Swelling of the eyes should not mean a change in the structure of the eyeball, but the appearance of a pathological process in the region of the lower or upper eyelid, in which an excess of interstitial fluid is concentrated in the tissues of these anatomical regions.
Why does swelling occur under the eye? Causes, on the one hand, should be sought in somatic diseases, and on the other hand, this phenomenon is provoked by external influences (injuries, bruises, allergic reactions, fatigue, etc.).
Causes of edema under the eyes
The human body is more than half composed of water. Most of the fluid is concentrated in the cells of the body, and a smaller one is in the intercellular space.
Through the water-electrolyte balance provided by the body's systems, this ratio is at a certain level. With its violation, as a rule, pathological processes occur in the body that provoke swelling.
What are the swelling under the eyes (causes and treatment)? The photos presented in this article can provide a visual representation of the problem.
Why puffiness is clearly visible under the eyes
This can be explained by the anatomical structure of the tissues around the eyes:
- the skin in these areas is subtle;
- subcutaneous fatty tissue loose;
- sebaceous glands are absent;
- low level of muscle activity;
- in this area there are a large number of large and small blood vessels.
What is the difference between swelling and bags under the eyes
You should distinguish between concepts such as swelling and bags under the eyes.
Bags under the eyes are provoked by the loss of skin elasticity. This is usually an age-related change. The skin is no longer able to support the fat layer located around the eyes. Edema appears due to somatic diseases or external provocateurs.
Why do edema occur under the eyes? The causes and treatment will be described in this article.
Swelling under the eyes can signal the presence of somatic diseases
They can be observed in people with impaired functioning of such organs as the thyroid gland, heart, kidneys. Also, swelling occurs with damage to the pituitary gland and irregular venous outflow. Such edema is characterized by a special development and course. Most often, the process captures the lower eyelid and is more manifested in the morning.
With pathology of the kidneys, swelling, as a rule, passes during the day. But if the process manifests itself in the evening, you can judge the damage to the cardiovascular system.
With somatic diseases of swelling under the eyes, symmetry is inherent.
Causes of edema in women
Why do representatives of the weaker sex have swelling under the eyes? Causes in women can be as follows: hormonal imbalance and pregnancy.
An increase in estrogen levels before menstruation contributes to fluid retention in the tissues of the body, which is also expressed in swelling under the eyes. This phenomenon can be observed in the puberty, with menopause and hormonal therapy.
Many women complain of swelling during pregnancy. In particular, they are characteristic of the third trimester.
If swelling is observed throughout pregnancy against the background of a strong increase in weight, the expectant mother needs to seek help from a specialist. In this case, edema can indicate the presence of a serious somatic disease. First of all, you should pay attention to the condition of the kidneys, since a failure in their work can cause dropsy of pregnant women.
Edema with allergies
As a rule, with an allergic reaction of the body, edema is localized above the upper eyelid. Swelling may occur under the eye on one side or both. The process develops very quickly and disappears just as quickly. Cosmetics, foods and plants can provoke this condition.
Adverse genetic background
It happens that puffiness around the eyes appears in childhood or adolescence. At the same time, there are no predisposing factors, but a similar syndrome is also observed in parents. In this case, we can talk about the genetic predisposition of the body. This condition is caused by an excess of adipose tissue around the eyes.
Overwork
With a long stay at a computer monitor, driving a car, reading books in dim artificial light, watching TV for a long time, eye muscles are stressed, which disrupts the blood supply to the eyelids.
General overfatigue leads to a violation of the routine of sleep and wakefulness. A person cannot sleep for a long time, and awakening is difficult. The lack of normal rest manifests itself in the form of swelling under the eyes.
Age factor
With age, the skin under the eyes becomes thinner, the muscles around the eyes weaken, the bone tissue becomes more fragile and is not able to support the fatty tissue around the eyes.
In adults, the kidneys are disturbed, the electrolyte balance slows down. All this leads to chronic swelling of the eyes in old age.
