Sleeping Great? 8 Potential Causes of Tired Eyes

If you often enjoy your recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night, you might be unsure why you look the opposite of well-rested. If you’re bored of people saying you look tired or can’t fathom why you have developed shadows or bags underneath your lids, it is time to take action. Check out the following eight potential causes of your tired eyes:

  • Dehydration

As you will know, dehydration is dangerous, and it may cause serious health issues, such as urinary and kidney problems, low blood volume shock, seizures, and heat injury, which can even be fatal.

One of the biggest symptoms of dehydration is fatigue, which can cause you to develop tired-looking eyes. As dehydration will decrease your blood volume, your heart will no longer operate efficiently, which can result in exhaustion. The skin surrounding your eyes is sensitive to hydration, which is why it can lead to dark shadows.

  • The Aging Process

The aging process could be to blame for the dark circles around your eyes. As your skin will lose volume and elasticity, you might suddenly notice your eyes look more tired than they used to. It is due to fat wasting away in the face and a decrease in collagen production, which can lead to thinning skin and the development of dark circles. Plus, as the connective tissue will weaken with age, you are more likely to experience sagging or bags, which can make your eyes appear much heavier.

If you would like to banish the hooded, tired appearance, eyelid surgery in Atlanta, GA, could be an ideal solution for your needs. It can improve the quality of the skin surface, which will make you appear refreshed and youthful.

  • Fluid Retention

Fluid retention might make your eyes appear unnecessarily puffy each day. If your eyes often appear tired and puffy in the morning and then improve throughout the day, it is likely due to excessive salt consumption.

Too much sodium can increase fluid in the body outside of its cells. The extra fluid allows the body to retain salt for longer, which can cause the skin to appear puffy. For this reason, you might need to reduce your salt consumption, increase your water intake, and prop yourself up during sleep.

  • Eye Strain

Do you stare at a computer screen each working day? Maybe you are avoiding the eye doctor despite ailing vision. If you often squint when reading and checking distant signs or experience weary eyes at the end of the day, you are likely suffering from eye strain. The issue cannot only cause much discomfort, but the pressure can result in your blood vessels dilating around your eyes, which can lead to tired-looking eyes and dark circles.

Ease eye strain by taking a break from your computer screen every 20 minutes, and improve comfort by looking at an object that is 20 feet or more away. Also, organize an eye examination with a eye doctor, as you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses for reading, driving, or everyday activities.

  • Allergies

Do you have an allergy? If you answered yes, it could be the culprit of your sleepy appearance. Allergies will release histamine, a chemical that can cause the blood vessels to dilate and increased blood flow underneath the eyes.

As histamine can cause itchy eyes, it can lead to inflammation, swelling, and fluid retention by your eyes. Also, you can make dark circles and tiredness appear worse when scratching or rubbing your eyes. The good news is you can treat most allergies with antihistamine medications, which are available over-the-counter.

  • Chronic Dry Eye

Some people can struggle to produce sufficient tears, and the lack of moisture can make the eyes feel strained and tired. Other symptoms of chronic dry eye can include a burning or stinging sensation, dryness, or blurred vision episodes.

If you experience eye strain and believe you have a tear duct issue, talk to an eye doctor about your symptoms. Following an examination and diagnosis, they can choose the best treatment option to eliminate chronic dry eye, such as artificial tears.

  • Your Bone Structure

Your bone structure can determine the formation of dark circles under your eyes, which you might have had since childhood. Your skull contour and the fat underneath your skin can alter your complexion. If you have a deep tear trough, you could have a noticeable semicircle underneath your lower eyelid.

Also, you might have dark circles due to sunken eye sockets, as the bone structure shadow surrounding them can make your eyes appear darker. While you can’t change your bone structure, you can decrease the appearance of dark circles with effective concealers and by applying a cold compress to the area.

  • Excessive Coffee Consumption

Your morning cup of joe might perk you up in the morning, but your midday and afternoon coffees might make you appear tired. If you want to look fresh and awake each day, avoid drinking four or five cups of coffee a day, as it can make your eyes appear swollen.

Plus, excessive caffeine can cause dehydration, which can lead to a dull, tired complexion. Instead, you should stick to one or two cups per day and aim to drink more water. If you want a hot drink, make the switch to green tea, as it offers many antioxidants that can support healthy skin.

Conclusion

If you often enjoy a good night’s rest each night, the chances are one of the above issues is to blame for your sleepy appearance. The good news is that there is often an easy solution to the above issues, which can make you appear refreshed and youthful each day.

So, drink more water, reduce your salt and caffeine consumption, pick up a pack of antihistamines, or consider a surgical treatment to resolve the complaint. The actions could boost your confidence and make you look and feel younger than your years.