Swollen eyes in the morning are an inevitable consequence of a sleepless night. However, the causes of swelling are not limited to just lack of sleep. The reason may lie in improper nutrition, skincare, stress, and other factors related to our lifestyle and habits. This means that they can be fought.
Why Swelling May Occur
You Are Not Getting Enough Sleep
This is the most obvious reason for morning swelling. Many sacrifice sleep for household chores or work, but this lifestyle negatively affects our health and appearance. If you are constantly sleep-deprived and your routine is unstable, be prepared for red eyes and bags beneath them. Try to sleep for at least 8 hours a day and go to bed before 11:00 PM — this will not only ensure you quality sleep and full rest but also allow your body to initiate processes for removing excess fluid from cells and regenerating tissues.
If you couldn't get enough sleep, cooling eye patches will help reduce redness and swelling. But remember, you need to address the root cause — lack of sleep.
You Are Stressed
Not everyone connects their psycho-emotional state with the condition of their skin, but the connection is obvious. According to dermatologist Mike Swann, MD, when you are under stress, the adrenal glands release cortisol — and this alters the salt balance in the body. As the salt balance is disrupted, excess fluid accumulates in the tissues, leading to swelling.
Incorporate breathing practices, meditation, and relaxing baths with aromatic additives into your evening routine to help calm yourself and prevent the consequences of stress.
You Eat and Drink Before Bed
Heavy nighttime snacks can trigger the appearance of bags under the eyes. Therefore, try not to eat for 3-4 hours before bedtime. If you need a snack, prefer dairy products (natural yogurt, cottage cheese) or light vegetable dishes.
Apples, dried apricots, and buckwheat can also help eliminate excess fluid from the body.
You Indulge in Salty Foods
A predisposition to swelling requires a review of your diet; otherwise, the struggle will be futile. As dermatologist Claire Wolinski, MD, explains, due to high salt intake, the kidneys start to retain water, leading to swelling overall. The skin under the eyes is very delicate, and swelling is most pronounced in this area. The dermatologist also notes that swelling caused by salt is most noticeable in the morning and should decrease throughout the day.
Therefore, her advice is: if you cannot identify the cause of swollen eyes, try to minimize your salt intake and observe whether bags under your eyes appear in the morning.
Swelling is provoked not only by salt but also by alcohol, which increases the permeability of blood vessel walls and fluid accumulation in tissues. And since alcohol is often accompanied by salty snacks, the swelling becomes even more pronounced.
Condition of the Orbicularis Oculi Muscle
When we spend the whole day at the computer, staring at gadget screens for hours, and do not wear sunglasses when needed, we squint and constantly strain the orbicularis oculi muscle. This, in turn, compresses blood vessels and hinders the normal outflow of venous blood and lymph. The result is swollen eyes. You can prevent this: take regular breaks from work and protect your eyes in sunny weather.
How to Combat Swelling
Engage in Sports
If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, you may experience fluid retention. Therefore, move more and engage in sports to improve circulation and eliminate excess fluid.
Perform Self-Massage Around the Eyes
It is recommended to use serums or eye creams in the form of rollers. Such rollers are excellent for stimulating collagen production, reducing wrinkles, and sagging. Keep the roller in the refrigerator before use — and you will notice that the bags become less pronounced. Do not press too hard to avoid increasing swelling.
While applying regular cosmetic products for this area, you can perform a light self-massage with your fingertips for 2-3 minutes. You can massage, for example, with a cooled anti-swelling gel.
Choose the Right Cosmetics
There is no miraculous remedy that will completely prevent swelling, but a number of ingredients can minimize them: caffeine, niacinamide, extracts of horse chestnut, cornflower, and arnica. Ferulic and ascorbic acids are also beneficial.
Patches can be used as emergency help, after cooling them. But be cautious with moisturizing patches — they may increase puffiness.
Apply cream or gel moderately, only along the bony edge, and do not apply too close to the lash line. Use skincare products at least an hour before bedtime.
Thus, by correcting skincare errors, reviewing habits and lifestyle, you can reduce swelling under the eyes. If the swelling disappears with dietary changes and improved sleep patterns, it means they are not related to health issues. Otherwise, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
