How to get rid of dark circles under the eyes

How to get rid of dark circles under the eyes

Are you wondering why you have puffy eyes or how to make bags under your eyes disappear? Good news: Although they can be annoying, eye bags usually don't affect your vision or health. But if you want to reduce the puffiness around your eyes, there are temporary and permanent solutions.

What are the causes of dark circles under the eyes?

There are several reasons for puffy eyes, including:

• Salzreiche Ernährung: Der Verzehr vieler salzhaltiger Lebensmittel führt zu Wassereinlagerungen und Schwellungen.
• Allergien: Verstopfung und Entzündungen aufgrund von Allergien können geschwollene Augen manchmal noch verschlimmern.
• Medizinische Erkrankungen: Einige Gesundheitszustände wie Schilddrüsenprobleme können zu geschwollenen Augen führen.
• Genetische Veranlagung: Tränensäcke können ein körperliches Merkmal sein, das in der Familie vorkommt.
• Natürlicher Alterungsprozess: Mit zunehmendem Alter verlieren Haut und Muskeln an Festigkeit.

Why bags under the eyes form with age

“The most common cause of bags or puffiness under the eyes is the natural aging process,” says Dr. Shaun Desai, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the Johns Hopkins Center for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. "Older skin becomes sagging and tends to sag or wrinkle. The muscles and tissue around the eye can also become weaker, contributing to a sagging appearance. This weakening can cause the fat around the eye to bulge, resulting in that blister-like appearance.

Ways to eliminate bags under the eyes

Depending on the cause, there are different approaches to reducing puffiness under the eyes. Home treatments can temporarily shrink the lower eyelids, which are sometimes swollen due to fluid buildup around the eye area.
But, says Desai, home remedies and over-the-counter products can only help so much: “Medical treatment is often necessary to effectively eliminate noticeable and permanent bags under the eyes.”

Home remedies for swollen eyes

If you occasionally wake up with swollen eyelids, these quick recipes may help. They reduce the swelling until it subsides naturally throughout the day.

Cold compresses

Cooling the area relieves inflammation and swelling by reducing blood flow. You can use something cool, e.g. Place an ice pack, a frozen vegetable bag, chilled cucumber slices or chilled spoons over your closed eyes for a few minutes.

Hemorrhoid creams

Some people dab over-the-counter creams under their eyes to treat hemorrhoids. Product ingredients such as phenylephrine constrict blood vessels to reduce swelling. However, caution should be exercised when using these products: they may cause irritation in this sensitive area. It is also important that these medications do not get into your eyes.

Caffeine: Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it narrows blood vessels. Many cosmetic companies sell eye creams containing caffeine to reduce puffiness under the eyes. You can also try placing chilled tea bags (caffeinated black tea) on your closed eyes.

Medical options for bags under the eyes

If you're fed up with bags under your eyes, these medical treatments can improve or even eliminate them:

Non-surgical options

These non-invasive treatments smooth the eye area:

• Filler: Bei dieser Behandlung wird ein Füllmaterial (in der Regel Hyaluronsäure, eine geleeartige Substanz) an die Stelle gespritzt, an der der Bereich unter den Augen und die Wange aufeinandertreffen, um einen glatten Übergang zu schaffen. Die Injektion wird in einer Arztpraxis unter örtlicher Betäubung durchgeführt. Das Ergebnis hält sechs bis 12 Monate an.
• Laser-Resurfacing: Bei dieser Behandlung werden mit einem Laser oberflächliche Schichten faltiger Haut in der Augenpartie entfernt und das Wachstum von neuem Kollagen angeregt, was zu einer strafferen Haut führt. Die Ergebnisse können je nach Hauttyp und Sonneneinstrahlung jahrelang anhalten.
• Chemisches Peeling: Ein chemisches Peeling behandelt ebenfalls faltige Haut unter den Augen, indem es die oberflächlichen Schichten entfernt. Eine chemische Lösung, die in der Praxis angewendet wird, löst alte Hautzellen ab und sorgt für eine straffere und strahlendere Haut. Je nach Hauttyp und Sonneneinstrahlung kann das Ergebnis einige Jahre anhalten.

Surgical option

A lower eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) is an outpatient procedure in which the surgeon rearranges the fat in the lower eye area and tightens the muscles and skin to create a smooth appearance. In most cases, a lower eyelid lift eliminates bags under the eyes forever - it is rare that patients need subsequent follow-up treatments.

However, sometimes, Desai says, patients need multiple therapies to treat bags under the eyes, such as: B. a combination of laser resurfacing with fillers or an eyelid lift.

How to choose a doctor

The eye area is a very sensitive part of the face. Improper procedures can lead to serious complications. That's why it's important to find an experienced, certified surgeon who specializes in treating the eyelid region.