How bags appear under the eyes of a child and the reasons for their occurrence

Bags under a child's eyes can appear quite suddenly, which greatly frightens parents. Mostly this problem occurs in the morning, after the baby has just woken up. The cause of this phenomenon can be either the child’s fatigue, or chronic lack of sleep, or serious illnesses of various types. The cause of puffiness under the eyes can be insufficient removal of fluid from the body. If the swelling persists for too long, the baby should be seen by a doctor.

Causes

Swelling under the eyes in newborns is considered normal; this is due to changes in blood circulation that occurs in the body after birth. If the disorder disappears within a few days, then parents should not worry. But why does a child develop bags under his eyes at an older age? This may be due to:

1. Conjunctivitis or inflammation in the paranasal sinuses.
2. An imbalance in the ratio of salts and liquids, which manifests itself when drinking or eating food with salt in large quantities.
3. An allergy that manifests itself in the form of bags, due to the fact that the skin under the eyes is considered more sensitive.
4. Additional symptoms are fatigue, shortness of breath.
5. Lack of sleep and other sleep disturbances, which is more common in infants.

Why do preschool children have bags under their eyes? This may be due to the heavy strain on the eyes that occurs when spending a long time at the computer, studying, or reading in low light.

Treatment

The doctor selects complex therapy after conducting a detailed examination and collecting the necessary tests. Under no circumstances choose medications on your own; you can only worsen the child’s health condition.

Drug treatment

It is unacceptable to use surgical intervention if the swelling or bags are severe. The doctor selects medications to eliminate the factor that provoked the occurrence of the unpleasant symptom. Properly formulated therapy will relieve swelling without surgery and cosmetic procedures that are recommended for adults.

Remember that medications such as Blefarogel and Dermahil are not suitable for infants; they are most often prescribed to women over the age of forty.

How to treat at home with folk remedies

Using grandma's recipes to eliminate unpleasant symptoms is allowed only if the appearance of bags is caused by a disturbance in sleep or nutrition, and not by the development of pathological processes.

Lotions made from medicinal plants (chamomile, calendula, sage) will help get rid of swelling. For these purposes, you can use freshly brewed black or green tea. For teenage girls who are faced with a similar problem, a mask made from the pulp of fresh cucumbers is recommended. It must be left on your eyes for ten minutes. The substances contained in the “pimply” saturate the skin with beneficial elements and reduce the appearance of swelling.

For girls between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years, a cosmetologist can individually select a special cosmetic product or medicinal gel that works well with bags under the eyes (for example, Blepharogel).

Older children are recommended to perform therapeutic exercises that develop the facial muscles of the visual apparatus, restore elasticity to the skin and eliminate swelling.

Fluid restriction

In addition to mother's milk, which is not capable of causing swelling, the baby needs additional fluid. It must be consumed in the amount that corresponds to the age of the baby. Excess water leads to swelling.

The doctor gives precise recommendations on what to drink and how much after an ultrasound examination of the kidneys and a urine test.

Proper nutrition

Bags and dark circles under the eyes appear if children and teenagers do not receive enough vitamins and nutrients. Balance your diet, minimize the amount of spicy and fatty foods.

Doctors recommend having your feces tested for helminthiasis, since parasites cause problems with the digestion and absorption of food in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the child experiences deterioration in health, loss of strength, weight loss, and bags under the eyes. If the test is positive, then a course of antiparasitic medications is prescribed. Return to contents

Maintaining eye hygiene

From an early age, teach your baby to follow basic rules. You need to wash your face at least twice during the day; do not rub vigorously with a towel in the eye area. Just blot them lightly.

If a teenager uses contact lenses to correct vision, he must carefully follow all the rules and regulations for storing and wearing optics. In some cases, doctors prescribe a children's remedy to protect the skin around the organ of vision. In properties it resembles the drug for adults “Blefarogel”.

Daily regime

To eliminate swelling and eliminate the risk of its occurrence, the child must adhere to a daily routine and sleep a certain number of hours during the day, depending on the age category:

• Children from three to five years old should sleep at least twelve hours a day,
• Children in the five to seven year old category need nine to ten hours of sleep.
• From eight to eighteen years of age, a child must rest at least eight hours at night.

