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Health

Causes of swelling under the eyes

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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A person's attractiveness is assessed primarily by their face. But when swelling and blueness around the eyes appear, there is no longer any point in talking about attractiveness. The causes of swelling under the eyes can be different, from the most banal and easily solved factors to serious diseases that require qualified treatment.

What does puffiness under the eyes mean?

Often, this is a consequence of nutritional errors, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking, sleep and rest disorders, and other reasons. It is easy to overcome these factors: all you need to do is stick to a healthy lifestyle and review your diet. For example, if you find it difficult to quit smoking completely, try to limit the number of cigarettes you smoke daily. Do not abuse alcoholic beverages, including beer. You should not deny yourself everything and stick to a strict diet: you can simply eat less salt and spices (especially chili peppers). Those who suffer from extra pounds should also review their diet: in addition to diet, such people need to increase physical activity.

Why do puffiness appear under the eyes?

To understand the cause of puffiness, let's note some features of the structure of the area around the eyes. After all, many are interested in the question of why puffiness occurs under the eyes, and not in other areas of the face?

Near the eye socket, in front of the eye muscles, there are fatty layers. Their function is to protect the eyeball from damage from the bones of the skull. If fluid accumulates in the fatty tissue (and fat has a good ability to retain moisture), then this is externally manifested as swelling around the eyes.

If the swelling occurs frequently or does not subside at all, the fat layer under the weight of moisture can bulge into the eye socket, which looks like the well-known bags under the eyes. In such cases, the skin can stretch irreversibly, forming permanent bags that exist on the person's face constantly, sometimes slightly decreasing, and in the morning increasing in size.

Let's list all the possible causes of puffiness under the eyes:

  • excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and drug addiction. These habits provoke fluid retention in all tissues of the body, including the tissues of the face. Chronic abuse contributes to the appearance of constant and persistent swelling;
  • eating too much salty food. Salt retains moisture in the tissues, causing persistent swelling, which is then difficult to eliminate with the help of cosmetics;
  • exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Passion for tanning and solariums leads to the body's conscious accumulation of fluid: in this way it tries to protect tissues from dehydration caused by heat and the scorching sun;
  • changes in hormone levels. For example, in a woman's body, swelling may be associated with the phase of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, the use of hormonal agents, including contraceptives;
  • excessive fatigue of the body. Edema often appears due to fatigue of the eyes and the whole body as a whole. This happens with irregular working hours, with long periods of time spent in front of a monitor or TV, when reading books in low light conditions;
  • age. Over the years, tissues lose collagen and the ability to retain moisture. Often, fatty tissue in older people protrudes under the skin, which outwardly resembles swelling or bags under the eyes;
  • various pathological conditions, serious and not so, which are accompanied by excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissues.

Causes of puffiness under the eyes in the morning

An undeniable influence on the formation of swelling under the eyes in the morning is the lack and poor quality of night rest. Constant lack of adequate sleep, increased fatigue at work and frequent stressful situations are some of the main factors of a bad appearance in the morning. Of course, in the modern world it is difficult to maintain your psycho-emotional state in the norm every day. However, the fight against depressive and stressful situations is one of the necessary measures to prevent swelling on the face.

The schedule and routine of the day, sleep and rest will help you find time not only for work, but also for the necessary rest. Moreover, if you, due to your professional activity, work all day at the computer, then your rest should not consist of computer games and correspondence with friends on social networks. Take a break from the monitor, do something distracting, take a walk or do physical exercises: in this case, the best rest will be a change of occupation.

Many people, especially young people, do not go to bed before midnight. This fact also affects our appearance. Scientists have found that the most complete sleep for a person occurs from 11 p.m., so you should go to bed at about this time. The best duration of sleep for the body is about eight hours.

Cause of severe puffiness under the eyes

Pathological causes of severe swelling under the eyes are considered to be:

  • kidney and urinary system diseases associated with the inability to remove all the necessary fluid from the tissues. In such conditions, fluid is usually retained not only near the eyes, but also in the extremities;
  • allergic manifestations (runny nose or conjunctivitis caused by allergies);
  • acute respiratory infectious diseases (flu, colds, acute respiratory viral infections), causing moisture retention not only on the face, but also in the nasal cavity and throat;
  • sinusitis, inflammatory processes in the nasal sinuses;
  • injuries to the frontal part of the skull or bridge of the nose;
  • problems with the heart and blood vessels that slow down the removal of fluid from the distal parts. This condition is accompanied by swelling of the lower half of the body.

