Best Home Remedies for Eye Bags and Dark Circles

Eye Bags, periorbital puffiness or "puffy eyes," are soft swelling typically in the tissues below the eyes, sometimes around the eyes (orbits) as well. They are accompanied by saggy or loose skin and dark circles. There is a clear distinction between the puffiness caused by fluid  buildup, called periorbital edema which is temporary, and SOOF, sub oribularis oculi fat pad, which is age-related, gradual increase in the size of the fat pad of the upper cheek, lying below the lower eyelids.

Eye bags are harmless except when the swelling is severe, persistent and accompanied by redness, itching or pain which affect your legs or  other parts of your body. In this case, they may indicate thyroid or kidney disease, infections or an allergy.

Dark or blue circles under the eyes which are more visible in the morning, regardless of age, are caused by fluid retention. They are more frequent with older people. As we age the skin gradually loses its elasticity and ability to regenerate. Furthermore, the skin around your eyes is extremely thin, so the blood vessels are very close to the its surface and become visible through see-through skin.

Your lifestyle and diet have an important influence on your looks, including your eyes and skin. Choose the natural home remedies I describe here and soon you will notice the difference providing you have no underlying medical conditions that cause the swelling and dark shades under your eyes.

Common causes:

♦ Age

♦ Fatigue

♦ Oversleeping, sleep deprivation,  or interrupted sleep cycles

♦ Fluid retention brought on by:

v Pregnancy

v Menstruation hormonal variations

v Salty Diet, processed foods are your worst enemy

v Kidney problems

v Obesity

♦ Alcohol and tobacco contain toxins that lead to stress, fatigue, and hormonal changes thus leading to fluid retention and swelling around the eyes

♦ Prolonged Crying - the salt in tears may cause fluid retention in the eye area

Ways to reduce/eliminate eye bags/dark circles:

♦ Drink plenty of water

♦ Remove makeup off your face before bed

♦ Moisturize face nightly

♦ Clean your sinuses-use nasal irrigation (lavage, douche) with Neti pot, a small pot that looks like a tea pot with a long spout. Pour warm water into your nostrils over a sink. It promotes sinus and nasal health

♦ Aromatherapy steam inhalation is ideal for sinus congestion 

♦ Sleep at least 7 hours at night preferably on your back

♦ Keep your head elevated during sleep

♦ REDUCE salt in your foods

♦ AVOID processed foods, junk foods

♦ EXERCISE daily-it removes salt through sweat

♦ PROTECT eyes from UV

♦ DO NOT smoke/ REDUCE alcohol intake

♦ AVOID stress and crying

♦ RELAX

♦ TREAT allergies