Physical activity will help reduce the appearance of swelling. Try to walk more in the fresh air, ride a bike or enroll your son/daughter in a sports section.

Minimize the time spent near the TV or at the computer; this will not only eliminate the risk of bags under the eyes, but also maintain visual acuity.

Diseases

So why does a child have bags under his eyes? It should be borne in mind that if a symptom does not disappear for a week or more, then the reason for this may be due to:

• barley and conjunctivitis;
• kidney disease;
• heart failure;
• metabolic disorders;
• high intracranial pressure;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia;
• liver dysfunction;
• diabetes mellitus

If even after the listed symptoms, you still don’t know why your child has bags under his eyes, then the provoking factor may be viral pathologies of any organs and systems. In any case, you must consult a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms

Red bags occur after sleeping or crying. But this quickly disappears. If swelling under a child’s eyes does not go away, then this may be a symptom of diseases, each of which has other symptoms:

1. If swelling occurs suddenly, and the eyes are red and there is discharge from the nose, then this is a sign of an allergic reaction.
2. Edema, in which the inner corners of the eyes swell, is a confirmation of obstruction of the lacrimal canaliculi.
3. If, in addition to the bags, there are lumbar pains and headaches, as well as difficulties with urination, then this may be kidney disease. The bags under the eyes will then disappear after treatment of the disease.

Urgent consultation with a doctor is necessary if:

• swelling of other parts of the body;
• abdominal pain;
• fatigue;
• headaches;
• profuse lacrimation;
• sharp redness of the conjunctiva.

The causes and treatment of bags under the eyes in children may vary, so each situation requires an individual approach. Only a doctor can determine why this symptom appears. He will also prescribe an effective treatment method based on the baby’s condition.

Creams and gels for bags under the eyes

Not least among the means to combat swelling and circles under the eyes are special creams and gels. High-quality products will help eliminate bags under the eyes, quickly remove bruises, reduce wrinkles around the eyes, and improve skin condition. But, like other methods, they have some disadvantages:

• high price;
• These medications may not be suitable for everyone.

The best way to combat bags under the eyes are creams that contain hyaluronic acid, parsley extract, sage extract, collagen, elastin, and coffee. Gels for bags under the eyes often have a lifting effect. Therefore, they have age restrictions (they are not recommended for use under 25 years of age).

The most popular creams for bags under the eyes: Vichy, Advanced Line Advance Eyes, Eyecircle SKIN DOCTORS, Green Mama, Blueberry and Psyllium Seed Gel. Before using any cosmetic products, you should consult a cosmetologist.

After sleep

What are the reasons for bags under the eyes of a child after sleep? This occurs due to a violation of the regime, when there is a lack of sleep or sleep lasts longer than normal (12-14 hours). The appearance of bags is associated with inflammation of the eye tissue and disturbances in fluid exchange in the eyeball.

When sleep continues beyond the norm, which is 8 hours, edema is associated with a prolonged lack of emptying the bladder at night. This organ receives excess fluids, including waste from the stomach and excess intravascular fluid, which are removed through the kidneys. This process is continuous, and a small amount of fluid constantly enters the bladder. And with prolonged abstinence, the bladder becomes full - fluid does not leave the kidneys.

Then the fluids leave the kidneys into the surrounding tissues, which causes swelling, and not only under the eyes: in these cases, the arms and legs often swell. Another cause of bags under the eyes in a 1-year-old child is a lying position, in which there is a slowdown in vascular microcirculation in the lymphatic and venous systems of the facial epithelium. Therefore, fluid accumulates under the eyes.

Possible causes of swelling of the lower eyelids in a child

There are many reasons for the appearance of baggy eyelids in children of different ages. The still vulnerable child’s body can react in this way to various stimuli. The reasons for the formation of swelling under a child’s eyes can be external or internal, and the swelling itself can have a different shade and occur during certain periods of the child’s life.

External reasons

Such provocateurs include:

• disturbed sleep patterns in the child: late bedtime and early rise, lack of daytime sleep;
• whims of a child with crying and rubbing his eyes;
• a hereditary trait that occurs among members of the child’s family and is a morphological feature.

