The Causes of Under Eye Bags; How to Fix Them

The area under your eyes is relatively small, maybe an inch across. When this area is flat and smooth, almost nobody notices, but suddenly everyone seems to see you when it starts to get swollen and saggy. Under-eye bags can affect your confidence and how you feel about yourself. They can also cause other people to make assumptions about you and how you feel. Here are some familiar statements you’ve probably heard:

“Are you feeling tired?”

“Did you have a long night?”

“Are you stressed?”

The delicate eye area carries a lot of power in your appearance and can be affected by several things. If you are struggling with bags under your eyes, its time to rest easy; we come bearing good news.
Here is our comprehensive guide on the causes of under-eye bags and how you can minimize their appearance.

First, let us understand what under-eye bags are. Bags under the eyes are a condition where the area under the eyes is puffy or mildly swollen. It is a common experience as one ages. As we age, the tissues around our eyes, including the muscles that support our eyelids, tend to weaken. The fat that supports the eyes can move to the lower eyelids, which causes the eyelids to look puffy. The typical symptoms or signs of under-eye bags include;

• The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Mild swelling
• Loose or saggy skin
• Dark circles
• Droopiness

Having bags under your eyes may affect how you look and possibly cause concern; however, they are usually harmless. They rarely require medical attention; nevertheless, if you experience severe swelling that is painful or itchy, it is advisable to see a doctor. The doctor will probably rule out some possible causes that could be contributing to the swelling, such as allergies.

What Are the Causes of Under-Eye Bags?

Several factors can contribute to the emergence of under-eye bags. Here a couple of the main culprits;

1. Weakening Tissues.

As I mentioned earlier, your eyelids’ supporting tissues and muscles tend to become weak with age. The skin around your eyes is the most sensitive of all in your body; therefore, it begins to sag and slackens when the supporting muscles weaken. This skin tone loss allows the fat that is ordinarily confined to the area around your eyes to slide off and shift into the lower eyelids. This shift is the cause for puffy, droopy eyelids.

2. Retention of Fluid.

Fluid retention is another cause for bags under your eyes. Poor lifestyle habits, natural-aging, and environmental stressors can cause the lymphatic system to slow down over time. Lack of proper circulation causes the lymph fluid to accumulate in the body. One of the places that the lymph fluid often pools in the space just below the eyes. This is what causes your eyes to appear swollen.

3. Inflamm-ageing.

Inflamm-ageing, also known as inflammaging, is the acceleration of the aging process, triggered by inflammation. This is a primary cause of under-eye bags. When your skin or body gets into a state of inflammation, the healthy, supportive tissues and muscles begin to break down rapidly. A few examples of inflamm-aging triggers are; toxins sugar intake. These triggers are the causes of the degradation of elastin, collagen, and adipose tissue, also known as the fat cells. The breakdown of collagen and elastin causes the skin under the eyes to lose its density, strength, and suppleness; this leads to skin droopiness. Degradation of the fat cells causes them to change in volume and shape, leading to a raised area underneath the eyes that brings about eye bags’ appearance.

4. Genetics

Under-eye bags can be experienced by everyone, though some people have them for longer than others. If eye bags run in your family, there are high chances you will experience them at some point in your life. Eye bags underneath the eye can be hereditary.

If you experience under-eye bags on and off, the causes could be a lack of sleep or excess salt intake the night before. There are often observed in the morning only.

How to Fix/ Minimize Under-Eye Bags.

Here are a few proven ways to minimize the look if you have already begun to experience sagging or swollen under-eyes.

1. Use a Cold Compress.

A cold compress of caffeinated teabags does wonders to sagging swollen eyes. The caffeine’s role in the teabags is to decrease fluid and enhance circulation in the under-eye areas. The cold compress acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Here are the steps on how to use a cold compress successfully;

• Soak two teabags for 3-5 minutes.
• Chill the teabags in the refrigerator for up to 20 minutes.
• Squeeze out any remaining fluid.
• Apply to the under-eye area for 15-30 minutes.

If this teabag cold compress does not feel suitable for you, substitute it with chilled spoons or cucumbers.

2. Prop Yourself Up.

When sleeping, fluid can collect under the eyes and cause puffiness. A trick to curb this is to have your head lifted while you sleep. Adopt the on-your-back sleeping style, then prop your head to an elevated position using a pillow.

3. Cut Salty Foods from Your Diet.

Salty foods can be a root cause of the bags under your eyes. Assess your bags, and if they feel particularly puffy, it might be a sign that you need to cut on high Sodium processed foods. Replace these foods with whole foods such as vegetables and fruits.

4. Invest in Eye Cream.

The Gold Elements Eye Treatment creams and serums would be a great addition to your arsenal.

5. Catch Some Sleep.

Lack of sleep is a culprit to causing puffy eyes. Try to get a fair amount of sleep each night. Lack of sleep causes the eye muscles and tissues to weaken. If you struggle to sleep all night, sneak in a nap during the day. These moments of rest allow your body to heal.

Under-eye bags are common and can be minimized by the above remedies; however, we advise you to see a doctor for further examination if you have stubborn ones.