How to relieve puffy eyes

What can you do right now?

1. 1Remove contact lenses if your eyes or eyelids are swollen.
2. 2Soak a clean washcloth in cold water and place it over your closed eyes. If you use an ice pack or frozen vegetables instead, wrap them in a towel to protect your skin.
3. 3After crying, try the compress for 10 minutes, removing it sooner if it becomes uncomfortable.
4. 4Stay upright while resting, or use an extra pillow to raise your head slightly when sleeping. Choose a comfortable position rather than sacrificing sleep.
5. 5Avoid rubbing or scratching your eyes, which can cause more swelling.

Cold reduces blood flow and helps reduce swelling. Chilled spoons and cucumber slices are other cold compress options, so the kitchen already has a modest skincare department.1

How long does puffiness take to go down?

After crying, puffiness can ease within minutes or remain until the next morning. Fluid collects around the eyes during crying, and time is often the most useful remedy. Compresses help reduce the appearance of swelling; they do not give everyone the same recovery time. Arrange an eye care appointment if swelling lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours.13

Could allergies or an eye product be responsible?

Allergies can cause swollen, red or watering eyes, sometimes alongside sneezing or a runny nose. Avoid known allergy triggers where possible. Antihistamine eye drops help allergy symptoms, not every cause of puffiness; ask a pharmacist about suitable treatment if you are unsure. Use steroid eye drops only as prescribed.35

If you suspect mascara, eyeshadow or eye cream is irritating the area, stop using the suspected products for at least a couple of weeks to see whether symptoms improve. Itchy, flaky, sticky or swollen eyelids can also accompany eyelid inflammation or infection. A pharmacist can advise on cleaning solutions and whether you need an optician or doctor.23

Will eye cream or massage help?

Eye products containing caffeine or retinol sometimes improve the appearance of bags. After crying, a chilled eye cream you already tolerate is an option, but avoid trying a new product on irritated, sensitive skin. Do not use hemorrhoid cream around your eyes: it can irritate or damage the eye.13

Gentle massage can help, but touching the eye area can also worsen irritation and swelling. If you already have a face roller, use light strokes outward from the center of your face rather than rolling back and forth. A face roller is optional, so the washcloth does not need a gemstone colleague.1

What helps recurring morning puffiness?

Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep and limit salty foods, which encourage water retention. Raising your head at night helps prevent fluid collecting around your eyes. Persistent bags can also reflect inherited fat pads, bone structure or loose skin; these are harder to correct fully without medical treatment.34

When should you get medical help?

• Seek urgent care for eye pain, vision changes, light sensitivity, a very red eye, or a red, hot, painful or blistered eyelid.
• Get prompt medical help if you cannot open or fully close your eye. Blisterlike swelling on the eye surface can involve the conjunctiva, the tissue covering the eye and lining the eyelids.
• Contact a healthcare professional for swelling under only one eye, symptoms that are not improving, or uncertainty about the cause.
• Call emergency services for sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or fainting with a suspected allergic reaction.