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Sagging Eyelids

Aastha Dogra
Sagging eyelids can make a person look older than his/her age. Sometimes, it might indicate an underlying health problem too. That's why, knowing about the causes behind this condition as well as the treatment options available to cure the same, is very essential.
Sagging eyelids or droopy eyelids are caused when the layers of skin, below and above the eye, begin to lose their elasticity and firmness.
It might be caused due to a number of reasons, ranging from natural aging process, intake of foods rich in sugar, stress and depression, fatigue, migraine, inadequate sleep to smoking, accumulation of toxins in the body, thyroid dysfunction and fluid retention.
If the eyelid sagging is restricted to only one eye, the reason could be development of stye or chalazion on the eyelid skin, a nerve injury or some medical problem. Sometimes, serious diseases like a brain or eye tumor can cause this condition to develop too.
There are a number of ways to treat and minimize sagging eyelids, ranging from cosmetic to medical to some effective home remedies.

Medical and Cosmetic Treatment

Blepharoplasty

In order to treat sagging eyelids, blepharoplasty, a surgical procedure in which excess skin, fats and muscles around the eye area are removed and repositioned, is performed. Blepharoplasty helps the person in getting rid of the puffiness around the eyes, dark circles, bags below the eyes as well as any excess skin around the eye area.
Blepharoplasty is usually recommended by doctors if the person is not able to even open his eyes properly due to drooping eyelids.

Botox Injections

Botox injections are another way to get rid of the sagging eyelids. Botulinum Toxin Type A, the compound used in botox injections, when injected into the skin, paralyzes the muscles and the contractions which cause wrinkles.
This results in reduced appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around the eye. Effects of botox, a cosmetic treatment, usually last for about three months, after that the entire procedure has to be repeated.

Home Remedies

Healthy Diet

The best remedy would be to follow a natural and healthy diet. Eating a well-balanced diet which is rich in antioxidants and vitamins E and A, eliminating high sugar food items from the diet and consuming lots of water to keep the skin hydrated and supple, can help in slowing down the process of eyelid sagging.
Consuming vegetable and fruit juices and cooking food in olive oil, will help in better absorption and digestion, thereby making the skin more youthful with time.

Potatoes

Cut thin slices of potatoes and place them over your closed eyes. Leave them on for about fifteen minutes. This will not only relax you, but also bring down the swelling around the eyes.
Potatoes contain a substance known as catecholase which has skin lightening properties. Thus, potatoes can help both in the removal of the dark circles as well as puffy eyelids.

Exercises

Certain exercises, if performed appropriately, help in restoring the youthful firm look of the skin above the eyes.
The easiest exercise is placing a finger under the eyebrow and slowly lifting it, keeping it there for about five seconds and then bringing the eyebrow back to its original position.
Another exercise which can help in strengthening the muscles around the eyes is keeping the fingers on the temple and then slowly pulling the skin below and above the eye towards the ears.

Meditation and Rest

As mentioned earlier, under eye dark circles and puffy, droopy eyes can be caused due to the emotional stress. By making a routine of meditation, combined with breathing exercises, a person can overcome stress in his life.
Sleeping for seven to eight hours every day will help too. Thus, adequate rest, sleep and meditation is one of the keys to getting rid of droopy eyelids.

Makeup for Droopy Eyelids

The makeup should be done in such a way that the eyes look young, shapely and large. When applying eye shadow, choose colors such as brown and gray as they help in hiding the loose skin.
Avoid using any kind of shimmery eye shadows as they will draw attention to the droopy eyelids. To make the eyes look bright and youthful, apply a dark eye liner on the upper eye lashline, followed by a thick mascara. Avoid using mascara on the lower lashes as it might draw attention to the sagging skin below the eyes.
Although, treating this eye problem without surgery or a cosmetic procedure is not possible, yet, with proper eye care, eye exercises, a healthy diet and some clever makeup, you can certainly minimize the droopy look of your eyelids.
In any case, if droopy eyelids is affecting your vision in some way, it is recommended that instead of trying to solve this problem yourself, a doctor should be consulted immediately, for proper diagnoses and treatment.