Eyes Swollen from Crying? Try One of These 13 Home Remedies
If your eyes are puffy, cooling and hydrating the area can help. Easy at- home methods include tea bags, facial rollers, and a cool cloth.
Crying is a part of life, whether you are going through a tough break up or another difficult situation. It appears to be unique to humans. It may have helped with survival.
“The puffy, red eyes you get after a crying session don’t have to bring your mood down. You can use things you already have around your home to quickly ease your symptoms.”
You might associate tears with sadness or joy. While tears help us process our emotions, they do more than that.
There are three types of tears:
- Basal tears keep your eyes lubricated and protected at all times.
- Reflex tears show up quickly and in large quantities to wash away irritants, like when you’re cutting an onion. They may even have extra infection-fighting powers.
- Emotional tears happen in response to strong feelings, like overwhelming happiness or sadness.
Emotional tears, like the ones that happen when you cry, may have evolved to help us relate to one another. For example, tears could act as a signal that someone needs help. They may also contain hormones that are involved with stress relief.
While researchers are still working to understand why we cry, there are plenty of ways to soothe your eyes when it happens.
When you cry, fluid gathers under the eyelids and around the eye area. Reducing the swelling is all about cooling and moving the fluid away from the eyes.
1. Apply a cool compress
Cool compress can help reduce swelling. Simply wet the clean washcloth with water. Sit in a chair. For a few minutes, hold the cool cloth to the skin under your eyes.
If you’re using a frozen cold compress, make sure to wrap it in a clean, dry towel. Never apply ice directly to your skin.
2. Apply cucumber slices or tea bags
Cucumber slices can also help soothe puffy eyes and reduce swelling. Take a cucumber from your fridge, give it a wash, and cut off two 1/4-inch slices. You can save the rest of the cucumber for snacking. Lie back and keep the slices on your eyelids until they’re no longer cool.
Tea bags combine a cool compress with de-puffing caffeine. Most varieties of black, green, and white tea contain caffeine. There’s some evidence that it can penetrate the skin, reduce swelling, and increase circulation.
To try this method, you need to wet two tea bags, put them on your eyes for 15 to 30 minutes, and then chill them for 20 minutes.
3. Gently tap or massage the area to stimulate blood flow
You can work to increase blood flow to the affected area by gently tapping or massaging around your eyes. The pressure from your fingers may help move fluid away.
The soft pads of your fingertips can be used to make sweeping motions around the area above and below your eyes. The skin in your eye area is delicate, so be extra gentle. You can use an eye cream to help your fingers glide over your skin.
You can try it for a while. If you notice any pain or irritation, stop immediately.
4. Apply witch hazel
You may have witch hazel hanging around in your medicine cabinet. This astringent
To use, lightly wet a cotton pad, and then gently press it onto your upper cheek, away from the lower eyelid.
If it is safe to use near your eyes, read the product label first.
5. Use a facial massage tool
Items like facial rollers and gua sha tools can help you massage your skin. They’re often used with a facial oil or serum to glide over your face.
Some say they can help with circulation or help your skin care product absorb. And tools that feel cool to the touch might help with puffiness.
If you have a roll-on eye serum in your skin care collection, now is a good time to try it out. The metal ball can be swept over your eyes.
If you notice any pain or irritation, stop using the massage tool and use a light touch.
6. Apply a chilled cream or serum
Cooling down the eye area can help reduce the appearance of puffy eyes. Before applying, try chilling your favorite face cream or other product. Keep products away from your eye area.
The redness in your eyes is caused by the blood vessels in your eyes. Adding soothing water to your eye can help with redness. Makeup can be used to create a similar effect.
7. Use eye drops
Eye drops can be used to help with dryness and irritation. Other varieties are intended to reduce redness that you experience with crying or allergies.
To avoid causing more irritation, use eye drops only as directed on the label. Using them too often can make your symptoms worse.
Many formulas are not recommended for people who wear contact lens. Before using eye drops, you should take out your glasses.
8. Add some eyeliner
Adding some to your eyes can help them look better if they are not too sore for eyeliner.
A tightline is a technique that is similar to tracing the waterline. It is called invisible eyeliner because it mimics the natural area of darkness in your lashes.
You can wiggle your liner along your upper lashes. You may need to blend the line with a dot-dash to get the whole way across.
This look can help your eyes appear brighter. But consider keeping makeup away from your lashes and waterline if your eyes are feeling extra irritated.
9. Apply color-correcting concealer
The skin under your eyes is darker. You may have redness around your nose. A good concealer can help you mask the signs.
You can use a green concealer to help with redness. The green color is the opposite of red, and leads to the two colors canceling out. You can apply a covering substance to the affected areas with your fingers, a brush, or a sponge.
10. Enhance with color elsewhere
Adding color to your face may make it appear less red. You can add blush to your cheeks and add your favorite lip color.
This can help you to look better and draw more attention to yourself.
After crying, your eyes may feel dry. Your whole face may feel dry, especially the skin under and around your eyes. Rehydrating your body and skin will help bring back some of the hydration that has gone.
11. Drink water
Grab a tall glass of water and keep drinking. Water infuses your whole body with hydration. Although you may have heard that you should drink eight glasses of water per day, the
The amount of water you need depends on your age. You can get hydration from other foods and drinks. The CDC says drinking water is a great way to protect your health.
If you don’t like plain water, you might try squeezing in a bit of lemon. You can also use slices of cucumber or your favorite fruit to flavor your water.
12. Cleanse your skin
Although tears are not bad for your skin, over time, they have the potential to cause dryness. Rinsing them away with cold water can help. Use a soft towel to gently pat your skin dry.
When needed, you can also use a face wash. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends using an alcohol-free cleanser that is free from physical exfoliants.
It is important to keep in mind that washing your face more than twice per day may make your skin problems worse.
13. Apply a moisturizer
Your skin may feel dry and itchy after crying. To help your skin recover, the AAD says that this is the right time to reach for your moisturizer.
You should apply a moisturizer after you have finished cleansing your skin. Doing so will help keep the water in. If you want to be gentle with the skin around your eyes, read the product label and be careful with what you touch.
These methods will help you get over your symptoms. They may help you feel better. It is important to care for yourself in times of stress. Even if it is only for a few minutes, take time for self-care.
Better yet, talk out your thoughts or just unwind with a trusted friend or family member. A licensed therapist is another good option.
“If you are worried about how you are handling your life, talk to a doctor. They can help you find resources or diagnose any underlying conditions that could be affecting your mood. You don’t have to be alone to face whatever you are facing.”
