What to Do About Puffy or Swollen Eyes After Waking Up

After a night of full sleep, it can be frustrating to wake up with swollen or puffy eyes. This beauty dilemma can give you a tired-looking facial appearance, as puffiness is usually accompanied with dark circles under the eyes.

Read on and learn the things that may be causing your puffy or swollen eyes and what you can do about them.

1. Excessive salt intake

Too much salt in your diet causes the body to retain fluid. Excess water can then accumulate in the area around your eyes, resulting in puffiness or under-eye swelling. Extra sodium can also contribute to swollen ankles due to water retention.

What to do: Lower your salt consumption by avoiding or limiting processed foods, fast food /restaurant meals, and junk foods.  It is also best to increase your water intake to help flush out excess sodium and feel less bloated.

2. Allergies

Histamine, the chemical released by allergies, causes dilation of blood vessels, resulting in an increased blood flow under the eyes. This can also cause fluid accumulation, swelling under the eyes, itchiness, and runny nose.

What to do: If your puffiness is related to allergies, over-the-counter antihistamine medications can help reduce swelling. The same is also true for using cold compresses at night. You can also talk to your healthcare provider about alleviating your symptoms.

3. Too much alcohol

Excessive alcohol intake can dehydrate your skin and contribute to the appearance of swollen eyes the next morning. It is also worth noting that alcohol can disrupt your sleep, which is a major contributor to fluid retention and puffy eyes.

What to do: Take it easy on the booze and be sure to drink lots of water before sleeping and after waking up. You can consider setting alarms or using a hydration app to remind yourself to drink more water.

4. Rubbing or scratching eyes

While rubbing your eyes can sometimes feel good, this is bad for the delicate skin around your eyes. This can cause swelling and inflammation in the area, as well as contribute to dark circles and the appearance of blood-shot eyes.

What to do: The best remedy, of course, is to avoid rubbing your eyes. This means stopping yourself every time you touch the area. You might also want to carry eye drops all the time to keep the eyes hydrated and prevent itching.

5. Stress 

Too much stress can change the salt balance in your eye and increases your cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Your eyes can also appear swollen when you cry, as emotional tears are less salty than basic tear secretions. This causes the water to move into the saltier ocular tissues, causing swelling in the area.

What to do: Find ways to minimize stress. These could include exercising daily, meditating, or spending more time with friends and families. It is also best to get away or take a break from what’s causing your stress.

Consider eye creams and aesthetic treatments

To protect your eye area, we recommend using Dr. Sylvia’s ELASTIfirm Eye Cream. This medical-grade botanical remedy can make the skin around your eyes firmer and more elastic. It also contains peptides that can moisturize the area and protect it against free radical damage.

When applying the product, be sure to gently tap the cream around your eyes and eyelids. Patting motions using the ring finger can avoid pressure in the area, which may be helpful in preventing wrinkles. You can check out our previous post for tips on applying eye cream the right way. 

For a well-rested and rejuvenated look, consider dermal fillers. These injectables can give you a younger-looking appearance by reducing dark circles, eye bags or tear troughs. They can also plump the lips, enhance the cheekbones, define the chin, and improve the appearance of fine lines.

Don’t let puffy eyes and dark circles make you look tired and older. Explore our website today or contact Cutis Laser Clinics in Singapore today to learn more about our products and treatments for anti-aging your eyes.