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Skin changes are a fact of life. And, while you may be eager to make adjustments to your routine in order to stave off signs of aging, that doesn’t mean your methods have to involve surgery or be so drastic and costly. If crow’s feet and under eye bags are a concern, there are things you can do on the cheap to minimize their appearance. There are also errors you could be making that are causing these issues to appear more dramatic than necessary. This is the worst mistake you can make if you have crow’s feet and eye bags, according to a doctor.
First of all: Why do we get crow’s feet and eye bags? Simply put: time and gravity can cause these changes to take place.
“As we age, the tissues of the face thin and lose elasticity,” says Dr Leigh Plowman, an optometrist and founder of Dry Eye Directory. “Fat can shift forward into the lower eyelids on the aging face. This causes the skin to look puffy and swollen.”
One of the worst mistakes that Dr. Plowman says she sees is high salt intake, which can cause fluid retention under the eyes, which is why she says it is important to drink plenty of water during the day.
“Inflammation is [also] a common cause of under eye bags,” Dr. Plowman says. “Blood vessels can become leaky and cause fluid accumulation.”
Of course, there are surgical procedures and noninvasive treatments like Botox that can temporarily reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and eye bags. But if this doesn’t appeal to you, or you find it too costly, Dr. Plowman suggests other affordable solutions to try:
Applying a cool tea bag (caffeinated) under the eyes can help to constrict blood vessels and reduce leakage.
Turmeric (or cucurmin specifically) may be a useful anti-inflammatory supplement to the diet. Recently nano-formulations can help improve curcumin's availability for the body to absorb.
Drinking green tea can also have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects
Cool compresses can also help improve symptoms of under eye bags.
Chances are your concerns are purely cosmetic. But don’t forget there are some times when it is advisable to seek a doctor’s care, Dr. Plowman says:
When one eye bulges out more than the other
When one eye is sore, red or watery
When one eye feels hot or painful to look in certain positions
If all else checks out: avoid salt and try a few of these cheap tips to reduce the look of crow’s feet and eye bags.
