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Heather Hanks
Written by Heather Hanks

Reviewed by Dr Jessica Gunawan and Physician Tjai Kang Jie on May 24, 2022

How To Get Rid Of Eye Bags For Good

Published | 5 min read

If you suffer from chronic eye bags, it could be a dead giveaway that your health is not where it should be. Follow the tips in this guide to help get rid of eye bags for good.

Eye bags min scaled

Eye bags say a lot about your health. For example, if you don’t eat right, exercise enough, or get proper amounts of sleep at night, this could be reflected in the skin under your eyes.

Other factors, such as your age, whether or not you’re a smoker, and genetics may also play a role.

Luckily, eye bags are relatively easy to clear up. In this guide, we’ll explain why you might be suffering from eye bags and what you can do to get rid of them.

What Causes Eye Bags?

Aging is one of the primary reasons behind eye bags. Genetics may also play a role.

To reduce their appearance, you should first find the cause. As it turns out, a variety of factors can cause these unsightly additions. The main culprits are usually aging, one’s lifestyle, and an imbalance in one’s body.

According to Western medicine

Because the body changes as you age, it is common for people to develop eye bags. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the tissues around the eyes weaken and sag with age and the fat pad in that area can move into the lower eyelids, causing them to look puffy.

The weakened tissues around the lower eyelids can also accumulate fluid, making the area appear more noticeable. This puffiness is what causes eye bags to develop.

Other factors that contribute to the formation of eye bags include smoking tobacco, genetics, and medical conditions, such as allergies.

According to TCM

Our under-eye area is related to our Kidneys, says Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Physician Tjai Kang Jie. As we age, our Kidney’s qi tends to deplete. Overworking or chronic stress can also worsen this loss of qi.

Physician Tjai says that the lessening of the Kidney’s qi can be reflected under the eyes. This is what results in eye bags.

Eye bags can also be caused by Spleen-Stomach Deficiency. Eating disorders and overwork can cause damage to the Spleen-Stomach function and disrupts the flow of body fluid and Dampness in the body.

“This results in fluid accumulating in the eyes,” he states. “This is because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest out of all the other parts of the body.” 

Tips For Getting Rid Of Eye Bags

There are a variety of ways to get rid of undereye puffiness. These include changes to your lifestyle, adding TCM supplements to your diet, and using TCM treatments.

Helpful lifestyle changes

Waking up refreshed after a good night’s rest can help reduce the appearance of eye bags.

A good night’s rest can do wonders for one’s body, rejuvenate the mind, and reduce puffiness around the eyes. Experts recommend seven to nine hours of sleep per night. 

To make the most out of your sleep and reduce the appearance of eye bags, use a good pillow that has adequate support. Sleeping with your head slightly raised can reduce fluid buildup in the area around your eyes.

Additionally, quitting smoking is a good lifestyle change to make. Smoking tobacco is one of the primary causes of the development of eye bags.

Focus on your diet

Tweaking your diet can help with reducing eye puffiness. Eating too much salt can lead to fluid retention; therefore, reducing salt intake helps get rid of their appearance.

TCM physician Kang Jie recommends adding cinnamon (Rou Gui), black beans (Hei Dou), and Polygonum Multiflorum (Tuber Fleeceflower, He Shou Wu) into your diet. These plants and herbs help nourish your Liver and Kidneys.

Take supplements

Similar to a night of good sleep, a good diet can do wonders in getting rid of eye bags. Physician Tjai suggests adding jujube (Suan Zao Ren), Poria mushroom (Fu Ling), barley (Da Mai), and Codonopsis (Dang Shen) to your diet to assist in removing puffiness.

Remember that aging is one of the main culprits of its formation. Recommended supplements to be taken that contain anti-aging properties, including Nanollagen. It contains 8,000 mg of marine collagen peptides that are small enough to be absorbed in 90 minutes.

Collagen works by stimulating the growth of new skin cells. It also firms and tightens skin. This can help firm up the skin under your eyes for a more youthful, fresh, and healthy appearance.

Additional TCM Eye Bag Treatments

Facial guasha is an effective TCM treatment that can reduce undereye bags.

Physician Tjai advises that several TCM treatments can help with reducing the appearance of eye bags. One such treatment is eye acupuncture. “Eye acupuncture at targeted acupoints helps to improve qi and Blood Circulation around the Eyes area,” he says.

Physician Tjai also suggests facial guasha to help remove eye bags. This can be done by rolling a jade roller or scraping board in an upwards motion on the face. Like acupuncture, this also helps improve qi and Blood Circulation around the eye area.

What If I Need Eyelid Surgery?

Eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, may be an option for you, depending on the cause of your eyelid bags. The outpatient procedure involves using an incision to remove excess fat in the crease of the upper eyelid or in the lower lid.

This treatment can also help with:

  • Bags under eyes
  • Puffy eyes
  • Dark circles
  • Excess skin on the upper eyelid
  • Droopy eyelids

Keep in mind that eye bags are a natural occurrence, so it is apt that we get rid of them naturally. Will you apply any of the tips here to eliminate them? Share with us what works for you!  

References

  1. American Academy of Opthamology. 2021Bags under the eyes
  2. Scientific American. 2004. Why do bags form below our eyes? 
  3. How to get rid of bags under your eyes  

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