While bags under the eyes don’t impair vision or are harmful to your health, they can make your eyes look puffy, tired, and make you look older. (Shutterstock)
Text/Wu Donghua
Many people will develop bags under the eyes when they are in their forties or fifties, but excessive use of electronic products, as well as bad living habits such as staying up late and unbalanced diet, will cause bags under the eyes to appear earlier, and some young people in their twenties have also begun to develop bags under the eyes. While bags under the eyes don’t impair vision or are harmful to your health, they can make your eyes look puffy, tired, and make you look older.
Eye bags are mild swelling or puffiness under the eyes. As we age, the tissues around the eyes weaken, including some of the muscles that support the eyelids. The fat that supports the eyes may flow into the lower lid, causing it to appear puffy. There may also be a buildup of fluid under the eyes, causing symptoms such as mild eye swelling, sagging or loose skin, and dark circles.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a variety of factors can cause or exacerbate this phenomenon, with aging being one of the causes of eye bags.
According to the Medifine Skin Clinic in the UK, as the skin ages naturally, skin-tightening proteins such as collagen and elastin are lost. Decreased collagen levels cause the skin and facial muscles to lose elasticity and tone, and the skin appears to sag. The skin under the eyes, in particular, is very thin, and over time “bags” start to form, and the fat pads that sit under the eyes begin to slide off to fill the space.
“The most common cause of eye bags or puffiness is natural aging,” says Sean Desai, MD, a Johns Hopkins facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. “Older skin becomes too saggy and tends to sag or wrinkle. The muscles and tissues around the eyes also weaken, causing the bags under the eyes to look loose. This weakening allows the fat around the eyes to stand out, creating a bubble-like appearance.”
6Major factors cause bags under the eyes
In addition to aging factors, the Mayo Clinic states that there are 6 other factors that can lead to the formation or worsen the appearance of bags under the eyes, including:
（1) Fluid retention
If your diet is too salty, sodium can hold water in your body, leading to symptoms of fluid retention (ㄓㄨ). It makes a person look more puffy, especially around the eyes and around the abdomen.
Reducing your salt intake can help reduce the amount of excess fluid in your body. The NHS recommends that adults consume no more than 6g (about 1 level teaspoon) of table salt per day, which includes salt already in food as well as salt added during and after cooking.
（2) Lack of sleep
A 2013 study published on the American Library of Medicine website found that lack of sleep can have an impact on the appearance of a person’s face, leading to swelling under the eyes, drooping eyelids, redness and dark circles.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults ages 18 to 60 get at least seven hours of sleep per night.
（3) Allergies
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), an allergy is the body’s immune system’s response to an allergen that is usually harmless. When an allergen comes into contact with the eye, certain cells in the eye (called mast cells) release histamine and other substances to fight the allergen. This reaction can cause the eyelids and conjunctiva to become red, swollen, and itchy.
Unlike other types of conjunctivitis, eye allergies are not spread from person to person. People with eye allergies often also experience nasal allergies, which manifest as itching, stuffy nose, and sneezing. It is usually a temporary condition associated with seasonal allergies.
Congestion and inflammation from allergies can sometimes exacerbate eye puffiness, notes the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center.
（4) smoking
Smoking can irritate and injure the eyes, and the smoke can cause red, itchy, and watery eyes. Even secondhand smoke around you can make you have an allergic reaction, causing your eyes to water and trigger swelling in the lower part of the eye.
A 2007 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that smoking is an independent risk factor for premature facial wrinkles and facial aging, and the more a person smokes, the greater the risk.
Another research report shows that smoking can damage the collagen and elastic fibers in the dermis, making the skin loose, hard and lack of elasticity. Nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other toxic substances produced during smoking can cause skin vasoconstriction and hypoxia, which can lead to premature skin aging.
（5) Family inheritance
Some people are prone to eye bags because it runs in families. So if your parents had bags under the eyes, chances are you will too as you get older.
（6) Multiple medical conditions
Examples include dermatitis, dermatomyositis, kidney disease, and thyroid eye disease.
6Ways to get rid of bags under the eyes
Bags under the eyes are usually a cosmetic problem and rarely a sign of a serious medical condition. The Mayo Clinic recommends the following 6 home remedies that can help delay and eliminate eye bags:
（1) cold compress
Wet a clean towel with cold water. After waking up in the morning, use a damp washcloth to gently press onto the skin under and around the eyes for a few minutes.
（2) limit the amount of salt in your diet
Reducing fluid intake before bedtime will relieve fluid retention that can lead to bags under the eyes.
（3) do not smoke
Smoking can aggravate eye bags. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), smoking can accelerate the loss of collagen. This thins the delicate skin under the eyes, causing blood vessels to be more visible.
（4) get enough sleep
For most adults, the ideal sleep duration is 7-9 hours. Sleeping with an extra pillow and elevating your head slightly can help prevent fluid retention around your eyes during sleep.
（5) to avoid allergens
Over-the-counter allergy medications are available. If you experience lower eyelid reactions from hair dyes, soaps, cosmetics, or other allergens, talk to your physician about prevention strategies.
（6) using cosmetics
If you want to cover up your under-eye circles, try using a makeup concealer to cover shadows under your eyes. ◇
2023-07-18 16:03:18
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