Lifestyle Send Those Dark Circles and Eye Bags Packing 2/23/2023 | By Terri L. Jones In your younger days, you may have experienced puffiness beneath your eyes when you didn’t get enough sleep. Lately, however, those annoying dark circles and eye bags seem to have taken up permanent residence on your face. No matter what you do, you simply can’t get them to pack up and leave! Why you? While dark circles and eye bags can be genetic or caused by too little rest, allergies, iron deficiency and anemia, or several other factors, they’re also just another frustrating consequence of aging. “The skin on our lower eyelids is the thinnest in the entire body,” explains Amanda Doyle, a board-certified dermatologist at Russak Dermatology Clinic. As you get older, that skin becomes even thinner, causing blood vessels to become more visible and the area beneath your eyes to look darker. With age also comes a natural restructuring of your cheekbones, creating hollow areas under your eyes, where your lids can cast shadows and give the appearance of dark circles.The skin of your eyes also loses elasticity and can sag and wrinkle, resulting in pouch-like areas where fluid can collect. Not to mention, weakening muscles and tissues can cause the fat under your eyes to puff out. Causes of dark circles and eye bags While you may not be able to ward off circles and bags completely, lifestyle changes could help you manage these aesthetic issues. 1. Sleep Your first line of defense is still a good night’s sleep. Plus, as long as lying on your back at night works for you, that sleep position, with your head slightly elevated, may help to prevent fluid from pooling under your eyes. 2. Salt Because salt causes your body to retain fluid, limiting your salt intake can also minimize the puffiness you experience in the morning. 3. Alcohol and tobacco When you drink that wine, beer or cocktail, it tends to dilate the blood vessels under the eyes, which can exacerbate dark circles. Smoking has much the same effect. “Carbon monoxide in cigarettes deprives your skin of oxygen, which can make it appear darker in places where the skin is thin, like under your eyes,” says Michele Green, M.D., a New York City cosmetic dermatologist. 4. Sun Protecting that thin, delicate skin from the sun goes a long way in preventing sun damage around your eyes as well as preventing hyperpigmentation. Related: Feel-good winter beauty tips 5. Water “If you are dehydrated, this can cause the tissues of the body to shrink, including under-eye skin, making dark circles look more noticeable,” explains board-certified dermatologist Andrea Suarez, M.D., FAAD. Tips for treating under-eye issues If you’re still bothered by puffiness, bags and shadows under the eyes, these quick tips and tricks could help provide a temporary or a more long-lasting solution. 1. Caffeine applications Products with caffeine can constrict the blood vessels under the eyes and reduce puffiness and darkness. While many eye creams contain caffeine, leveraging the power of caffeine is as simple as brewing two teabags (be sure they’re caffeinated), letting them cool, and applying them to your closed eyes for three to four minutes. 2. Cold and chilled compresses Similarly, applying a cold compress to your eyes can reduce blood flow and minimize dark circles and inflammation. You can also chill some cucumber slices or metal spoons and place them on your closed eyes. Plus, gel eye masks, chilled in the fridge or freezer, work great before bedtime. 3. Creams A whole host of eye creams are available to target dark circles, puffiness, and under-eye bags, with active ingredients like antioxidants, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. But one of the most unusual creams used to reduce swelling beneath the eyes is hemorrhoid cream (yes, you read that right!). If you decide to give this a try, apply it very sparingly to avoid irritation and carefully to keep it from getting in your eyes. 4. Under-eye patches Popular these days are under-eye patches infused with powerful ingredients like hyaluronic acid, retinol, collagen, caffeine, and niacinamide to reduce the appearance of dark circles and bags. Placed under the eyes for just a few minutes at a time, these patches claim to hydrate and nourish the skin beneath your eyes, also minimizing crow’s feet, wrinkles, and fine lines. Recommended products include Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels and PUR Mellow Eyes hemp-infused eye patches. 5. Procedures Professional treatments like laser resurfacing, chemical peels, and fillers are available to reduce puffiness and dark circles. In some cases, a surgical option called a blepharoplasty, or a lower eyelid lift, may be recommended to remove the fat causing your eye bags, which can also minimize darkness caused by the shadow from your eyelids. This morning, dark circles and eye bags might stare back at you in the mirror. Do what you can to manage and minimize them, but don’t let them ruin your day! Related: A capsule wardrobe for timeless style Read More Terri L. Jones Terri L. Jones has been writing educational and informative topics for the senior industry for over ten years, and is a frequent and longtime contributor to Seniors Guide.