What causes puffy eyes?

Puffy eyes are caused by a variety of factors, including allergies, genetics, hormones, diet, sleep deprivation and stress. Allergies such as hay fever or allergic reactions to certain products can cause swelling around the eyes. Heredity or genetic predisposition is also linked to eye puffiness - people of Asian descent tend be more prone to this issue. Fluctuating hormone levels often result in puffy eyes due to water retention.

Poor dietary choices may lead to both dehydration and inflammation which could contribute towards eye puffiness. Sleep deprivation also affects many aspects of health including reducing the body’s natural detoxification processes leading to congestion and puffiness around the eyes. Finally, stress plays an important role: it increases cortisol production in our bodies that can make us retain fluids creating swollen areas under our skin including around our eyes.