Puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes occur for many reasons, including
Inherited facial features
Aging
Stress
Eye fatigue
Individual skin characteristics
Though the terms sometimes are used interchangeably, puffy eyes are different from swollen eyelids, which are caused by allergies, infection, inflammation, or trauma. [Read more about swollen eyelids and swollen eyes.]
While certain home remedies such as soothing cucumber slices — or even anti-hemorrhoid creams such as Preparation H — may temporarily relieve puffy eyes, a more long-lasting solution depends on the underlying cause.
What causes puffy eyes?
Swelling around the eyes is caused by an excessive accumulation of fluids (edema) in the surrounding skin tissue. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, swelling and discoloration can be quite prominent.
But why does fluid accumulate to form puffy eyes in the first place?
Puffy eyes generally result from a variety of factors, including:
Overconsumption of salt, which causes fluid retention
Sinus problems
Dehydration
Fatigue and lack of sleep
Crying
Aging
Inherited facial features
Unfortunately, many people have puffy eyes simply because this trait runs in their family.
With aging, eye puffiness can be caused in part when fatty tissue that ordinarily protects the eye inside the bony eye socket of the skull begins to push forward and fill in spaces below the eye.
This happens because aging processes cause thinning of the membrane or "septum" that ordinarily holds back fat in both the upper and lower eyelids. As the membrane thins, the fat herniates and pushes forward, causing puffy eyes and dark circles and bags under the eyes.
Bags under your eyes? No one wants to look in the mirror and see puffy eyes staring back them. But it's rarely something to worry about.
Sometimes, however, puffy eyes can be related to something serious like an eye infection or thyroid eye disease.
If the swelling around your eyes doesn't subside with a good night's sleep or a cold compress, it's time to call the eye doctor. They can help you discern the cause of your puffy eyes and help you get rid of them.
Puffy eyes in the morning
When we're sleeping, we don't blink. And this is part of the reason why eye puffiness develops.
Dark circles can form under the eyes from stress or lack of sleep.
Blinking for eyelids is like walking for legs. When idle, some people develop swelling in their lower extremities that goes away as soon as they start walking and muscles in the legs begin "milking" the trapped fluids (edema), which are absorbed back into circulation.
A similar action takes place in the eyelids.
The closed, non-blinking eyelids during sleep potentially can swell in certain people prone to this problem. So in the mornings, you could wake up with puffy eyes. When you wake up and start blinking, some of the puffiness gradually goes away.
Do puffy eyes mean I have a medical condition?
Puffy eyes typically are simply due to aging, genetics, and possibly lack of sleep. But sometimes, swollen eyelids are mistaken for puffy eyes.
When swollen eyelids occur suddenly, it might be a sign you have an underlying medical problem.
Unlike puffy eyes, swollen eyelids may be a sign of conditions such as:
Other eye infections
Inflammation associated with dry eye syndrome
Kidney failure and other systemic diseases
If you’re uncertain whether you have puffy eyes or swollen eyelids that might indicate an underlying medical condition, schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Your eye doctor will be able to distinguish between the two conditions and whether additional medical testing or care is indicated.
How to get rid of puffy eyes
To find the best solution for puffy eyes and dark circles, it's important to identify the underlying cause.
Many temporary remedies may help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes, such as:
Using eye drops to relieve any irritation
Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration
Applying iced compresses if your eyelids look puffy
Applying cucumber slices or chilled tea bags over closed eyes
Reducing salt in your diet
Eating potassium-rich foods, such as bananas, to eliminate excess fluids in your body
Splashing cold water over your face and eyes
Getting plenty of sleep
If you have the same puffy appearance around your eyes as your mother or father, it's probably an inherited trait. In this case, you might want to consider cosmetic eyelid surgery to get rid of the puffiness. Puffy eyes due to aging also can be eliminated with cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). You might want to discuss with your eye doctor or cosmetic surgeon some of the other procedures available to lessen the appearance of puffy eyes and dark circles under the eyes. These include chemical peels and laser skin resurfacing.