Whether you’re allergic to pollen or animals, symptoms can include watering eyes, along with redness, itching and puffiness in your eye area. Taking a few steps to prevent it is always better than waiting to act once your eyes are already puffy.
Find out how to prevent puffy eyes from allergies, so you can minimize the impact the condition has on the way you look, even if you can’t avoid all its unpleasant symptoms.
Always Shower in the Morning
Whether you’re just prone to puffy eyes or you also have to deal with dark circles under your eyes, also caused by nasal and sinus congestion, a shower in the morning always helps. You’re not just cleansing your skin of allergens, you’re also getting a healthy dose of steam which can help decongest your airways.
Avoid Exposure to Pollen at the Wrong Time
You can’t stay indoors to avoid all allergens, but when you know that pollen is your main trigger, you’re better off planing your day around the times when pollen counts are highest. Prevent puffy eyes from allergies by avoiding spending time outdoors in mid-morning and in early evening. Windy weather also increases the risk of pollen-related allergies.
Wear Sunglasses
When you do go outside, it’s important to protect your eyes from allergens that are floating around, ready to get into your eyes and cause puffiness and other nasty symptoms. Find a pair of big sunglasses that protects your eyes while still looking trendy and don’t forget to wear them, especially during the times of day with a high pollen count.
Pick the Right Eye Drops
Keeping eye drops around at all times is good advice to prevent puffy eyes from allergies, but not all decongestant eye drops have the same effect. Use artificial tears and sterile saline rinses (making your own with distilled water isn’t exactly sterile). If you do have to use more powerful drops, choose a brand that has ketotifen as an active ingredient. The effect will last longer and you won’t suffer from rebound redness after using it for a few days in a row.
Maximize the Impact of Cold Compresses
While a cold compress can help reduce the puffiness, sticking to water isn’t always the best way to go. Use cold green tea or simply make your own green tea ice cubes to soothe your eyes and help with inflammation in the eye area. Use eye drops after green tea compresses to double up on the soothing effect.
Take Antihistamines at the Right Time
Oral medication can also help prevent puffy eyes from allergies, if you’re taking it at the right time. When you’re using non-sedating antihistamines, like Claritine or Zyrtec, the best time to take them is right before bedtime. You’ll benefit from the effects when you wake up, especially if you need to go out when pollen counts are high.
Don’t Ignore Your Stuffy Nose
When your allergies are generally severe, you might be relieved that the only symptom is a slightly runny or stuffy nose. However, even when the symptoms seem manageable without medication, you shouldn’t ignore your nose. A stuffy nose can lead to dark under eye circles and puffiness, so the least you can do is irrigate your airwaves with a Neti pot.
Keep Your Diet in Check in Allergy Season
Going on a cleanse when you know allergy symptoms get worse is another great way to prevent puffy eyes from allergies. Stay away from alcohol and reduce your sugar, dairy and gluten intake, even if you’re not very sensitive to these foods. Instead, eat more fruits and vegetables with a high content of antioxidants.
Stay Active
A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to puffiness in the eye area for people who suffer from allergies. You don’t have to go outdoors to get a good workout, aerobics exercises and spin classes do the trick. Even on the weekends, try to fit 20 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily schedule.
Stay Hydrated
When you’re trying to prevent puffy eyes from allergies, sometimes the best solution is the obvious one. Drink more water to flush away the excess salt and avoid any fluid retention that can get worse when your allergy symptoms flare up.
