Many people have developed bags under their eyes, and there are many reasons why these bags form. In most cases the problem is caused by aging and sleep disorders, although heredity, hormonal changes, sinus infections, and high salt intake, water retention, depression, fatigue, smoking, alcohol abuse, and poor diet can all be contributors. It has also been recognized that obese individuals often suffer from this affliction. If you are experiencing this affliction, which many consider to be a cosmetic nightmare, don’t despair. There are treatments and behavioral changes that have proven to be effective in minimizing or eliminating this problem.
What Causes Bags under the Eyes?
Although bags under the eyes may, in some rare cases, indicate an underlying medical condition such as kidney disease or Graves’s disease which require professional medical attention, for most sufferers it is a cosmetic problem. While it may offer no threat to one’s physical condition, it is certainly can cause social and psychological problems. Bags under the eyes make persons look older, tired, and generally worn out. Unfortunately, many people without the problem see sufferers as those who have led a life of debauchery – a most prejudiced and unfair assessment.
Although many younger people are afflicted with bags under their eyes, the problem is most commonly found in older people. Aging causes the body’s muscles and ligaments to weaken. The fat, which is normally evenly distributed around the eyes, succumbs to the force of gravity and falls into the area under the eyes, gathering into a puffy eye bag. Environmental and behavioral conditions may exacerbate the problem. Heredity can also be a cause for bags under the eyes. Those pesky genes maintain this trait from generation to generation.
Women often experience this problem during pregnancy or during their normal period of menstruation. In both cases, normal water retention can cause these bags. This tendency to retain water is exacerbated by a high intake of salt. Paradoxically, the exact opposite of water retention can also cause these bags. Dehydration for any reason, particularly from excessive consumption of alcohol, can be a major contributor to the problem. Lack of sleep is another reason why some develop Bags Under the Eyes. Insufficient sleep can also contribute to the development of dark circles under the eyes.
Those who suffer from common allergies and chronic sinus infections are often afflicted with bags under the eyes. These ailments can cause swelling and a deflation of the skin below the eyes, weakening it to a point where it can form these bothersome bags. If this describes your particular situation, check with a physician or allergist. One of the dangers of allergies is the itching that normally accompanies these conditions. Rubbing the eyes to alleviate itching will undoubtedly exacerbate the development of eye bags.