SUBSCRIBE 10 Ways to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M.D. — Written by Natalie Silver — Updated on June 30, 2020 Causes See a doctor Takeaway We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. ADVERTISEMENT What you can do about puffy eyes There are many ways to help reduce puffiness around your eyes. Some remedies are simple, like drinking more water. Others are more involved, like getting cosmetic surgery. Here are some tips and tricks to try to get rid of puffy eyes. 1. Get enough sleep Logging a good night’s sleep regularly will help you reduce puffy eyes. Adults need around 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. To ensure you’re sleeping enough, create a bedtime routine and stick to it. It’s important to remember that your bedtime routine starts long before you lie down to sleep. To get a good night’s rest, the Mayo Clinic suggests that you should: Stick to a sleep schedule. Stop drinking caffeine at least 6 hours before bedtime. Stop drinking alcohol close to bedtime. Finish eating dinner about 3 hours before bedtime. Finish exercising several hours before bedtime. Turn off electronics 1 to 2 hours before bedtime. 2. Prop yourself up Sleep with a few pillows under your head to avoid fluid settling around your eyes. If you’re unable to sleep at an angle on a wedge pillow or a stack of pillows, try raising the head of your bed a bit for the same effect. Shop for wedge pillows online. To do this, put a stack of books or another wedge under the feet of your bed on the side where you rest your head. If you notice a difference in how often or severe your eyes puff up, consider a more stable solution, like bed risers. Shop for bed risers online. 3. Address your allergies Talk with your doctor if you have year-round or seasonal allergies. Allergies can cause your eyes to redden, swell, and puff up. This may prompt you to rub your eyes more, resulting in further puffiness. Your doctor can help create a treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms. This may include eye drops and over-the-counter or prescription medications. 4. Drink enough water Eye puffiness can be the result of dehydration. Make sure you drink plenty of water every day to keep your skin healthy. The general rule of thumb is to drink eight 8ounce glasses of water daily. To stay on track, consider setting an hourly reminder on your phone. You can also use a refillable water bottle marked with specific times to help you drink enough water throughout the day. Shop for time-marked water bottles online. 5. Avoid alcohol Try to limit or avoid alcohol and other drinks that can make you dehydrated. Dehydration can result in puffy eyes, so it may be best to have a glass of water instead. If you’re tired of plain water, infusing it with fresh fruit is a great way to stay hydrated and refreshed. Try adding your fruit of choice to a water bottle for infused water that lasts all day long. Shop for personal water bottles online. 6. Pass on the salt Eating too much salt can cause additional fluid retention in your body. It can also lead to other health issues, such as a greater risk of heart problems and stroke. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) & , the current daily value for sodium is 2,300 milligrams (mg). However, the American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium to 1,500 mg per day & . More than 70 percent & of sodium found in American diets comes from processed or restaurant foods. To reduce your salt intake, steer clear of cured meats, cheese, breads, and other processed foods. Prepackaged foods like instant soups are often high in sodium. Reading labels can help you identify excessive amounts of salt. Instead, eat more whole foods like fresh vegetables and fruits. 7. Eat more potassium Potassium can help reduce excess fluids in your body, so you may want to ramp up your potassium intake. You can do this by adding bananas, beans, yogurt, and leafy greens to your diet. If you’re already eating a potassium-rich diet, talk to your doctor about whether your potassium level is fine as-is or if you can safely add a potassium supplement to your daily routine. 8. Use a cool compress You can reduce eye puffiness by resting a cool washcloth on your eyelids for about 10 minutes. This can help drain excess fluid from under your eyes. A compress of green or black tea bags may also do the trick. The tea contains antioxidants and caffeine that can reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels. 9. Try an eye cream There are many eye creams on the market that may relieve puffiness. Some ingredients to look for in an eye cream include chamomile, cucumber, and arnica. These all contain properties that may reduce inflammation and tighten the skin. Eye creams and makeup with caffeine may also help reduce puffy eyes. 10. Talk to your doctor about cosmetic surgery If your eye puffiness is severe, and if lifestyle changes or other remedies don’t work, you may want to consider cosmetic surgery. One type of surgery is blepharoplasty, which is eyelid surgery. During this procedure, a doctor moves or removes excess fat, muscle, and skin in your eyelid. Your doctor may also have recommendations for laser treatments, chemical peels, or prescription medications to help serious cases of puffy eyes. What causes puffy eyes One of the main causes of puffy eyes is aging. The skin under your eyes is very thin, which augments any changes that may occur in your body as you age. Over time, the tissue in your eyelids can weaken. This can cause fat in your upper eyelid to fall, coming to rest in your lower eyelid. Fluid may also be more likely to get trapped in your lower eyelid as you age. Fluid retention is known as edema. The thin skin around your eyelid can cause fluid retention to be very prominent, resulting in puffy eyes. You may notice that your eyes appear puffier when you get up in the morning. This could be the result of edema. Once you awaken and begin blinking, you may notice that your eyes start to look less puffy. In addition to aging, there are other reasons you may have puffy eyes, such as: genetics fluid retention allergies too much sun not enough sleep unhealthy diet crying other health conditions ADVERTISEMENT What Type Of Intermittent Fasting To Choose? Take Short Test To Find Out. BetterMe Open When to see your doctor Puffy eyes generally aren’t a sign of a serious medical condition. However, contact your doctor if you have: long-lasting puffy eyes pain, irritation, or severe swelling in or around your eye symptoms in other areas of your body If you’re experiencing these symptoms, your puffy eyes could be the sign of a more serious health condition, such as: conjunctivitis, or pink eye blepharitis, or eyelid inflammation ptosis, or drooping eyelids cellulitis dermatitis thyroid eye disease The bottom line You may notice puffy eyes as you age or for a number of temporary reasons, such as lack of sleep, poor diet, or seasonal allergies. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits may improve your puffy eyes in just a short time. If you experience chronic eye puffiness, talk to your doctor about treatment options, like cosmetic surgery. In some instances, puffy eyes may be the sign of a more serious condition. Consult your doctor if you suspect your puffy eyes may be a sign of something else. Last medically reviewed on March 9, 2020 11 sources ! ' ! 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