My daughter has 'panda eyes' with puffy eyebags. She tries to catch up with more sleep and exercise during the holidays but they don't seem to help. Is it due to water retention? Should she avoid drinking water in the late nights?

"It's common to have under-eye circles: Nine out of 10 people have them to some degree," says Frederic Brandt, M.D., a dermatologist with offices in Miami and New York City.

The skin under the eyes is the thinnest on the body. The many blood vessels in this area can show through the delicate skin, contributing to the appearance of dark under-eye circles, especially if the vessels become dilated.

Dark circles can be caused by several factors:

• Genetics: Darkness under the eyes runs in families and is more prominent on fair skin.
• Lack of sleep: Poor-quality sleep causes blood vessels to become more visible through the skin.
• Sun exposure can trigger "age spots" around the eyes and weaken the skin, which can contribute to dark circles.
• Increased fluid retention: The blood vessels under the eyes can become engorged and dilated (dietary salt and smoking are common causes).
• Aging causes the fat pad below the eye to thin, producing a sunken appearance.
• Extreme weight loss also can cause this sunken look.

To reduce the appearance of dark circles:

• Get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. Sleep with your head slightly elevated (when you're lying flat, gravity causes fluid to collect in your lower eyelids, which may create shadows).
• Moisturize the area with an eye cream containing nourishing antioxidants that help protect the skin, such as green-tea and grapeseed extracts, and vitamins C, E and K.
• Cover up with a yellow-based concealer.
• See a dermatologist. He or she can tell you if engorged blood vessels are the culprit
  

[Source: Diminish dark circles: what causes those persistent
under-eye shadows – and simple tips on how to minimize them,
Shape, March 5, 2005 by Jody Buffalo]

"..buildup of fluid, undereye bags often signal that you're not getting the requisite seven to nine hours of sleep a night",
according to Lauri Aesoph, a naturopathic physician and the author of Your Natural Health Makeover (Prentice Hall Press, 1998).
Sleep is when your body rejuvenates. Blood flow and circulation increase, eliminating waste and delivering vital nutrients, like oxygen,
to your skin. If you're getting plenty of shut-eye and still have puffy eyes, the culprit may be allergies, too much salt in your diet,
poor circulation, hormonal changes, hereditary factors or simply the aging process.

For an at-home "anti-puff" remedy, Haven owners Audra Senkus and Gabrielle Ophals suggest applying a cold compress of rosemary tea to increase circulation, which helps reduce swelling around the eyes. Make tea by bringing a half cup of fresh rosemary and a quart of water to a boil. Steep for 20 minutes, then strain and chill. Soak a washcloth in the tea, ring out extra liquid anal place over eyes for 15 to 20 minutes, once a day, as needed.

Another circulation-boosting treatment is acupressure. Pratima Raichur, a naturopathic physician and the author of Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda (HarperCollins, 1997), recommends this easy exercise that you can also do every day. Close your eyes and gently press your ring finger underneath one eye, moving from the inside corner to the outside corner. Do this 10 to 15 times. Then repeat on the other eye.

To minimize the appearance of bags, plump up skin with moisturizer. New York City-based holistic beauty expert Kat James advises using one that contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects skin cells from damage and supports collagen production; licorice (or fennel) extract, an anti-inflammatory; and stabilized oxygen, a form of hydrogen peroxide that promotes circulation."
[Source: Looking Good - eye care
Vegetarian Times, Sept, 1999, by Paula Hunt]

Note: These resources are for general informational purposes. Health information and remedies should always be carefully reviewed with your health care provider.

Here are other related information from some of the books at the libraries:

• Title: American Medical Association family medical guide by American Medical Association

Call no: 613 AME [HEA]

• Title: Eye care sourcebook by Amy L. Sutton

Call no: 617.7 EYE [HEA]

• Title: Secrets of the beauty insiders by Nada Guirgis Manley

Call no: 646.726 MAN

• Title: Visual ergonomics handbook by Jeffrey Anshel

Call no: 617.7 VIS