Puffy eyes and bags under the eyes are common in both men and women. They are above all an aesthetic inconvenience, more than a sign of a severe health problem. Simple remedies or cosmetics can help alleviate them.

Bags under the eyes correspond to swelling of the lower eyelid. They can be transient on waking or settle more permanently during aging.

They should not be confused with dark circles, which are rather a darkening of the skin due to poor blood circulation or a hollow due to the thinning of the skin under the eye.

Age and the aging of the skin that accompanies it are one of the main causes of the appearance of bags under the eyes. Fat, which is normally in the eyelids to help support the eyes, slides into the lower eyelid under the effect of gravity and sagging skin. The skin also loses its suppleness and firmness. The lower eyelids can then sag and bags under the eyes develop.

Like dark circles, bags under the eyes can also appear when you wake up. During the night, the lymph, which is in charge of transporting waste products from the blood, can accumulate in the lower eyelid and this causes temporary swelling. This swelling usually subsides in the morning, but the puffiness can persist for a longer time, especially if you have a circulation disorder.

Allergies of any type, insect bites or trauma to the eye can also cause eye swelling, but will go away with proper treatment.

Bags under the eyes do not appear overnight. They settle over time and become more pronounced with age. A poor lifestyle (lack of sleep, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking) accelerates the development of bags under the eyes.

Bags under the eyes are primarily a cosmetic discomfort, but are usually not serious and do not require medical attention. You can, however, see your doctor if the swelling is severe and continues over time, or if it is accompanied by redness, itching or pain and also if it affects other parts of the body, for example. legs. A medical examination will then rule out more serious causes, such as thyroid disease, infection or allergy.

If the aesthetic aspect bothers you, there are simple remedies:

• such as, for example, the application of cold compresses to the eye area to reduce swelling;
• also take care of your hygiene of life and in particular your sleep. Eight-hour nights are ideal for most adults;
• you can also think of elevating your head slightly with a pillow at night, to avoid the accumulation of lymph in the face;
• do not forget to remove your makeup well before going to sleep;
• watch your diet and especially the consumption of salt, because it promotes the accumulation of water;
• finally, do your skin a favor and limit your consumption of alcohol and cigarettes.

If puffiness persists, many cosmetic companies offer creams and lotions to reduce the swelling effect on the skin.

In older people, when bags under the eyes are associated with swelling of the upper eyelids and interferes with vision, surgical treatment may be considered to reduce excess fat.