She’s got a bag of tricks for unsightly under-eye bags.
A Harvard-trained, board-certified dermatologist is sharing three ways to reduce puffiness under eyes caused by fluid accumulation.
“These are generally worse in the morning and swell with allergies, poor sleep or salty foods. Under eye bags or puffy eyes from fat require removal,” Dr. Neera Nathan, 35, explained in a TikTok that has bagged 272,800 views since it was posted in March.
Nathan recommends applying eye cream that contains topical caffeine to constrict blood vessels to decrease puffiness “within minutes” — she prefers Neutrogena Hydro Boost + Caffeine Eye Gel Cream and CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream.
She also suggests Arnica gel to help promote drainage of excess fluid from around the eyes and an antihistamine to minimize fluid retention.
“Try taking an antihistamine, especially if you have allergies, because that alone can cause your under-eyes to be super puffy,” said Nathan, who is based in New England.
Experiencing mild swelling under your eyes is normal as you age — bags form when you naturally lose the skin-firming proteins collagen and elastin.
Excess fluid can accumulate under the eyes because of a salty diet.
Lack of sleep, allergies, smoking, genetics, hormonal changes and certain medical conditions such as the inflammatory disease dermatomyositis may also be to blame for the puffiness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The Mayo Clinic recommends limiting the amount of salt you eat; decreasing fluid intake before bed; sleeping seven to nine hours a night, with your head slightly raised to help prevent fluid accumulation; avoiding allergens when possible; and not smoking.
A cool compress and cosmetics can help reduce the appearance of under-eye bags. Cosmetic surgery is also an option — in a lower eyelid blepharoplasty, a surgeon removes and/or repositions the fat under the eye.