If swelling around the eyes is caused by diseases, then cosmetic and symptomatic treatment gives only a temporary effect, or does not give it at all. To eliminate such pathological swelling, it is necessary to find and cure the main cause of this condition.

Causes of swelling under the left eye

  1. Lack of oxygen. Maybe you spend little time outdoors, don't leave your apartment for a long time, and rarely open the windows. Such reasons not only cause facial swelling, but also worsen the condition of the entire body due to oxygen starvation. Correct the situation: go outside, take a walk before bed, or at least open the window and let in more fresh air (especially in the evening, before going to bed).
  2. Perhaps you like to sleep exclusively or mainly on your left side, which is why fluid in the tissues accumulates in the left half of your face. Change your sleeping position more often. Experts recommend sleeping on your back: in this position, the chances of seeing swelling on your face in the morning are minimal.
  3. Heart disease. Make an appointment with a cardiologist, undergo the necessary examinations. Perhaps the swelling of the left side of the face is just the first sign of serious heart disease.
  4. Digestive system diseases. Often, poor digestion associated with insufficient stomach or intestinal function can cause eye swelling.

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Causes of swelling under the right eye

  1. Conjunctivitis. Usually the disease is caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the eye. Swelling of the eye with conjunctivitis is usually accompanied by a burning sensation, lacrimation, photophobia, and discharge from the affected eye. In addition to bacterial etiology, conjunctivitis can also be caused by an allergic reaction, but in this case both eyes are more often affected.
  2. Trauma. Swelling around the eye can occur even if the injury has not affected the face area. Thus, swelling on the face can form as a result of trauma to the skull, frontal area.
  3. Insect bite. Swelling near the eye may appear after a bite from small insects, and this symptom does not always occur immediately after the bite. A person may forget about the bite and go to bed, and wake up with swelling the next morning. Often, insects bite at night, when the victim is sleeping and does not feel anything.
  4. Lymphatic drainage disorder. Lymphatic drainage disorder on the face is often secondary and associated with increased venous pressure in patients with right-sided heart failure or pericardial disease.
  5. Hypothyroidism. Edema in hypothyroidism is either small swelling around the eyes or extensive swelling throughout the body, which is associated with a disorder of protein metabolism in the body.

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Causes of Red Puffiness Under the Eyes

Red puffiness under the eyes is associated with increased blood flow to the capillary network on the face, against the background of tissue swelling. In what cases is this symptom possible:

  • alcohol or drug abuse, especially in combination with lack of sleep. Often this symptom is observed in people who lead a "club" lifestyle: this is an abundance of night entertainment with a lot of alcoholic cocktails drunk;
  • smoke getting into your eyes. If you went out into nature, where you spent a long time by the fire cooking shashlik, and upon arrival you immediately went to bed, it is possible that in the morning you will be “delighted” by a red swelling near your eyes, associated with eye irritation from acrid smoke;
  • attacks of nausea and vomiting caused by severe poisoning or indigestion. Prolonged and debilitating vomiting provokes excessive and, most importantly, a sharp rush of blood to the soft tissues of the face, which contributes to the appearance of red and swollen eyes;
  • crying before bed. Crying into your pillow is one of the proven ways to "earn" red eyes and puffiness in the morning. Therefore, cry only when you are sure that it will do you good;
  • conjunctivitis. Inflammatory eye disease can cause not only swelling, but also redness of the eyes and eyelids. In such cases, you should consult an ophthalmologist.

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Puffiness under the eyes after botox

Swelling under the eyes after Botox does not always occur. This is possible if there is a predisposition of tissues to swelling, or there is lymphostasis of the periorbital zone.

Sometimes swelling may be due to an incorrect dosage of the drug being administered.

If the procedure is performed correctly, swelling after Botox should go away within a few days. If this does not happen, it may be due to the peculiarities of the body: sometimes wrinkles are located too low near the eyes, and it becomes almost impossible to eliminate them and avoid swelling.

To prevent swelling after the Botox procedure, you need to follow several rules:

  • After the administration of the drug, you should take a vertical position and not change it for at least 4 hours;
  • Do not grimace or make faces for an hour after the procedure;
  • It is not recommended to sunbathe or use a solarium for several days;
  • for at least 7 days you must forget about physiotherapy procedures, acupuncture and facial massage;
  • You should avoid drinking alcoholic beverages and going to a bathhouse or sauna for at least a week;
  • It is advisable not to smoke.

