What Causes Bags Under Eyes? Top 7 Reasons & Cure

Do you have under-eye bags? You may be wondering, “What causes bags under eyes?” 

Waking up after a good night’s sleep and seeing your under eye area baggy—isn’t it an exhausting start to the day? It may be for you and many other individuals with this issue. 

Though it is generally harmless, it may often leave you looking tired, older, or unwell. Many lifestyle-related and medical conditions cause this common problem.

Understanding what makes bags under eyes helps you make conscious efforts to minimise the appearance of baggy eyes.

Here Is What Causes Bags Under Your Eyes

1. Advancing age
2. Fluid accumulation
3. Lack of sleep
4. Allergies and sinus issues
5. Genetic makeup
6. Thyroid problem
7. Smoking and alcohol`

Let’s get into details of what causes baggy eyes. 

1. Advancing Age

Ageing is considered at the top of the list of what causes bags under your eyes. As your age advances, your skin gradually loses elasticity and firmness naturally due to less collagen. The skin around the eye area is sensitive to this condition. Long exposure to environmental factors worsens it because, over time, previously tightly contained fat begins to protrude and gives a swollen or puffy look. Moreover, the muscles that support the eyelids also start weakening, and the eyelids sag further from their original position.

This is inevitable, but a good skincare routine and treatments like retinoids and creams that boost collagen may delay some of these effects.

2. Fluid Accumulation

Fluid buildup can cause temporary swelling of the eyes, most noticeable when you wake up. It occurs when fluid settles in the tissues under the eyes during sleep for reasons such as sleeping flat. A diet with high sodium intake, dehydration, and specific hormonal changes familiar to women, which include pregnancy and menstruation, can contribute to fluid retention.

Avoiding a diet high in salt, drinking plenty of fluids, and raising the head of the bed may help prevent fluid collection and minimise morning puffiness.

3. Lack Of Sleep 

What causes baggy eyes? It could be your lack of sleep. If you are sleep deprived, your body starts losing balance over regulating fluid, which causes fluid retention below the eyes. In addition to this, sleep deprivation causes slow circulation, which can lead to the appearance of dark circles and bags.

Getting adequate rest—at least 7 to 9 hours per night—can really refresh the eyes. Maintaining a proper sleep schedule can also prevent the gradual build-up of puffiness​.

4. Allergies and Sinus Issues

Among the major causes of under-eye bags is allergies. If you have had a long-term allergy condition, you are more likely to have this condition. When you suffer from an allergy, histamines are released, causing inflammation and swelling. This manifests under the eyes, too, because the skin under the eyes is a very sensitive region. Furthermore, puffiness under the eyes manifests when blockage creates pressure inside the sinuses.

Consult your doctor regarding your allergies and sinus issues, so that they prescribe you the right medications. Treating such conditions will minimise your baggy under eyes.

5. Genetic Makeup

Under-eye bags may just run in the family sometimes. You tend to get under-eye bags, too, if your relatives have a history of puffiness or sagging skin under the eyes. Genetics may be to blame even if you’re young and healthy and even if you don’t smoke or do drugs or stay up all night partying. Puffiness of genetic origin will also not go away despite good life habits. This kind of puffiness usually becomes more apparent at first.

You cannot change what’s in your genes, but some skincare products that tighten the skin, reduce puffiness, and fill in shadows could be used to reduce the appearance of hereditary under-eye bags.​

Bonus Tip: Just like under eye bags, if you have wrinkles and fine lines, here is an amazing guide for you. Explore, Wrinkles Under Eyes: Causes & Tips To Remove Them.

6. Thyroid Problems

What causes bags under your eyes? These bags can result from a number of medical conditions, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Mainly, hypothyroidism brings with it fluid retention, leading to puffy cheeks and face along with puffy eyes. Other thyroid-related conditions include Graves’ disease, which may manifest protruding or puffy eyes.

If you suspect that a thyroid problem has caused the under-eye bags, consult a doctor to have it assessed and appropriately treated.

7. Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking ages you faster due to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in your skin, causing early sagging in the sensitive area around the eyes. Second, cigarette smoke contains toxins that could cause inflammation and puffiness. Alcohol dehydrates the body and causes fluid retention; thus, under-eye bags appear more pronounced after a night out.

Quit smoking and reduce your alcohol intake to boost not only your health in general but also the look of your under-eye area​.

Understanding What Causes Bags Under Eyes Will Help You Cure Them.

What causes bags under your eyes? Well, you now have explored the causes, from old age and fluid retention to allergies, sleep deprivation, and genetics. Understanding how those might be causing it is the first step toward dealing with it appropriately. 

While in some, like ageing and genetics, you can’t do much, lifestyle changes like better sleep, staying hydrated, and staying away from allergens all can come together in your favour to possibly minimise their appearance.

However, if, after trying all the above treatments, your dark circles under the eyes do not improve or severely undermine your self-confidence, you may opt for a more long-lasting remedy: lower eyelid blepharoplasty. This surgery helps getting rid of excessive fat in the eye regions and tightening existing loose skin, thus restoring a more refreshed and younger appearance to the patient.

If you want to explore whether this surgery is the right option, consulting a specialist for Lower eyelid blepharoplasty in Leeds may help determine the best course of action. This treatment could be the key to restoring your bright, rested look and feeling like the best version of yourself!

FAQs About What Causes Baggy Eyes

1. How do I stop bags under my eyes?

To prevent bags under your eyes, stay hydrated, avoid a salt-rich diet, quit smoking and drinking alcohol, and follow a regular anti-ageing skincare routine.

2. What are the main causes of under eye bags?

The main causes of under-eye bags include ageing, fluid retention, sleep deprivation, thyroid problems, genetic makeup, and smoking and alcoholism.

3. What is the cure for bags under the eyes?

To address your under eye bags effectively, consult your doctor for lower eyelid blepharoplasty. This surgery repositions the under eye fat and excess skin for a fresher appearance.

4. Can eye bags be caused by stress?

Yes, stress increases the level of cortisol hormone in your body. This hormone affects fluid retention in your body and causes under eye puffiness and baggy appearance.