Where do under-eye bags come from?

One fine morning, you get up and as you glance in the mirror, you’re met with Droopy’s gaze. Stay calm and help yourself to a good cup of coffee: this swelling under the lower eyelid, although unsightly, is often only temporary and fades away during the day.

In this case, the bags are mainly due to the lymphatic system, which drains lymph, a whitish liquid that transports toxins and cellular residue. The bags under the eyes may therefore be the result of a lymphatic system that works more slowly at night, or of blood flow disruptions. There are several factors that foster this swelling, among which lack of sleep, and an unhealthy lifestyle due to a poor diet, alcohol consumption, smoking or stress.

However, as you get older and your skin starts sagging, the area under the eyelid, which is particularly thin and vulnerable, is more prone to puffiness. The skin loses its elasticity and prevents blood and lymph from circulating as easily as they should. As a result, puffiness may appear due to water retention or fatty deposits accumulated under the eyes. On top of that, depending on their genetic background some people are more inclined to this type of swelling. In this case, there’s no one else to blame but your parents.