Smoking is a highly addictive habit that is known to cause health problems, but can dropping the habit reduce bags under the eyes?
According to Mayoclinic, smoking cigarettes dehydrates the skin and disrupts sleep which causes fluids to accumulate beneath the eyes which can cause bags to appear. Smoking also damages skin cells and the production of collagen and vitamin C which also contributes to bags beneath the eyes.
Keep reading to find out whether kicking your bad habit can help get rid of those bags, as well as additional reasons as to why you may have this problem and how to remedy them!
Does Quitting Smoking Reduce Bags Under Eyes?
If you’re an avid smoker you’re probably wondering whether kicking the habit now will eliminate the damage or not.
According to Healthline, you can reduce the appearance of bags under your eyes by quitting smoking. Quitting smoking gives your body the chance to produce more vitamin C and collagen, and will also improve the skin’s hydration. All these factors will naturally reduce dark circles and bags under the eyes.
On top of this, smoking can disrupt sleep patterns which also causes dark circles and bags beneath the eyes. This is because studies have shown that people experience withdrawal from nicotine while they sleep, and this can disrupt sleep cycles. When you stop smoking, you’ll notice that you sleep better and will feel less tired once you stop withdrawing.
What Are The Main Causes of Eye Bags?
Bags under the eyes are pretty common in adults, and there’s a variety of reasons behind this. Once you identify the causes, you can start making life changes to prevent them from appearing again. That said, here are some of the most common causes of under-eye bags:
- lack of sleep
- aging
- thyroid complications
- smoking
- genetics
- dermatitis
- rubbing of eyes
- too much sunlight exposure
- anemia
- allergies
- too little fatty tissue beneath the eyes
- too much melanin
If you suspect that any of the above may apply to you, then it may be a good idea to speak with a medical professional if it affects your self-esteem. Eye bags may not be life-threatening, but they can be a sign of underlying issues that need to be addressed.
How Can I Reduce Eye Bags?
If your eye bags are ruining your day and you’re not quite ready to kick your smoking habit, then there are some effective ways that you can improve the bags beneath your eyes.
Cut The Alcohol
By now you probably know that alcohol consumption isn’t the healthiest of habits, but did you know that it can seriously affect your eye bags? Alcohol severely dehydrates you and combining this with cigarette smoking exacerbates the problem. That said, you may want to cut down your drinking to no more than two per day, and make sure that you drink plenty of water.
Reduce Salt Intake
Have you ever noticed that you look and feel extra bloated and puffy when you overdo it on the salty snacks and takeaways? Well, there’s a reason for this! The body will send water to areas with more salt to decrease the concentration levels in certain parts of the body, and this could be the reason why your under eyes are looking so puffy.
Cold Compress
One trick that I often use to get rid of under-eye bags is putting two teaspoons in the freezer for around 15 minutes and then placing each under my eye for about 5 minutes. If you can withstand the cold for that long, you’ll notice your eye bags slowly disappearing. This is because the cold constricts the blood vessels beneath the eyes which reduces the appearance of puffiness and dark circles.
Facial
Under-eye bags can also be a result of a lack of circulation in the face, so going for a facial and allowing your skin to be massaged with quality products can be a highly effective way to get rid of those under-eye bags and produce a more youthful appearance.
Tea Bags
Did you know that tea bags can help to reduce puffiness and dark circles beneath the eyes? This is because they are rich in antioxidants and stimulate blood flow due to the caffeine content. If you want to really maximize the benefits, boil two tea bags and then place them in the fridge to cool for 10-15 minutes. Once cold, apply them beneath your eyes and watch your under-eye bags disappear!
Drink Plenty of Water
If excess salt and fluid retention isn’t the culprit behind your under-eye bags, then it’s highly likely that dehydration may be a factor. Try and aim for at least 6-8 glasses of water every day, and always drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume.
Sunscreen
If you are constantly braving the sun without any sunglasses, hats, or sunscreen, then this could be a major culprit behind your under-eye bags. Constant exposure to UV rays causes the collagen and elasticity in the skin to deplete, meaning your skin will have more sunspots, wrinkles, and a sagging appearance (and yes, this includes under your eyes)!
Make sure that you invest in a quality daily sunscreen that you can apply before you leave the house so that you protect your skin from sun damage. This is especially true for days spent by the pool or at the beach, and you should always have a good pair of sunglasses and a hat to prevent scrunching your eyes and causing wrinkles and sagging.
Reduce Stress
If you’re super stressed the chances of developing under-eye bags are, unfortunately, far greater! Since you don’t want this to be an added stress in your life, it’s a good idea to find alternative ways to manage stress. This is because stress leads to increased cortisol levels and this can contribute to under-eye bags.
Sleep More
Making sure that you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night is a sure-fire way to get rid of under-eye bags. In fact, simply elevating your pillows at night can help to reduce puffiness, and the added hours of slumber means you’ll feel well-rested and less stressed and worn out, meaning your cortisol levels will naturally go down.
Eat Better
Your diet also plays an important role in keeping your skin looking fresh and glowing, and this includes under-eye bags. By eating foods high in water and antioxidants and low in sodium, you can naturally reduce under-eye bags. That said, here are some foods you should be eating more of:
- cucumber
- oats
- parsley
- almonds
- avocado
- celery
- beetroot
- watermelon
- banana
Final Thoughts
Smoking is most certainly a common culprit behind the formation of those dreaded under-eye bags, which is just another reason why you should consider quitting. Similar to other bodily processed that are damaged by smoking, under-eye bags can be reversed simply by quitting and taking care of yourself. In the meantime, you can try out some of the methods above to reduce your under-eye bags as quickly as possible!
