Almost everyone knows what it feels like to have puffy eyes either from crying or sleeping. The medical term for puffiness is “periorbital puffiness”. The most common cause of puffy eyes is Edema. Edema refers to swelling caused by fluid retention in the tissue around the eyes due to crying and sleeping.

How does crying cause puffy eyes?

The body makes three types of tear:
• Basal tears
• Reflex tears
• Emotional tears

Basal tears lubricate, nourish and protect the front of the eye so they are always present in your eyes. Reflex tears are created by the body to wash away irritants such as smoke or foreign bodies such as dust. Emotional tears occurs when we cry at will for different reasons. Usually, once tears have done their job, they flow back into the back of the nose through the tear ducts in the indie corners of the eye. When emotional tears occur, the volume becomes too much for the tear ducts to drain hence why they spill out of the eyes and nose. Your body works to reabsorb all the tears and it retains some excesses in the tissue under the eyes, resulting in puffy eyes.

INCREASED RESILIENCE

As stated earlier, tears flow back through the tear ducts. During the day, the body is continually making and blinking away basal tears.
When we are asleep, our bodies do not stop making tears but we do stop blinking. This means a layer of tears rests over our eyes without getting drained. Sometimes, this excess fluid is reabsorbed into the tissues around the yes, resulting in swelling.
Puffy eyes can also be caused by underlying ailments such as :
• Sinusitis (sinus infection)
• Blepharitis
• State
• Conjunctivitis

Other possible causes that aren’t due to diseases include:
• Aging
• Hereditary differences
• Fluid retention from large salt intake
• Trauma to the eyes or lack of sleep
• Allergies, etc.

What can you do about puffy eyes?

Here are some simple remedies to try to get rid of puffy eyes.

USE A COOL COMPRESS

You can rest a cool washcloth on your eyelids for about 10 minutes. You can also use cucumber and green/ black tea bags. Cool compresses can reduce inflammations and help drain excess fluid from your eyes.

USE AN EYE CREAM

There are many eye creams touted for their ability to relieve puffiness. For your own good, pick an eye cream that contains chamomile, cucumber, and arnica. They may reduce inflammation and tighten the skin.

REDUCE YOUR SALT INTAKE

Too much salt can cause additional fluid retention in your body. 1,500 mg per day is okay.

DRINK YOUR WATER

Puffy eyes could be as a result of dehydration. The general rule of thumb is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. You can set hourly reminders or get a refillable water bottle to help you drink your water.

PROP YOUR HEAD UP

Going to bed with a few pillows under your head can prevent fluid from settling around your eyes.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

A good night’s sleep will help reduce puffy eyes. Ensure you get your 7-9 hours of sleep regulator best results.

As a side note: swollen, puffy eyes that last or get worse in 24 hours should be escalated to your doctor.

Article credit : Cocci Beauty