Internal reasons

It also happens that bags under a child’s eyes signal the development of some disease in the body. Parents need to be especially wary if the bags become dark, the eyes become watery and itchy, the temperature rises and headaches appear.

Frequent internal causes of swelling of the lower eyelids in a child are:

• thyroid diseases;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• heart diseases;
• jumping intracranial pressure;
• liver dysfunction;
• impaired renal function;
• allergies (to a new product, a new toy, etc.), Quincke's edema;
• conjunctivitis;
• ENT diseases.

Causes of swollen lower eyelids in infants

Newborns and children under one year of age have a slight sensitivity of the body to various external and internal factors. Bags under the eyes at this age are a common occurrence, the reasons for which may be the following:

• The child consumes large volumes of liquid and ingests a small percentage of protein. In a normal situation, there should be equal amounts of fluid and protein.
• Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid gland when the hormones it produces are produced in low concentrations. This deviation threatens not only swelling of the lower and upper eyelids of the baby, but also delays in its development (mental and psychological).
• Anemia (low hemoglobin).
• Jaundice.
• Reaction to a new formula, new complementary foods, or a new product in the mother’s diet (if breastfeeding).
• Disorders during intrauterine development.
• Severe viral diseases (for example, viral bronchitis).
• Jumps in intracranial pressure.

Swelling under the eyes may appear when the child is crying heavily, but this is not evidence of a health problem. In any case, contacting a pediatrician is a necessary measure for swelling of the lower eyelids in newborns.

Causes of puffiness under the eyes after sleep

Observant parents may notice swelling under the child's eyes immediately after waking up. This phenomenon may not be constant, but repeats from time to time. The following factors can cause swelling of a child’s eyelids after sleep:

• At night, the child drank a lot of liquid or ate salty food.
• Watching television programs for a long time, playing computer games, communicating on social networks before bed.
• Going to bed before bed was accompanied by hysterics with screams and tears, which made the eyes red and swollen after waking up.
• Late bedtime of the child and constant early awakenings, that is, disturbed sleep patterns. In children under 3 years of age, bags under the eyes are caused by lack of daytime sleep.
• Incorrect position of the child’s body during sleep, which can be caused not only by active tossing and turning during sleep, but also by an uncomfortable pillow and/or mattress.
• Unbalanced diet low in vitamins and minerals. During sleep, beneficial components are not absorbed (due to their absence), which is the cause of swelling of the eyelids.

Red bags under the eyes

Swelling of a child's eyelids may be accompanied by a change in color. If the swelling of the lower eyelids has a red tint, then its causes are:

• an infection that has entered the body, which also provokes fever and eating disorders;
• inflammation of the tonsils, if, in addition to swelling of the eyelids, difficulty breathing is added;
• in infants this may be caused by teething or colic;
• in older children this may be due to dental diseases;
• eye diseases;
• parasitic organisms in the child’s body, for example, helminths;
• vegetative-vascular dystonia, if in addition to bags under the eyes the child experiences headaches, drowsiness, lethargy, and pale skin.

Blue bags under the eyes

Swelling of the upper and lower eyelids may take on a blue or gray tint. The reasons for this color are:

• anemia in children under one year of age;
• disorders in the endocrine system, accompanied by weight loss and frequent moodiness;
• diseases of the respiratory system: sinusitis, sinusitis, proliferation of adenoids;
• kidney pathologies;
• progression of roundworm parasitism;
• metabolic disorders in the body;
• poisoning of a child due to liver dysfunction.

Whatever the nature of the bags under the eyes, they themselves do not harm the child’s health if their appearance does not entail symptoms of any diseases.

Diagnostics

The first test to determine the cause of swelling is carried out by parents. You can easily determine the presence of swelling on the face, since it is noticeable. If there is such a symptom on the limbs, you need to apply a little pressure on the child’s arm or leg. If the mark remains for a long time, then the problem probably has deeper roots.

If, after examination by a doctor, inflammation of the genitourinary system is determined, then a urine test is required, as well as an ultrasound examination of the kidneys and urinary tract. If there is a risk of allergies, a biochemical blood test and an allergy test are prescribed.

How to eliminate this symptom?

