You had a nasty surprise when you got up this morning; you have puffy eyes. Or maybe you're not so surprised, because they’re only a reminder of the night you had. But don’t panic. Morning-after puffy eyes are a widespread scourge, but they’re easy to treat. Here are some tricks to help you get rid of them.
Cucumber for breakfast
Here’s a simple cure for morning-after puffy eyes: Place a cold cucumber slice on each eye, covering the skin below the eyes as well. Yes, cucumber! It stimulates microcirculation and moisturizes the skin. You don’t have any cucumber on hand? Use a moisturizing facial mask or cooled tea bags placed on the skin around the eyes. Say “bye-bye,” tired and puffy eyes.
Varied causes and solutions
A lack of sleep, salty food, alcohol or crying can cause puffy eyes. If these factors only come into play once in a while, the cucumber treatment is all you need. But if you often have puffy eyes in the morning, you might need to make some lifestyle changes. Plus, there are some other sources of puffy eyes that you might not be aware of:
- Hormonal changes. With age, your body might react differently to heat and high salt intake. Puffy skin around your eyes might be a sign of water retention, which is a common response to those factors. If this is a likely explanation in your case, stay hydrated and limit your salt intake to correct the situation.
- Sleep habits. Sleeping on the stomach can allow for the buildup of fluids under the eyes. The solution? Sleep on your back, with your shoulders and head slightly elevated on your pillow.
- Allergens, such as pollen or animal dander. If there are allergens where you sleep, you might have puffy eyes every morning when you wake up. Try to identify any allergies you have and eliminate triggers where possible.
- Eye infections. A stye in your eye or conjunctivitis can cause a swelling of the eyelid. If you believe that your puffy eyes are the result of an infection, consult a health care professional.
You can inherit more than just eye colour
Did you know that the tendency to have puffy eyes in the morning could be hereditary? People who have thin, pale skin are more likely to have dark circles under the eyes. If that’s the case for you, don’t get mad at your parents; grab a couple of slices of cucumber and take care of your morning-after puffy eyes.
