Dealing with concerned friends and coworkers asking about sleep can be enough of a hassle when otherwise fabulous looking people really did just have a rough night. When those kinds of concerns come up all the time, even after a great night’s sleep, it can cause some serious self-esteem issues. Read on to find out about some of the causes of tired-looking eyes and how to resolve them.
Baggy Eyelids
Some people just have naturally baggy, drooping lower eyelids. Sometimes referred to as “heavy” eyelids, this condition is usually genetic, which means even the best night’s sleep in the world won’t resolve the problem. The best way to deal with heavy eyelids is to schedule a consultation for blepharoplasty over at carolinaplasticsurgery.com.
Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies cause the body to release histamine, known to dilate blood vessels, leading to swelling, inflammation, and fluid buildup under the eyes. This leaves allergy sufferers struggling with constant puffiness and dark circles beneath their eyes, even when they’re well-rested. A combination of over-the-counter antihistamines and nightly cold compresses to reduce swelling usually does the trick to alleviate this allergy symptom but those suffering from serious allergies may want to consult a specialist.
Chronic Dehydration
Many consumers drink less water than they should, leading to a chronic state of dehydration. Dehydration makes people feel tired, and it makes them look it, too, by causing decreases in blood flow to the skin around the eyes. Set a goal to drink at least eight glasses of water per day and stick with it to look and feel better.
Advancing Age
The natural aging process can contribute to dark circles under the eyes for several reasons. Aging consumers lose elasticity and skin volume, which causes blood vessels beneath the skin to become more visible. Weakening connective tissue also causes the skin to sag, leaving eyes looking baggy and making aging consumers look sleepy all the time. Plastic surgeons can address these and other age-related issues.
Excessive Salt Consumption
Eating too much salt causes fluid retention, which can leave eyes looking puffy in the morning. The problem usually gets better throughout the day, then reappears again the next morning. To decrease that unwanted puffiness, try reducing salt intake and sleeping with the head propped up on a pillow to reduce fluid retention in the face.
Eye Strain
Many modern workers spend most of their days staring at screens. This can leave them dealing with eye strain, which causes the blood vessels around the eye to dilate. The increased blood flow exacerbates problems with dark circles beneath the eyes and gives office workers a tried appearance. The best thing to do is to follow the 20/20/20 rule while working on computers. Every 20 minutes, workers should look at an object at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. If that doesn’t help, consider heading to the optometrist for an eye exam and getting a new pair of glasses.
The Bottom Line
Nobody wants to walk around looking tired and stressed out all the time. If there’s an underlying lifestyle or health problem to blame, all the sleep in the world might not help. Consider all the factors listed above and try to address any underlying problems by making dietary or lifestyle changes or heading to a plastic surgeon to address aesthetic issues.