What are the Options for Under Eye Bags and Puffiness Treatments?

Part-1---Causes & Non-Invasive Treatment Options

Struggling with bags and puffiness under the eyes?

Under eye bags are one of the biggest aesthetic concerns most people usually cite. Although they perhaps do not impair vision or affect one’s health, under eye bags can make the eyes appear tired, puffy, and dramatically older.

While under eye bags could be the result of the natural aging process, and there are numerous effective preventive & treatment options to restore a more youthful look to the eye.

If you are struggling with under eye bags, discoloration, or puffiness, continue reading this blog to know more about getting rid of under eye bags.

We understand that under eye bags and puffiness are not your favourite look. If you are concerned about the appearance of under eye bags/ puffiness/dark circles, medical treatments are available at CI Plastic Surgery clinic in Chicago. Our plastic surgeon Dr. Dhaval Patel, has undergone specialized training in blepharoplasty surgery in Chicago and other aging treatments can reverse your signs of aging.

Overview

When you wake up feeling well rested, the last thing you want to hear is that you look tired. But as we age, our bodies begin to change, for better or worse. One of the less pleasant aspects of aging is skin aging.

Bags under the eyes are usually the result of this loose skin under and around the eyes and are a common occurrence that often causes puffiness to appear. Bags under the eyes can be linked to several factors, from the elasticity of the skin and the aging process, to how bone structure affects facial features, to a number of external factors.

There are various concealment options, as well as minimally invasive or surgical alternatives, to hide or eliminate bags under the eyes and brighten up your appearance.

Common Causes of Under Eye Bags    

An important reason why you notice puffiness under the eyes is due to the aging process and the natural sagging of the skin, which leads to a change in the shape and position of the face.

Age

With age, the tightening of the ligaments around the eyes leads to a relative stiffness of the ligaments, which causes depressions, which leads to a shading effect. Due to the thinness of the skin under the eyes, it is also hard to hide the blood vessels or vascular network in the skin under the eyes, which can lead to the visible dark circles that are sometimes seen with puffy eyes.

Sometimes the dark circles you see are simply due to a shadow caused by a protruding tear duct. Others, on the other hand, are caused by the natural stretch of the skin and are harder to disguise.

Sun Exposure

Sun exposure, diet, smoking, & stress are all other common contributors to eye bags. All of these factors are associated with premature skin aging and can speed up the natural aging process, keeping the appearance of bags under the eyes.

Repeated exposure to UV rays causes a visible change in the texture and color of the skin, which is an integral sign of bags under the eyes. Constant sun exposure damages the skin, creating a rougher texture and resulting in fine lines (wrinkles) that can create larger lines and wrinkles.

Smoking

Smoking can dehydrate the skin, causing the effects of aging to become more pronounced on the skin as well. Smoking reduces collagen production and has an effect on the skin similar to that of chronic sun exposure.

Diet  

Diet also affects the appearance of bags under the eyes. Diets high in sugars such as glucose and fructose can negatively affect the appearance of bags under the eyes, causing premature skin aging. Sugars accelerate the aging process by reducing the elasticity of the skin and increasing its rigidity, which contributes to sagging skin and the formation of deeper wrinkles due to changes in collagen and elastin fibers.

Research also shows that in some cases, bags under the eyes and bruising can also be hereditary. For bags under the eyes, they can range from moderate to severe, depending on how the rest of your family looks. In any case, there is a definite genetic link.

Under eye bags can also be associated with certain medications, such as oral contraceptives, and can also be associated with conditions such as contact dermatitis, melasma, and even overexposure to sunlight.

For years, social media influencers, beauty bloggers, and celebrities have been promoting puffy eye, under-eye treatments, and we've heard everything: a cold spoon, a hot tea bag, a slice or two of cucumber.

Cosmetic concealers are among the least invasive methods for covering under-eye puffiness. Cosmetic concealers can be relatively inexpensive and can be found in most grocery stores, supermarkets, or beauty salons. The recommended camouflage method is to use correctors on the opposite color wheel, such as using a green concealer for reddish-brown eye bags, to neutralize the appearance of the circle and mask it.

Retinoids are another topical option for reducing eye bags and are used to stimulate collagen synthesis and improve skin quality. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, helps inhibit the depletion of collagenase from UV light. Retinoids, such as retinol-containing moisturizers and eye creams, can reduce melanin and improve skin smoothness while reducing discoloration around the eyes.

The combination of collagen production and melanin depletion can reduce the size and appearance of bags under the eyes. Currently, there are only two FDA-approved retinoids as anti-aging drugs: one that helps collagen synthesis and reduces elastin depletion (retinoic acid), and another that reduces wrinkles and discoloration (tazarotene).

Caffeine gel can also be used to reduce the appearance of dark circles. Topical caffeine can help reduce excessive blood vessel formation in the eye (subcutaneous vascularization) and penetrate the area to neutralize discoloration under the eye.

Check out the second part of this blog post for insightful information regarding invasive and surgical methods to treat under eye bags.