Why Won't Your Eye Bags And Puffy Cheeks Go Away?

You do everything you can to get rid of the bags under your eyes and puffiness in your cheeks, including placing used coffee grounds on your eyelids. Many of these DIY tips only work for a little while or not at all. Although it's easy to follow the latest DIY trend in getting rid of your eye bags and puffy cheeks, simply changing how you sleep, eat and exercise each day are all you need to do. Here's how and why you have eye bags and puffy cheeks, as well as tips to get rid of them effectively.

Why Do You Have Eye Bags and Puffy Cheeks?

Your body performs many functions during the night, including distributing and filtering excess lymph fluids in your face and body. Just like your blood, the lymph fluids in your legs, feet and ankles need to travel upwards in the body to circulate properly. If the lymph fluids can't circulate, they won't have a chance to pick up and absorb the excess fluids in your face. 

All lymph tissues of the body filter waste products, such as water, old white blood cells and fats, from your skin, organs and blood. But since the skin beneath your eyes and on your cheeks are thin and delicate, the swelling is more noticeable in these areas. 

Eventually, the fluids in your face's lymph tissues build up and push against your skin, which make your lower eyelids and cheeks appear puffy and swollen, especially in the morning when you first wake up. You look tired and sleepy-eyed, even if you slept throughout the entire night.

Now that you know why you have puffy cheeks and baggy eyes, it's time to solve your problems in the best and most effective ways possible. There are simple changes you can make in your life that eliminate the excess lymph fluids in your face, including these two below:

Stretch and Flex Your Legs Before Bed

Before you retire to bed, gently stretch and flex your toes, legs and feet. Stretching releases tension in the muscles and tendons that surround your lymph tissues so that the fluids drain correctly.

You only need a yoga mat to perform the exercises. Here's what you do:

  1. Place the mat on a thick or soft carpet to keep your body comfortable. A hard surface can cause back pain during your exercises.
  2. Lie flat on the mat, then stretch out both legs with the knees slightly bent for comfort.
  3. Pull in your abdominal muscles, then slowly raise your left leg off the mat. Only lift your leg as high as you feel comfortable doing so.
  4. Point your toes, then make five small circles with your leg.
  5. Flex your foot so that the toes point toward the ceiling. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then relax your foot. Repeat this step two more times.
  6. Lower your leg, then repeat steps 4 and 5 with your right leg. 

You should do the exercises every night for at least 10-15 minutes for the best results. As the fluids in your lower body drain correctly, the swelling your cheeks and lower eyelids will go away.

Elevate Your Feet at Night

Sleeping with your feet slightly raised on pillows every night is the next thing you should do. This sleep position allows the lymph fluids in your legs, feet and ankles to continue circulating through your body after you complete the exercises mentioned above.

If you have thin or flat pillows available, it's a good idea that you place two under your feet instead of just one. Flat pillows won't elevate your feet high enough to allow the lymph fluids in your lower body to drain properly. Your feet should be slightly higher than your head when you lie down in bed.

You also want to position the pillows so that your heels hang over their edges. The edges of the pillows should fit comfortably in the area between your ankles and heels. You keep pressure off your heels, which can block the flow of blood in them.

If you need additional help with getting rid of your eye bags or puffy cheeks, contact a dermatologist; they can offer additional treatments for your problems. If you have specific questions about other skin problems, either medical or cosmetic, talk with a doctor from a clinic like Advanced Dermatology Care.


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