911 for Puffy Eyes on Yahoo! Health

When it comes to dark circles under our eyes, many of us simply mask the problem with a dab or two of concealer. But under-eye puffiness can be a lot more difficult to cover up.

There are ways to tackle this common complaint, though, and considering possible causes of your puffiness will help you try the right tricks and treatments:

Puffy eyes can be caused by poor lymph flow, in which case the solution is to get lymph moving better. Deep breathing, massage, and exercise will help do just that - 10 deep breaths and 10 jumping jacks can do more for puffy eyes than any eye cream and can give you results in 10 minutes.
If you tend to sleep lying flat or on your stomach, your puffiness may be caused by fluid build-up. Try elevating your head while you're snoozing.
Do you grab for the saltshaker at every meal? That could be the cause of your swelling. Try to curb salt intake - and remember, that doesn't just mean the white crystalline stuff. The soy sauce you dunk your sushi in, for example, is full of sodium.
Drinking plenty of water is another important way to flush out your system and treat the water retention that can lead to puffy eyes.
Puffiness is often accompanied by red eyes, and both conditions can be improved with anti-inflammatory ingredients like cucumber and chamomile. I like to put a wet tea bag that contains chamomile or caffeine (chilled, if I have the time!) on my eyes for about four minutes in the morning to help decrease redness and puffiness.
When puffy eyes are simply the result of aging, they may require professional treatments. Fat herniation can be treated with surgery, so if none of the tips above seem to minimize your puffiness, talk to your doctor. Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Hylaform can also disguise bags caused by aging - it's a delicate procedure, though, so make sure you go to a highly reputable doctor.

Finally, several of my patients have asked me about a beauty tip floating around that suggests using hemorrhoid cream to constrict puffy under-eye tissue - I caution them against trying it, as those creams can cause allergic reactions, particularly in the ultra-sensitive skin around your eyes. This happened to a friend of mine the day of her wedding. Yikes! She would have preferred the puffy eyes!

Wishing you great skin!

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Dr. Baumann is author of the best-selling book, " The Skin Type Solution." To learn more about her revolutionary skin typing system, visit her Web site, SkinTypeSolutions.com.

All of Dr. Baumann's recommended skin care products are available online, and a portion of proceeds goes to The Dermatology Foundation.