Bags under eyes

Bags under eyes — mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes — are common as you age. With aging, the tissues around your eyes, including some of the muscles supporting your eyelids, weaken. Normal fat that helps support the eyes can then move into the lower eyelids, causing the lids to appear puffy. Fluid also may accumulate in the space below your eyes, adding to the swelling.

Bags under eyes are usually a cosmetic concern and rarely a sign of a serious underlying medical condition. At-home remedies, such as cool compresses, can help improve the appearance of bags under eyes. For persistent or bothersome under-eye puffiness, cosmetic treatments are available.

Bags under eyes can include:

• Mild swelling
• Saggy or loose skin
• Dark circles

When to see a doctor

You may not like the way they look, but bags under eyes are usually harmless and don’t require medical care. See your doctor if the swelling:

• Is severe and persistent
• Is accompanied by redness, itching or pain
• Affects other parts of your body, such as your legs

Your doctor will want to rule out other possible causes that can contribute to the swelling, such as thyroid disease, infection or an allergy.

As you age, the tissue structures and muscles supporting your eyelids weaken. The skin may start to sag, and fat that is normally confined to the area around the eye (orbit) can move into the area below your eyes. Also, the space below your eyes can accumulate fluid, making the under-eye area appear puffy or swollen. Several factors can lead to this, including:

• Fluid retention due to changes in weather (for example, hot, humid days), hormone levels or eating salty foods
• Not getting enough sleep
• Allergies or dermatitis, especially if puffiness is accompanied by redness and itching
• Heredity — under-eye bags can run in families

Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For bags under eyes, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What’s likely causing my symptoms?
• Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
• What treatment approach do you recommend, if any?
• What will the treatments cost? Does medical insurance cover these costs?
• What results can I expect?
• Can I do anything at home to improve my symptoms?
• What kind of follow-up, if any, should I expect?

Don’t hesitate to ask other questions that occur to you.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, including:

• When did you first notice the puffiness under your eyes?
• Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
• What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

Bags under eyes are usually a cosmetic concern and don’t require specific treatment. Home and lifestyle treatments may help reduce or eliminate puffy eyes.

Medical and surgical treatments are available if you’re concerned about the appearance of under-eye swelling. Treatment may not be covered by medical insurance if it’s done solely to improve your appearance.

Medications

If you think the swelling under your eyes is caused by an allergy, ask your doctor about prescription allergy medications.

Therapies

Various wrinkle treatments are used to improve the appearance of puffiness under the eyes. These include laser resurfacing, chemical peels and fillers, which may improve skin tone, tighten the skin and rejuvenate the look of bags under the eyes.

Eyelid surgery

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is an option to remove bags under eyes. During blepharoplasty (BLEF-uh-roe-plas-tee), the surgeon cuts just below the lashes in your eye’s natural crease or inside the lower lid. The surgeon removes or redistributes excess fat, muscle and sagging skin. He or she then rejoins the skin with tiny dissolving stitches along the lid’s natural crease or inside the lower eyelid. The procedure is usually done as an outpatient procedure.

In addition to correcting bags under eyes, blepharoplasty can also repair:

• Baggy or puffy upper eyelids
• Excess skin of the upper eyelid that interferes with your vision
• Droopy lower eyelids, which may cause white to show below the iris — the colored part of the eye
• Excess skin on lower eyelids

Talk with your doctor about the risks of eyelid surgery, which include infection, dry eyes, and problems with vision, tear ducts and eyelid position.

The following tips can help you reduce or eliminate bags under eyes:

• Use a cool compress. Wet a clean washcloth with cool water. While sitting up, apply the damp washcloth to the skin under and around your eyes for a few minutes using mild pressure.
• Get enough sleep at night. For most adults, seven to eight hours a night is a good amount of sleep.
• Sleep with your head slightly raised. Add an extra pillow or prop up the head of your mattress. Or elevate the entire head of the bed a few inches. This helps prevent fluids from accumulating around your eyes as you sleep.
• Reduce allergy symptoms. Avoid allergens when possible. Try over-the-counter allergy medications. Talk to your doctor about prevention strategies if you develop under-eye reactions due to hair dyes, soaps, cosmetics or other allergens.

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