Increased body salt
It is known that salt helps retain water in the body. It is especially harmful to eat it at bedtime. With constant consumption of salty foods and canned foods, liquid will accumulate around the eyes, which will cause swelling.
After salty and spicy foods have been eaten, thirst arises. She makes you drink more fluid. And because of salt, it is difficult to remove from the body.
Lifestyle impact
The causes of puffiness can lie in the wrong routine of sleep and wakefulness. Fans of fun spending time with friends at night risk getting swelling under their eyes the next day.
Swelling can provoke the use of alcohol or drugs, sugary and carbonated drinks, bright lighting, a short sleep.
Also, before going to bed, they are not advised to drink strong drinks and coffee. Smoking and alcohol should be completely eliminated. And, as this does not sound surprising, you should drink more fluid throughout the day. The amount of fluid consumed should be approximately 2 liters, while most of it should be consumed before 14:00. With a lack of fluid, the body turns on its reserves and tends to stock up with water for future use, which can cause swelling.
Tears at bedtime
Many of us have noticed that tears cause swelling under the eyes. More often she appears in the morning. This is because the tears contain salt, which prevents the removal of fluid from the tissues.
Tears act in two directions: on the one hand, they interfere with the removal of fluid from the tissues, and on the other, they irritate the skin under the eyes. And given the fact that a whining mood can cause insomnia, it’s not at all surprising that you will wake up with swollen and, in addition, blue eyes.
The use of cosmetics
Cosmetics themselves can not cause puffiness, but its improper use is quite.
In this case, a number of rules must be observed:
- rinse off cosmetics a few hours before bedtime;
- to eliminate decorative cosmetics use special makeup removers;
- after washing, blot your face with a soft towel, and not rub it;
- carefully study the composition of your cream, it should not contain components that contribute to the appearance of edema.
Swelling under the eyes in the morning
What can cause, in addition to the wrong daily routine, swelling under the eyes? Causes in the morning can signal damage to the kidneys and liver. If the process is detected gradually, you can judge the defeat of the cardiovascular system.
Massage puffiness treatment
Alternative medicine advises the use of massages. By making light circular movements towards the ears, you help stimulate active biological points located in the area of the cheekbones. To soften the massage, it is advisable to moisten the fingertips with essential oil. But its use in its pure form is not recommended. It should be diluted with cosmetic.
This method is not suitable for people with hypertension. In this case, it is recommended to use ice cubes for massage. The effectiveness of the procedure will be higher if, instead of water, freeze chamomile broth or make cubes from a decoction of parsley or green tea.
Carefully drive cubes towards the cheeks, as if squeezing the swelling down. But do not massage for too long, as you can freeze the skin. The face should not be hypothermia, otherwise you run the risk of getting a cold or sinusitis.
The use of contrast baths
Contrast baths have a beneficial effect. Two bowls should be taken. Pour cold water into one (add a little salt to it), and warm into the other. It is necessary to moisten the towel alternately with water of different temperatures and apply it to the eyes, but do not press hard. Then you need to rinse your face with warm water.
The use of compresses
Compresses with green or black tea are excellent in combating puffiness under the eyes. They contain caffeine and tannin. Tannins of tannin help relieve swelling, as they have an astringent effect, and caffeine constricts blood vessels.
Separately, mention should be made of chamomile tea. Chamomile, as you know, has an anti-inflammatory effect, can soothe the skin and relieve irritation. Treat bags under the eyes with cotton pads soaked in chamomile broth. They are applied to the eyes for 15-20 minutes.
Soothes and relieves skin irritation vitamin E. In cool water, add a few drops of this vitamin and mix thoroughly. Then you need to moisten the cotton pads in the solution and apply to the eyes for 20 minutes. This compress has not only preventive, but also cosmetic effects. It helps nourish and soften the skin around the eyes, makes it supple.
