After a short night, the next morning you often look into a pale face with puffy eyes. During periods of grief, it is also understandable if the eyes look howled and thick. But what if the eyes keep swelling even without lack of sleep or grief-induced crying? There are many stimuli that can cause problems for our sensitive eyes. If your eyes are repeatedly swollen, you should get to the bottom of the problem: Here, we present a wide variety of causes that could be behind your puffy eyes.
Allergies as a cause of puffy eyes
There are many causes of puffy eyes. However, if you pay attention to the subtle differences between the symptoms, you will often succeed in identifying and eliminating the trigger. Very often allergies are the trigger of puffy eyes. Then usually both eyes are affected: they itch, are reddened and water. Sometimes the conjunctiva is also swollen. Triggers are in most cases seasonal pollen, animal hair or mites. To determine the cause more precisely, you can do an allergy test.
7 Tips against typical allergy triggers.
- Pollen tends to fly in the morning in the countryside, and in the evening in the city. If possible, stay indoors at these times.
- Wash your hair before going to bed to rinse out any pollen stuck in it.
- Worn clothes should not be stored in the bedroom, as they can be pollen carriers.
- Fly screens in front of the windows can minimize the concentration of pollen.
- Keep windows closed when driving.
- When planning your vacation, pay attention to the regional, seasonal pollen concentration.
- If you are allergic to mites, you should change your bed linen frequently.
If all these measures do not help, you can also treat your allergy with medication. Ask your doctor which preparation is best for you and your situation.
Dry eyes: the harbinger of puffy eyes.
Some people are sensitive to certain cosmetics, medications or contact lenses. In this case, it is important to avoid the trigger, for example, by using natural cosmetics or changing the type of contact lenses. Contact lenses often dry out the eyes during the day and then cause swelling at night. Special day and night lenses can provide a remedy. This is because dry eyes lead to a slight inflammation – the swelling is a physiological reaction to this. Working in front of the computer for long periods of time or dry heating air can also lead to dry eyes. 12 home remedies for dry eyes
Eyelid infection: a case for the ophthalmologist
Another cause of puffy eye area can be an infection of the eyelid. In contrast to the allergy, the affected eye is additionally overheated. If this symptom occurs, a doctor should be consulted, since the infection can spread throughout the eye. If fever and pain occur at the same time, fast action is indicated.
Puffy eyes in the morning
If you have puffy eyes, especially in the morning, it may be due to congestion of lymph. Due to the horizontal position while sleeping, this body fluid, which is important for the immune system, flows out namely worse. Elevated sleeping posture or regular lymph drainage can help. You can also take action yourself with the help of a care roller: Gently massage the lower eye area by moving the care roller from the inside to the outside and down along the lateral edge of the eye. Sometimes a high-salt meal the night before can also cause puffy eyes in the morning. If you often have to struggle with puffy eyes, you should therefore avoid overly salted food in the evening. Furthermore, you should also make sure to drink enough and avoid alcohol. In case of chronically puffy eyes, it is advisable to have a thorough examination by a doctor. Because serious diseases of the heart or kidney, high blood pressure or hypothyroidism can also hide behind chronically puffy eyes.
Swollen eye after blow or impact
A swollen eye can also result from an external force acting on the eye, for example after a blow or impact. In this case, a bruise usually forms, which can expand around the eye in a spectacle-like pattern. The first aid measure is to cool the affected area of the eye.However, no pressure should be applied to the eye in the process. In addition, an ophthalmologist should be consulted promptly to rule out internal eye injury or bone fractures.
Proven home remedies for thick eyes
If you only have problems with puffy eyes from time to time and want to do something yourself without much effort, some home remedies are available for treatment. Cold has a pleasant and also decongestant effect on puffy eyes: pamper your eye area with a cooling cucumber mask or place a cold tea bag on the swollen eyelids. It’s also a good idea to keep a tablespoon in the refrigerator and cool your eyes with it for five minutes if necessary. Other remedies that you can find in any pharmacy or drugstore are draining creams or eye pads. These products contain active ingredients such as caffeine or green tea, which are said to have a decongestant effect.
Hemorrhoid ointment for puffy eyes?
One trick that models use to treat puffy eyes is to apply a thin layer of hemorrhoid ointment under the eyes. Such creams have a vasoconstrictor effect and thus counteract puffiness. However, caution is advised here: Some products contain cortisone, which makes the skin thin and papery. In addition, the ingredient lidocaine – a pain inhibitor – can cause a numb feeling in the creamed area. Therefore, hemorrhoid ointment should be used only for its intended purpose and not on the face.
Skillfully make up over puffy eyes
With a few simple tricks, you can skillfully make over your puffy eyes: do not use concealer or light eye shadow on puffy eyes, because they wear on. Instead, only mascara the outer eyelashes and let the eyeliner run diagonally upwards, so you create a lifting effect. Finally, it should not be forgotten that sufficient sleep is the prerequisite for an awake eye look. Only those who are rested inside can convey this through their eyes.