Eye Health More Eye Issues & Safety How To Get Rid Of Puffy Eyes By Steph Coelho twitter Steph Coelho is a freelance health writer, web producer, and editor based in Montreal. She specializes in covering general wellness and chronic illness. Learn about our editorial process Steph Coelho Published on January 14, 2021 Print Srisakorn / Getty Images Puffy eyes can both feel uncomfortable and make you self-conscious. Puffy bags under the eyes aren’t an uncommon occurrence, and there are ways to deal with this problem at home. In cases where the puffiness is permanent or pronounced, medical treatment options, like surgery, exist and can successfully reduce the appearance of puffy eyes. At-Home Treatments You can treat puffy eyes at home with the help of these remedies: Allergy medicine: Allergies can cause inflammation that leads to swelling under the eyes. Taking antihistamines can help reduce the puffiness that results from allergies. Over-the-counter (OTC) creams: Some OTC creams, like those for hemorrhoids, can help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes. Be sure to patch test any creams before applying them to the sensitive area around your eyes.Cold compress: Cool temperatures can help reduce inflammation that leads to under eyelid swelling and puffiness. Teabags: Tea that contains caffeine may help with eye puffiness. Chill them before putting them over your eyes for improved effectiveness. You can also make some lifestyle changes to reduce the appearance of puffy eyes. Some strategies include: Reducing your salt intake: Puffiness can develop due to a diet high in salt, so limiting salt intake may limit swelling under the eyes.Getting adequate sleep: You may notice your eyes are puffier on mornings when you’ve been up late or had a rough time getting to sleep. Improving sleep hygiene can help reduce puffiness on future mornings. Quitting smoking: Smoking can contribute to the formation of bags under the eyes. Stopping can prevent the bags from worsening.Changing sleep positions: Elevating your head may help prevent fluid build-up that leads to puffy eyes. Medical Treatments Sometimes, at-home treatments aren’t enough to get rid of puffy eyes. If bags under the eyes are due to advancing age, most at-home therapies won’t significantly reverse the signs of aging. Some people are also genetically predisposed to getting bags under their eyes. Medical treatments can provide better results than in-home treatments in some instances. Nonsurgical Treatments Here are some non-invasive options for treating puffy eyes: Dermal fillers: For this puffy eye treatment, a doctor injects fillers to create a smooth appearance between the cheek and under-eye area. Laser resurfacing: This treatment uses lasers to slough off wrinkly skin, which encourages collagen growth and results in firmer-looking skin.Chemical peel: Instead of lasers, this treatment uses chemicals to remove the surface layer of skin, resulting in a firmer appearance. Surgical Treatments Surgery can help in cases where under-eye bags are very pronounced because of aging or genetics. The process called a blepharoplasty involves lifting the under-eye area and redistributing fat to tighten the skin. When to See a Doctor Sometimes, puffiness can be the result of an underlying condition, such as thyroid disease. If you’re not sure why you’re suffering from puffy eyes, it’s best to talk to a doctor. Some conditions that may cause under-eye swelling and puffiness include: Conjunctivitis or pink eyeStyeInflammation of the sinuses Congestion due to allergies or a coldGraves' diseaseCancer Most eye swelling goes away on its own, but puffiness that doesn’t go away can lead to complications. You should make an appointment right away if at-home treatments don’t work, and the swelling around your eyes isn’t going away or is getting worse. Similarly, if swelling is the result of a traumatic injury, seek medical attention right away. Not sure if your symptoms are serious? Here are some signs it’s time to see a doctor: You have pain in or around your eyesYou’re having vision troublesIt feels like there’s something in your eye Puffy Eyes vs. Swollen Eyelids Puffiness around the eyes refers to under-eye swelling. With puffy eyes, the area under the eyes becomes swollen, but it doesn’t typically affect the eyelid. Swollen eyelids may be the result of an infection. One or both eyelids may be affected. A Word From Verywell Puffiness isn’t usually anything to worry about but, paired with congestion, it can cause discomfort. Some people are embarrassed by the appearance of puffy eyes. At-home treatments can help with temporary puffy eyes that result from allergies. Otherwise, you may want to consider medical interventions to solve your under-eye puffiness. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. John Hopkins Medicine. How to get rid of bags under your eyes. Herman AP. Caffeine’s mechanism of action and its cosmetic use. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. 2013;26(1):8-14. doi:10.1159/000343174 Boyd K. Bags under the eyes. American Academy of Ophthalmology. November 29, 2018. Cleveland Clinic. Puffy eyes: What causes them and what to do about it. April 1, 2019.