Drug treatment
Radical treatments for edema around the eyes include pinoxide injections. Recently, this drug has been used to relieve puffiness under the eyes, as experiments have shown that the drug helps to optimize blood circulation. It causes the resorption of the swelling.
To eliminate edema, it is necessary to remove excess fluid from the body. If external exposure methods did not provide any help, you should consult a diuretic. But we must remember that such drugs contribute to the leaching of their body of beneficial substances. For example, the amount of potassium and calcium in the tissues decreases. Therefore, before using them, you need to consult a specialist.
Important tip
When swelling under the eyes should not self-medicate. When the exact cause of edema under the eyes is found, the elimination of the pathological process is faster. Indeed, in this case, the doctor selects the necessary therapy aimed at eliminating the internal or external provocateur.
Cause of swelling under the right eye
In some cases, swelling may be asymmetric. Many people wonder why there is swelling under the eye? The causes, on the one hand, lie in diseases of the internal organs, on the other hand, they represent an allergic reaction or trauma.
Often this phenomenon provokes an inflammatory process. At the same time, the skin around the eyes turns red, the temperature near the eyes rises, the person is disturbed by pain during palpation. The inflammatory process can be caused by furunculosis, halazion, as well as a common flu or runny nose. Swelling can be caused by sinusitis, meningitis and inflammation in the gums. As a rule, the upper eyelid swells.
Conjunctivitis provokes not only swelling, but hyperemia and itching, as well as the release of pus. After some time, the second eye can also affect the disease.
Mechanical damage also causes eye swelling. Not only damage to the upper or lower eyelid can lead to its occurrence. Bruises, burns, insect bites, injuries in the scalp, facial bones can provoke this phenomenon. Damage violates the integrity of the blood vessels, and blood with intercellular fluid sinks into the eyelid region. Such edema, as a rule, disappears without treatment in a fairly short time.
They cause edema and a variety of surgical interventions in the head, especially the face. Such a phenomenon is observed with venous and lymphatic outflow. Cosmetic procedures can lead to impaired outflow of lymph and venous blood. As a result, intercellular fluid accumulates around the eyes. Violation of the outflow of lymph occurs as a result of increased venous pressure in people suffering from heart failure or pericardial disease.
An insect bite, which may be invisible at first, also provokes puffiness, which manifests itself after a few days.
Hypothyroidism, which is expressed in decreased thyroid function with iodine deficiency, is also dangerous. There is a violation of protein metabolism, which is expressed in swelling under one eye or throughout the body.
Why does it swell under the right eye? The reasons will be established by a specialist.
What measures should be taken
When edema appears under the right eye, for a start, such reasons as abuse of alcoholic beverages, overeating of food containing salt, long work at the computer, insufficient duration of rest or sleep on the right side should be eliminated. If they are the causes of swelling, you should use tea lotions or a decoction of chamomile. If you suspect an infectious inflammation of the eye, you should consult a specialist.
Swelling under the left eye
What causes swelling under the left eye? The reasons may be as follows:
- excess fluid accumulates in the skin of the eyelids;
- adipose tissue pushes the skin forward, which contributes to an increase in periorbital tissue;
- in the eyelid, blood accumulates from the vessels located on the face during injuries of the nose and forehead.
Swelling under the right or left eye
Why does swelling occur under the eye? Causes on the one hand (under the left or right eye - now it doesn’t matter) can lie in sinusitis or allergies.
If with maxillary sinusitis the right upper jaw is inflamed, the right eye swells, and vice versa. Swelling of the eye in this case is accompanied by pain and redness. In the acute process, antibiotics and physiotherapeutic procedures are used.
Sometimes swelling under the left or under the right eye can be caused by the reaction of the body to a cosmetic product.
Conclusion
So why does swelling occur under the eye? The reasons, on the one hand, lie in somatic diseases, and on the other hand, can be caused by external effects on the eyelid. In any case, you should seek help from a specialist. It will help eliminate swelling under the eyes. The reasons and treatment can be explained to them.