Swelling under the eyes after dysport

The first few weeks after Dysport, there is a possibility of swelling at the injection sites. This may be especially noticeable in the area around the eyes, where the skin is thinnest and most sensitive. What should you do to prevent swelling under the eyes after Dysport?

Unlike Botox, it is recommended to activate facial expressions after the procedure: this allows the drug to penetrate deep into the tissues of the facial area. Therefore, smile, be surprised, get angry, that is, the emotions should be visible (that is, on the face). True, the tension of the facial muscles may be difficult at first: there will be a feeling that the muscles do not obey you. Do not pay special attention and do not worry: this will pass with time.

Do not touch the injection sites unnecessarily. It is allowed to apply ice cubes wrapped in a clean cloth: this will ease the condition after the procedure and prevent swelling.

It is necessary to monitor the amount of liquid consumed, limiting it if possible.

It is not necessary to go on a diet, however, it is advisable to ensure that the food is not too salty.

The use of peeling procedures and scrubs is prohibited for 2 weeks after Dysport. You can use anti-edematous and soothing agents.

Thermal procedures are prohibited: baths, solariums, saunas, compresses and even washing with hot water. High temperatures can not only contribute to the appearance of edema, but also accelerate the elimination of the drug, which reduces the effect of Dysport to "nothing".

It is not advisable to visit the dentist for two weeks after the injections.

It is better to forget about muscle stimulation sessions, massage and manual therapy for 2-3 months. After 2 months, you can unobtrusively start (if necessary) epilator procedures.

Puffiness under the eyes after mesotherapy

Mesotherapy has a lot of positive effects on the appearance of the face and other parts of the body. The procedure smoothes the skin, rejuvenates it, eliminates dilated capillaries, gets rid of acne, etc. However, sometimes after mesotherapy there are unsightly swellings and hematomas at the injection sites.

Most often, such consequences can be caused by the poor qualification of the specialist, the wrong choice and dose of the drug, or the improper depth of the injections. However, swelling most often appears when the patient grossly violates the doctor's post-procedure recommendations.

After the procedure, it is advisable to apply ice cubes to the injection sites for a short time. You can drink a diuretic mixture or tea (not tablets).

It is recommended to lubricate the face with troxevasin and wipe it with chlorhexidine.

After the procedure, you should use only proven cosmetics that have a calming and anti-edematous effect.

For a while, you need to forget about visiting a sauna, swimming pool, solarium, intensive sports activities and massage procedures.

On the day of mesotherapy, you should not use decorative cosmetics.

By the way, to avoid swelling after mesotherapy, specialists have recently developed a procedure for non-injection mesotherapy: the procedure is based on the effect of alternating current, which allows you to briefly open channels for the penetration of the required volume of medicinal or vitamin substances. With the next pulse message, the channels close, and the medicine remains in the cellular space. Often, such a procedure is carried out immediately before an important meeting or event. The effect occurs immediately and practically does not cause complications.

Swelling under the eyes due to a cold

Swelling under the eye during a cold occurs quite often and is accompanied by difficulty breathing through the nose or redness of the eyes. Swelling due to a cold is nothing more than a companion of a common inflammatory process: runny nose, sinusitis, pharyngitis.

With sinusitis, swelling under the eye often appears only on the affected side: with left-sided sinusitis - on the left, and with right-sided sinusitis - on the right. Sometimes, however, bilateral sinusitis occurs: in this case, swelling can affect both eyes.

With the flu or acute respiratory viral infection, it is possible to develop cold conjunctivitis, which also manifests itself as redness and swelling of the eyes.

If there is a common runny nose, then swelling around the eyes may appear due to lack of nasal breathing, as well as insomnia and restless sleep caused by discomfort from a cold or a rise in temperature at night.

To eliminate such swelling, it is necessary to act on their main cause: a cold and inflammatory disease should be cured. A common runny nose can be cured independently, and in case of flu and sinusitis, you should consult an otolaryngologist.

The causes of puffiness under the eyes is a broad topic, as there can be many reasons. And to eliminate puffiness, it is very important to identify the cause of this condition. Carefully analyze your lifestyle, nutrition, drinking regime, and the specifics of your professional activity. Rule out the possibility of any disease: for this, it is better to go to the doctor and undergo the necessary examinations. If the body is healthy, and your life habits, principles, and nutrition are normal, puffiness will not stand in the way of your beauty and attractiveness.

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