Puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes occur for many reasons, including inherited facial features, allergies, stress, eye fatigue and individual skin characteristics such as texture.While certain home remedies such as soothing cucumber slices — or even anti-hemorrhoid creams such as Preparation H — may temporarily relieve puffy eyes, a more long-lasting solution depends on the underlying cause.
Swelling around the eyes is caused by an excessive accumulation of fluids (edema) in the surrounding skin tissue. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, swelling and discoloration can be quite prominent.
But why does fluid accumulate to form puffy eyes in the first place?Puffy eyes generally result from a variety of factors, including:
- Overconsumption of salt, which causes fluid retention
- Allergies that can cause inflammation and swelling
- Sinus problems
- Dehydration
- Fatigue and lack of sleep
- Stress
- Crying
- Aging
- Inherited facial features
Unfortunately, many people have puffy eyes simply because this trait runs in their family.With aging, eye puffiness can be caused in part when fatty tissue that ordinarily protects the eye inside the bony eye socket begins to push forward and fill in spaces below the eye.
