What Is the Best Natural Remedy for Puffy Eyes?

Puffy eyes have several causes including crying, not getting enough sleep, allergies, too much salt, too much alcohol and stress. Heredity and illness can also cause swelling around the eye area.

Cold is the best remedy to reduce swelling around the eyes, and there are many ways to apply it. Immerse a washcloth in ice water, ring it out and use it as a compress over closed eyelids to cool and rest the eyes. Relax with the cold compress for 15 to 20 minutes. Soak cotton balls in a cool mixture of equal parts witch hazel and rosewater. Gently squeeze out excess water, and cover eyelids for 15 minutes. Keep used chamomile tea bags wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator. Use these bags as a cold compress. Slices of cucumber over the eyelids not only cool, but as the image is reminiscent of a spa treatment, help relieve stress during the treatment. Tablespoons kept in the refrigerator and placed upside down on the closed eyelid will also reduce swelling.

Using a cold compress remedy works faster than other natural remedies to get rid of puffy eyes, and the result tends to last longer. Cold reduces swelling by constricting the walls of capillary blood vessels. This slows down the blood flow and other fluids that may be accumulating around the eye. When the swelling is gone, many people find that the puffiness has disappeared but discoloration may remain.

If the eyes are so swollen that it is hard to open them, it's a good idea to call a doctor. Hives or extreme allergies could be the cause. If one eyelid is swollen three times the size of the other, a doctor should be consulted. Contact the doctor if experiencing vision problems. Don't rule out the possibility that puffy eyes could signal high blood pressure, kidney problems or thyroid problems. If the puffiness is chronic, mention it to the doctor on the next visit.

To avoid further occurrences of puffy eyes, try the following tricks: • Elevate your head with pillows when you sleep to keep fluids from collecting under the eyes. • Avoid salty food that promotes water retention. • Avoid alcohol, which also promotes water retention. • Don't rub your eyes, as this will make them red as well as puffy. • Avoid liquids two hour before bedtime.

If puffiness is caused by an allergy, it should be treated as it can become a permanent condition. Repeated swelling can damage connective tissues, causing the skin to become loose at it stretches and results in bags under the eyes. Called blepharitis, the pouches form when the fat around the eye bulges. Blepharitis does not respond to home remedies, but can be removed by a surgical procedure called a blepharoplasty.