available in the markets.
- Take one cup of water to that add ½ teaspoon of salt and heat the water.
- Bring it to body temperature before using although lukewarm would be better.
- Tilt your head sideways over the sink and place the spout of the pot in the upper nostril pointed towards the ceiling.
- Breathe in through your mouth and gently pour the solution into the upper nostril.
- Repeat the process on both sides a few times.
- Rinse the pot with clean water and let it air dry before storing it.
Disclaimer: Do not try this method on your own. We recommend you to consult a trained yoga instructor before you try this.
- Hydration is a must – Dehydration contributes to baggy eyes. Our body makes up about 60% of water. Hence drinking 13 cups of water a day for men and nine cups of water a day for women is recommended by the experts. However, if you like you can also have soothing decaffeinated herbal green tea or fruit infused water.
- Eat more collagen and iron-rich foods – Foods rich in Vitamin C and amino acids help collagen production. Good source of Vitamin C and amino acids include oranges, red peppers, brussels sprouts, broccoli, berries, leafy greens, beans, peas, and tomatoes.
- Use a cold compress – Cold compress reduces puffiness and helps lighten dark circles. Place cucumber slices over your eyes, sit back and relax. You may also use damp tea bags or cotton pads soaked in rose water.
- Cut back on salty foods – Excess sodium (salt) is the root cause of baggy eyes. A salty meal can contribute to fluid retention that causes puffiness overall. Hence, it is important to cut down on salty foods to prevent fluid retention. Instead of salty snacks, try eating fresh fruits or nuts where salt content can be controlled.
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen every day – The best way to protect your skin is to wear sunscreen every day. Overexposure to UV rays causes the skin around the eyes to wrinkle and sag. Sunscreen will protect your skin from further getting damaged.
