7 Habits That Cause Under Eye Puffiness (And How to Fix It)

Do you suffer from problems with eye puffiness? It’s not an uncommon predicament as you age. The amount of inflammation you get in this area can be from genetics, stress, eye fatigue, or even your skin’s characteristics.

You’ve seen people with cucumbers under their eyes trying to remove any puffiness, and some people go as far as using hemorrhoid cream trying to reduce the excess swelling in this region. However, it would help if you got to the root cause of the swelling to fix it without using such dramatic measures. Sometimes, a simple slice of cucumber works wonders, and other times using this vegetable will do nothing for your eye bags.

What Causes Your Eyes to Puff and Swell?

Anytime there is excessive swelling in the body, it’s called edema. Edema is a medical term used to describe a collection of fluids that surround the tissues of your skin. Since the skin around your eyes tends to be thin in nature, it’s prone to have dark discoloration as well as swelling.

You’re probably wondering why fluid would accumulate in this area anyway. A few things can cause this inflammation, and much of your eye swelling has to do with your bad habits. It sounds bizarre to think that you could be contributing to your eye bags, but here are a few things you’re doing that could be causing issues.

Bad Habit #1: Eating Too Much Salt

One of the first things you need to do is examine your salt intake. Salt automatically causes the body to retain fluids, which isn’t good for your eyes or heart. According to Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms, it’s recommended that you eat no more than 2,300 milligrams each day.

Now, to break this down so you can further understand it. A classic can of tomato soup from your local supermarket has more than 1,150 milligrams. Wow! So, eating just one can of soup is about half of your daily allowance. That doesn’t even consider if you add crackers to the mix.

• How to Fix It: Use A Sodium Restrictive Diet

It’s essential to monitor your salt intake, especially if you have high blood pressure and other challenges with edema. The chances are that you’re eating way more sodium than you ever imagined, and it’s a significant cause of eye puffiness. Reducing your salt intake or using a substitute can help your entire system.

Bad Habit #2: Not Drinking Enough Water

It sounds bizarre to think that when your body is dehydrated, your eyes can become puffy. The truth is that the surrounding tissues of the eyes are full of nerves, and the area is stimulated when the body is in distress. Since your eyes are a vital part of your system, this area will hold onto fluids when the body is running low.

You see them as bags or eye puffiness, but it’s a significant indication of a severe problem. If you don’t regularly drink enough water, then it can be an ongoing issue.

• How to Fix It: Increase Your Water Intake

You need to drink the recommended amount of water for your weight. According to Step to Health, a person who weighs around 120 pounds would need five cups each day. It’s all dependent upon your weight, so you need to make sure you’re getting an adequate amount.

Bad Habit #3: Not Getting Enough Sleep

Do you have a sleep deficiency? When you don’t get enough rest, you can always tell the next morning by merely looking at your eyes. They will be dark and have a puffy appearance to them. What causes your eyes to look like this when you don’t get adequate rest?

Your body stores fluid and blood around the eyes when you haven’t slept enough. Your eyes keep a certain amount of fluid in reserve for your tears. When you blink, your eyes refresh the fluids to ensure you don’t get dry eyes.

When you haven’t had enough sleep, your eyes slow the blinking process and become dry. They will do anything possible to hold onto enough fluid to keep the eyes nourished.

• How to Fix It: Get Proper Rest

The easy fix is to make sure you’re getting at least 6-8 hours of rest each night. If you have trouble getting adequate sleep, you may need to use an herbal supplement like melatonin to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Bad Habit #4: Not Washing Off Makeup at Night

After a long day, it’s easy to forget to remove any makeup products. Sadly, makeup can irritate those tender tissues under your peepers and cause eye puffiness in the morning.

• How to Fix It: Wash Your Face at Night

Make a habit of washing your face when you brush your teeth before bed. It only takes a few minutes to clean your face, and your eyes will be less irritated the next day.

Bad Habit #5: Using Alcohol to Frequently

Alcohol is something that should always be enjoyed in moderation. When you regularly consume these beverages, it can cause you to experience eye puffiness. Why would alcohol do this to your body?

Alcohol is a liquid, but it dehydrates the body and removes the water that your cells need. When you consume it regularly, it causes the skin under your eyes to be irritated from a lack of moisture.

• How to Fix It: Cut Back on Alcoholic Drinks

Reduce the number of alcoholic beverages you drink or make it something you enjoy on special occasions. These drinks are also known to be high in calories and pack on the pounds, so it’s essential to use them in moderation.

Bad Habit #6: Using Tobacco Products

You’re already aware of how dangerous smoking cigarettes is for your body. The toxins in cigarettes break down your skin’s elasticity, which causes it to sag and develop things like eye puffiness.

Additionally, nicotine, a substance found in cigarettes, stimulates you and can cause a lack of sleep, contributing to puffiness around your eyes.

• How to Fix It: Stop Smoking

Not only do cigarettes damage your skin, but they can also damage the tissues around your eyes. When you inhale the toxic chemicals found in smoke, you’re putting pure poison into your body. Your skin won’t be the only issue you’ll have if you smoke; you can also develop severe medical problems like oral or lung cancer.

Bad Habit #7: Getting Too Much Sun Exposure

Sitting in the sun’s golden rays is tranquil, and many people enjoy the lovely hue that it gives their skin. However, did you know that it can contribute to eye puffiness? The heat from the sun damages the skin cells and the collagen that gives your skin its elasticity.

When you’re outside too long, your body can also become dehydrated. All these factors can contribute to puffiness around your eyes.

• How to Fix It: Limit Your Direct Sun Exposure

You should limit your direct exposure to the sun. You’ve seen people that have leathery skin as they age from being outside too much, and you don’t want to break down your skin’s elasticity and have it take on a leathery look from dehydration.

Other Things That Can Cause Eye Bags

While the items above all pinpoint lousy habits that you do that contribute to eye swelling, some things are out of your control. Here are some common issues that can contribute to your eye puffiness:

Sinus issuesCryingNormal aging processGeneticsThyroid diseaseEye infectionsKidney failureSystemic diseases

Your puffy eyes may be caused by something you’ve done, or it may be something out of your control. It’s best to start by trying a few home remedies first. Using tea bags and cucumbers can help reduce swelling, and it’s a trick many people use.

Splashing cold water on your face can also help, as changing some bad habits. If nothing seems to work, then it warrants an investigation by a physician. Your eye swelling could be linked to an underlying disease, and it should be ruled out.

Final Thoughts on Eye Puffiness

As you age, you will notice that the skin around your eyes becomes more delicate, and it’s prone to inflammation. Some people will have problems with eye puffiness and dark circles their entire life as it’s hereditary. You can do things to be proactive regarding these common issues, and they may or may not work.

It’s a process of elimination to see what’s causing your eye bags and what will work for you. If it’s an ongoing issue that doesn’t seem to resolve, it should be evaluated by a doctor. Many conditions in your body can cause the skin around your eyes to swell and discolor, and you need to make sure there is no serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

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