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Two Parts:Treating Puffy Eyelids ImmediatelyPreventing Puffy Eyelids Long-Term

Swelling in the eyelids can be an annoying problem. It's a result of excess fluids in the skin tissue, and since the skin of your eyelids is so thin, the swelling is usually very noticeable. Eyelid swelling can be caused by a number of different things, including genetics. Here are some steps you can take to prevent and treat it.


Part 1 of 2: Treating Puffy Eyelids Immediately

  1. 1
    Apply over-the-counter anti-inflammatory cream to your eyelids. It might sound gross, but hemorrhoid creams also contain anti-inflammatory agents that can reduce the swelling you're experiencing.
    • Using one finger, gently dab a small amount of cream onto the swollen area
    • Spread it into a thin layer that evenly coats the eyelid
    • Make sure not to get any of the cream into your eye
  2. 2
    Press something cold against the swollen area. Put some ice in a sandwich bag and press it against your eyelids. If you don't have ice, put a couple of spoons in the freezer for a while, then press them against your eyelids. The cold will reduce the swelling, plus it feels soothing!
    • Also try washing your face with cold water.
  3. 3
    Put cold cucumber slices on your eyes. You'll have to lean your head back and keep still for a while, but cold cucumber slices are a lovely and relaxing way to reduce eyelid puffiness. Cucumbers have antioxidants thought to reduce irritation, and the cold will help with the swelling too!
    • Cut two thin slices of cucumber
    • Tip your head back
    • Place them over your eyes
    • Leave them for at least ten minutes
    • Remove them and wash your face
  4. 4
    Try potato slices if you don't have any cucumber. Potatoes have an enzyme called catecholase that some say actually reduces puffiness better than cucumbers do.[1]
    • Cut two thin slices of potato
    • Tip your head back
    • Place them over your eyes
    • Leave them for at least ten minutes
    • Remove them and wash your face
    • You can also grate the potato instead of slicing it:
    • Peel and grate the potato
    • Using your hands or a kitchen mallet, press or pound the grated potato into a sort of plaster
    • Tip your head back
    • Spread the plaster over your eyes
    • Cover it with a cool wet cloth
    • After ten minutes, remove the potato and wash your face.
  5. 5
    Drink a few glasses of water first thing in the morning. Continue drinking water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated.
  6. 6
    Gently tap on your eyelids. Overnight, fluids build up on your eyelids because you haven't been blinking. Tapping on your eyelids will encourage the excess water to drain away from your swollen lids.
  7. 7
    Don't rub your eyes! Although gentle patting can drain fluids, rubbing vigorously will likely only serve to aggravate the situation. Even if you're sleepy, try to keep from rubbing your eyes first thing in the morning.
  8. 8
    Use lubricating eye drops. If the swelling is due to the dryness and irritation that sometimes accompanies allergies, over-the-counter eyedrops could be a cheap and easy way to make your eyes both look and feel better.
    • Look for preservative-free eye drops, as some people have allergic reactions to the preservatives in regular drops.
  9. 9
    Ask your doctor if he or she would recommend taking prescription eyedrops. They might recommend an eye drop with a mild steroid that treats allergy symptoms, though this is generally only for more severe allergies.[2]
    • If your swelling is due to an infection rather than an allergic reaction, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory eyedrops or antibiotics, instead.
  10. 10
    Go without contact lenses if you wear them. Even though we don't feel contacts when we wear them, they are still layers of plastic rubbing against our eyelids all day. If your lids are puffy, it may be best to avoid further irritation by wearing glasses for a while instead.
    • It's good for your eyes to let them breathe from time to time anyway.

Part 2 of 2: Preventing Puffy Eyelids Long-Term

  1. 1
    Eat less salt. If you ingest too much sodium through an unhealthy diet, your body will retain more water because of the amount of salt in your system.[3] This buildup of excess fluids results in the puffiness you see in your eyelids. The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.[4] If you're retaining too much water, you probably want to take in even less than that.
  2. 2
    Drink more water. When the body doesn't have enough water, the kidneys begin conserving it by storing water in your soft tissues. This can lead to swelling throughout the body, especially in the soft tissues of the face, including the eyelids.
    • To meet general health recommendations, men should drink about 13 cups of water per day, while women should drink about 9.[5]
    • If you are dehydrated, you might drink even more than the recommended amount to help get your body back up to speed.
  3. 3
    Sleep the recommended amount of hours every night. Depending on how your body responds to sleep debt, a lack of sleep may cause dark circles to appear under your eyes, puffiness in your eyelids, or a combination of both. Get into a regular and consistent sleeping pattern that takes into consideration the Mayo Clinic's recommendation that adults get 7-8 hours of sleep per night.[6]
  4. 4
    Make sure you aren't suffering from an allergic reaction. Puffy eyelids, along with redness, itchiness, and watering, is a common side effect of allergies. Visit your doctor to rule out allergies as a cause of your eyelid puffiness. If you test positive for an allergy that's causing your swelling, either discontinue use of the product causing the reaction or, if the allergen cannot be avoided, ask your doctor to prescribe medication. Common sources of allergies that can cause your upper eyelids to puff up include:
    • Makeup and/or makeup remover
    • Oily cleansers
    • Sunscreen
    • Mold (in your sleeping and living quarters, in books, etc.)
    • Mites or insects (including insect bites)
    • Pollens
    • Pet dander
    • Foods
  5. 5
    Wear an eye mask to sleep. The light pressure the mask will put on your eyelids will prevent as much fluid from building up overnight. [7]



  • If your eyelids are worryingly swollen, or if there is significant pain or irritation accompanying it, visit a qualified medical expert as soon as possible.

Article Info

Categories: Concealing Eye Circles

In other languages:

Español: eliminar los párpados hinchados, Italiano: Eliminare il Gonfiore delle Palpebre, Português: Eliminar Inchaço nas Pálpebras, Русский: избавиться от опухших век, Français: se débarrasser des paupières gonflées, Deutsch: Geschwollene Augenlider loswerden, Bahasa Indonesia: Menyingkirkan Kelopak Mata yang Membengkak, 中文: 消除眼皮浮肿

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