Can You Cure Baggy Eyes? How to Reduce the Appearance of Eye Bags

Last Updated: December 16, 2021 References

If you struggle with baggy eyes, you aren’t alone. Walk into any drugstore or beauty supply store and you’ll find dozens of creams and potions that promise to reduce and conceal baggy eyes. They can make a person look tired, older, or unwell. Before you spend a great deal of money on fancy serums or moisturizers, try these approaches. Unfortunately, according to a 2016 review of scientific studies in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, your genes and anatomy are a big contributing factor here. As a result, while you can use makeup to conceal the appearance of your baggy eyes, you’ll need to talk to a doctor about curing your baggy eyes permanently.^{[1]
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Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Making Dietary Changes

1
Reduce your salt intake. If you’re a big consumer of salty foods, this might be contributing to the bags under your eyes. The seasoning causes fluid retention, and the delicate skin around your eyes is very vulnerable. Eating a lot of salt can make your eyes look puffy and swollen.^{[2]
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- Take notice of when the bags under your eyes are at their worst. What did you eat the day before? If you polished off a large thing of salty fries with dinner and woke up with swollen eyes, you may have found the culprit.
2
Cut back on alcohol. When you drink alcohol, you mess with the hormone that helps our body absorb water properly. You may have noticed this if you’ve ever woken up parched after a night of drinking with big, puffy eyes. When the water in your body isn’t being absorbed like normal, it can collect in the delicate skin around your eyes, causing them to swell.^{[3]
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- If you are going to imbibe, choose something that has less sugar in it, such as a dry red wine. Avoid drinking flavored liqueurs that are loaded with sugar, such as Irish cream and apple schnapps.
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3
Drink more water. A major reason for baggy eyes is dehydration. Think of it this way: when your body feels like it isn’t getting enough water, it will cling to the water that it does have. One place where your body will collect and hold onto water is your eyes. Start drinking more water, and you can reduce your body’s fluid retention.^{[4]
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- The recommended daily intake of water is about 13 cups (three liters) for men and nine cups (2.2 liters) for women.^{[5]
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  Mayo Clinic
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- If you have trouble drinking that much water, try flavored water or unsweetened tea or coffee.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Changing Lifestyle Behaviors

1
Get more sleep. When you have large bags under your eyes, lack of sleep is usually the first suspect, and for good reason. When you don’t give your body enough rest, it will start acting up. Fatigue can cause inflammation, and as you’ve learned, your eyes are easy targets. The blood vessels around your eyes dilate, and your skin looks swollen and puffy.^{[6]
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- Teens should be getting 8-10 hours of sleep nightly, adults need 7-9 hours, and older adults should get 7-8 hours.^{[7]
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- If you don’t get enough sleep 1 night, even taking a 20 minute nap can help you to feel and look more rested.
2
Quit smoking. Your eyes are only one part of the body that smoking can adversely affect. Not only do cigarettes weaken and dehydrate the skin around your eyes, but it can also lower the quality of sleep you get at night.^{[8]
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Research source}^{[9]
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Research source} Both of these things increase your chances of getting bags under your eyes. Kick the habit and your eyes (and lungs and wallet) will thank you.
3
Remove your makeup before bed. It can be tempting to skip the face wash and crawl into bed after a long day. However, sleeping in your makeup can contribute to puffiness around your eyes. Makeup residue can clog pores, cause irritation, and make the skin around your eyes look inflamed. Use a gentle makeup remover and wash your face before bed to help reduce this problem.^{[10]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Considering Other Factors

1
Treat your allergies. If you suffer with allergies, you may deal with a whole host of eye issues, from excess watering, itchiness, and redness. Allergies can cause baggy eyes both by the irritant and the consequent rubbing. Talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for your allergies, or try an over-the-counter medicine to help combat your symptoms.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist
Expert Interview. 3 May 2021.}^{[12]
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2
Avoid crying before bed. If you’ve fallen asleep crying after a particularly depressing movie or an argument with a significant other, you know this can make your eyes look puffy and irritated the next day.^{[13]
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Research source} If you can, avoid the nighttime tears! Save your sad movie for another time, or do your best to hold back. If you do cry, rinse your eyes with cold water before bed to calm the inflammation.
3
Protect your eyes from sun damage. When skin is damaged by the sun, it loses its elasticity. This is why people often warn that excessive sun can cause premature wrinkling. When your fragile skin around your eyes loses elasticity, it can accumulate fluid and puff.^{[14]
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Research source} Make sure when you apply sunscreen to your face, you do not neglect your delicate eye area. Purchasing sunglasses with high UV protection is also critical.^{[15]
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4
Elevate your head while you sleep to promote fluid drainage. Sleeping flat on your back can cause fluid to collect around your eye area and this may cause your eyes to look puffy in the morning. Try elevating your head with a couple of pillows, a wedge pillow, or an adjustable bed.
5
Deal with genetics. Sometimes under eye bags are simply hereditary. If you utilize these tips and tricks and still have baggy eyes, it may be a natural part of the aging process. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with them forever, though. Rinse your face with cold water every morning to reduce any extra inflammation, and then grab a great concealer to help reduce the appearance of these bags.
- There are certain cosmetic surgery options that help with baggy eyes. While these are obviously more expensive and invasive, they can do wonders for genetic eye bags that just cannot be minimized.^{[16]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What causes baggy eyes?

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO
Dermatologist
Dr. Lydia Shedlofsky is a Resident Dermatologist who joined Affiliated Dermatology in July of 2019 after completing a traditional rotating internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduation, she moved to Beira, Mozambique, and worked as a research assistant and intern at a free clinic. She completed a Post-Baccalaureate program and subsequently earned a Master's Degree in Medical Education and a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Lydia Shedlofsky, DO

Dermatologist

Expert Answer

Allergies can cause your eyes to swell and look baggy, so talk to a doctor to see if that's a cause.
Question

Why do I have very baggy eyes?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

This could be genetic but it can also result from aging, bloating, or retaining water. Try elevating your head when you sleep and drinking plenty of water. If that doesn't work, see a doctor.
Question

How do you get rid of bags under your eyes?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

You can reduce the bags quickly by applying something cold for 10-15 minutes. Longer-term solutions may involve drinking less alcohol and sleeping with your head elevated.