The causes and treatment of bags under the eyes are interrelated. This is why it is important to see a doctor. Symptomatic treatment of this disorder is excluded. It is important to get rid of the root cause of swelling:

1. If the symptom is associated with a sleep disorder, it needs to be restored. If necessary, daytime sleep time is added or increased. You also need to go for walks at the same time every day. This restores metabolism in the body.
2. If swelling from allergies occurs, interaction with the allergen should be limited. If this cannot be done (for example, if there is no possibility of contact with pollen during flowering plants), then antihistamine therapy is necessary.
3. During an examination of the child by a pediatrician, additional diagnostics may be prescribed by certain specialists: urologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist. This is required for diagnostics to identify pathologies of internal organs.

If bags occur in infants and small children in the morning, then it is necessary to limit the consumption of drinks and food before bed. It is important that your last meal is at least 3 hours before bedtime to prevent bags from appearing.

Fluid restriction

Doctors usually advise limiting fluids. When breastfeeding, you should not abuse water, since a lot of liquid comes with mother's milk. If the nutrition is artificial, then the daily norm should not be more than 50 ml up to six months and 200 ml at one year of age.

At 2 years of age, the daily water requirement increases to 500 ml. At 3-4 years of age, it is recommended to drink no more than 1.3 liters of liquid. And at 7-8 years old, if there is edema, fluid restriction to 1.7 liters is required.

Proper nutrition

It must be balanced. But for swelling, the doctor prescribes a low-salt diet. It will not be possible to completely remove salt from a child’s diet, since it is considered an important component of metabolism, as well as a catalyst in the creation of digestive enzymes.

Parents should not feed schoolchildren:

• smoked cheeses, sausages, meat;
• pickled vegetables and pickles;
• canned fish and meat;
• semi-finished products - dumplings, cutlets.

In case of allergic swelling, these products are excluded from the diet. Proper nutrition is important for a child's well-being.

Treatment of conjunctivitis

Often, due to allergies or the penetration of bacteria into the membrane of the eye, a child develops conjunctivitis and bags under the eyes. Only an ophthalmologist can determine this. If your child’s eyes are red or there are bags, then you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Treatment of eyes in newborns is performed after establishing the nature of conjunctivitis:

1. For bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed: “Furacilin”, “Oletetrin ointment”.
2. For allergies, hormonal and antihistamine medications are needed.
3. For chlamydia, tetracycline medications are effective.

Treatment methods

Treatment depends on what caused the problem. If swelling is caused by allergies, then antihistamines are prescribed, mainly the latest generations of Tavegil or Cetrin.

For kidney problems, the treatment regimen is determined by a nephrologist. Mild diuretics are often prescribed, and sometimes antimicrobials are also necessary. During treatment, the patient often undergoes urine tests for monitoring.

If swelling under the eyes is caused by infections of the ENT organs, then the root cause should initially be eliminated. For sinusitis, nasal rinses and antibiotics are prescribed. In especially severe cases, it is necessary to pierce the nasal bone, remove purulent contents and rinse the cavity with an antiseptic solution.

If swelling under the eyes is caused by external factors, then various lotions will help eliminate them:

1. Take slices of fresh cucumber and apply them to the lower eyelids for 15 minutes. You can grate the cucumber, wrap the pulp in gauze and apply it to your eyes.
2. Chamomile decoction helps a lot. It eliminates swelling and inflammation of tissues. The herb is brewed at the rate of a tablespoon of plant material per glass of water.
3. Warm tea bags are applied to the baby's eyes for a few minutes. You can soak pieces of gauze in strong tea leaves and apply them to your eyelids.

The eyes of a newborn baby should be wiped with boiled water or chamomile decoction several times a day. For each eye, take a separate cotton pad. Wipe the visual organs from the outer corner to the inner one; if necessary, replace the cotton wool with clean one.

If the problem is related to diseases of the cardiovascular system, the child should receive treatment under the supervision of a cardiologist. In some cases, hospitalization of the patient is necessary.

