Dietary Supplements for Puffy Eyes

by MAURA BANAR  

Impaired sleep can lead to puffy eyes. Photo Credit arvitalya/iStock/Getty Images

Puffy eyes, also known as bags under your eyes, can be caused by aging, which leads to a weakening of the muscles surrounding the area. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic explains that puffy eyes can be caused by inadequate amounts of sleep, allergies or retention of water in tissues. Regardless of the cause, puffy eyes are cosmetically annoying and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as watery eyes, itching and sneezing, particularly when caused by allergies. Certain dietary supplements might help treat the underlying cause of puffy eyes and reduce their appearance. Check with your doctor before using any dietary supplement.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that might help improve the effectiveness of your immune system. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, research examining vitamin C's ability to boost immunity has produced mixed results. It adds, however, that vitamin C plays an important role in the production of collagen, which is responsible for the structure of cells. Collagen helps maintain the firmness of your skin and might improve the strength of the cells under your eyes, decreasing sagging. If your puffy eyes are due to allergies, vitamin C might help decrease your body's release of histamines, which can cause swelling under the eyes.

Vitamin E

Like vitamin C, vitamin E acts as an antioxidant in the body, removing potentially harmful byproducts of metabolism called free-radicals. Additionally, the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC, says a deficiency of vitamin E can lead to muscle weakness. This can affect the muscles that surround your eyes, causing sagging and pooling of fluids. Vitamin E is also important for the health of your eyes, including the surrounding tissues. When combined with vitamin C, explains UMMC, vitamin E can decrease inflammation around the eyes caused by a condition known as uveitis.

Celery Seed Extract

Celery seeds are extracted from the mature celery plant and are further concentrated through extraction of the seeds. The resulting substance, explains the UMMC, has natural diuretic properties that draw water out of the tissues of your body. This effect might help decrease puffy eyes caused by the retention of water in the tissues around your eyes. Celery seed extract also has anti-inflammatory properties that might decrease swelling under the eyes. Check with your doctor before using celery seed extract because it might interact with some medications such as diuretics.

Melatonin

If you are experiencing puffy eyes due to lack of adequate sleep, melatonin might help regulate your sleep-wake cycle. The UMMC says melatonin might help people with insomnia, particularly if it is caused by jet lag or overnight shift work. Melatonin appears to restore a balanced sleep-wake cycle by helping some people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and be more alert when awake. Improving the quality of your sleep might help decrease the under-eye puffiness that is caused by sleep disruption.

www.livestrong.com