Treatment of intracranial pressure

The eyes of newborns are pasty due to high intracranial pressure. In addition to bags under the eyes, squint, headaches, weakness, and irritability develop. This is treated with:

• sedatives and diuretics;
• electrophoresis;
• massage;
• swimming in the pool;
• vitamins

Usually, doctors recommend long-term breastfeeding for this phenomenon. After all, breast milk is not only food, but also a cure for many ailments. Such feeding should continue for at least six months. With high intracranial pressure of an anatomical nature, surgery is likely to be prescribed. This resumes the flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain.

Concealers for bags under the eyes

Bags and circles under the eyes bother not only women, but also men. On the cosmetics market you can find effective drugs that can be used by both sexes.

• Concealer is a corrective suspension. It can have a variety of consistency and shades. It comes in the form of felt-tip pens and is similar in mechanism of action.
• Correctors have a consistency similar to liquid powder.
• Phytocorrectors are a suspension with herbal extracts that have a therapeutic effect with a cooling effect.
• Concealing pencil - can have different consistencies (concealer pencils, corrector pencils, regular ones) and shades.
• Cosmetic patches are a gel compress that has a double effect. You simultaneously inhale the beneficial substances contained in its composition, and medicinal components penetrate into the skin in the eye area, which eliminate bags and dark circles.
• Foundations vary in purpose for different skin types, consistency and composition. Best used for dry facial skin.
• Powders have differences in composition and consistency. This product is best used if you have oily skin.

Treatment of hormonal imbalances

The eyes of newborns are swollen due to hormonal imbalances. Swelling may be a sign of diabetes mellitus or an enlarged thyroid gland. An endocrinologist can diagnose these ailments. After the tests, hormone treatment is prescribed.

In case of hormonal diseases, it is important for parents to monitor the child’s diet, sleep, and physical activity. In any situation, you should remember that bags under the eyes are a symptom. With parental care and timely treatment, serious illnesses can be prevented.

Treatment of circles and bags under the eyes in children

If the bags under the eyes of a child are a consequence of diseases of the internal organs, then only a doctor can prescribe treatment. In other cases, parents should monitor the baby’s daily routine, his diet and the amount of fluid he drinks.

Norms of fluid intake at different ages:

• up to 7 days – 50-100 ml per kg of body weight;
• up to 6 months – 140 ml per kg of body weight;
• up to one year – 120 ml per kg of body weight;
• from 1 year to 3 years – 100 ml per kg of body weight;
• from 3 to 6 years – 90-100 ml per kg of body weight;
• from 6 to 10 years – 70-80 ml per kg of body weight;
• after 10 years, the norm, as in adults, is 50 ml per kg of body weight.

It is important that the child’s diet is complete and balanced: it should include protein-rich foods, vegetables, and fruits. For children of any age, a meal schedule is necessary; it is as important as a sleep schedule.

Prevention

To prevent red and blue bags from appearing under your child’s eyes, you need to:

• restore day and sleep patterns;
• ensure optimal temperature in the room;
• do not drink liquids before bedtime;
• Avoid contact with allergens.

Thanks to these preventive measures, the occurrence of this symptom is excluded. When red, blue or black circles appear under a child’s eyes, the cause needs to be identified. Timely treatment will prevent complications.

Dark circles under the eyes

Perhaps there are some domestic reasons, and there is no disease.

If your child has blue under the eyes, they may need to be raised a little more gently. The child must get a lot of sleep. Minimum 8 hours a day. But your particular child may not have enough of these hours, and his norm is 10 hours of sleep.

He must receive a sufficient amount of vitamins, and be sure to spend a lot of time in the fresh air. Then, these circles under the eyes will gradually decrease and, sometimes, especially in summer, even disappear. They disappear especially easily if the child feels comfortable, bathes and rests a lot, and also works a little. When in a good mood, he doesn’t cry or sulk.

If the child is not in a very good mood, if the child suffers viral infections over and over again, these circles will then increase, and this, of course, will worry the parents. And this child must be consulted by a neurologist.

As a rule, he prescribes light soothing procedures, such as sea salt baths, soothing herbal infusions, and motherwort tincture. The child should engage in health procedures to strengthen the immune system and increase the body's resistance.

When a child gets healthy and hardens, especially together with his parents, there will be fewer circles under the eyes, there will be less anxiety, the child will be healthy and the parents will be happy.