Swollen eyes from crying can prevent you from going out doors and leave you with an unpleasant look on your face. While a gel eye mask or under eye patches can help reduce swelling, often we won’t have one on hand when occasion calls for it. Here is how to get rid of red face, swollen, puffy, eyes after crying fast at home. It is also good to note that if swollen eyes persist even after trying any of the below steps, seek medical advice since it may be an infection that was triggered when rubbing your eyes while crying.
Why do my eyes swell whenever I cry? You often get swollen eyes from crying because your nervous system increases blood flow to the blood vessels on your face and especially around your eyes. The eyes are also made of fine tissues that are capable of absorbing your tears making your eyes look saggy, dark and feel sore.
There is no way you can prevent yourself from crying when moved by emotions. Although, drinking plenty of water keeps your body well hydrated so that your eyes do not swell much whenever you cry.
How to Get Rid of Swollen Eyes from Crying using Simple Home Remedies
According to Livestrong, “Going to sleep immediately after crying can cause the eyes to further retain water because the eyes are not blinking or moving water out. If you do sleep, place a pillow–or several pillows–under your head as a means to better allow water to move from the face and head.”
The following are some easy tips you can use at home to better your situation of swollen eyes from crying. Some of these remedies used to make swollen eyelid go down are instant while others may work overnight.
1. Cold Spoon
The cooling effect from the cold spoon relaxes your blood vessels and tightens the skin around your eyes making the swelling reduce instantly.
Requirements:
- 4 table spoons
- Ice cubes
- A jug
What to do:
- Place several ice cubes in a jug
- Immerse 4 table spoons into the ice cubes
- Ensure that the round ends are fully immersed in the ice cubes
- Remove two of the table spoons from the jug of ice cubes after 5 minutes
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Place them over each eye on the upper and lower eyelid until the spoons start getting warm
- When they get warm, immerse them again into the ice cubes and take out the other pair of spoons
- Place them over each eye until they get warm
- Keep switching these spoons at intervals until you feel better
- Repeat the process as often as you wish
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
2. Used Tea Bags
Tea bags have got anti-inflammatory agents which are ideal for decreasing the size of your swollen eyes from crying.
Requirements:
- 2 used tea bags
- Ice cubes
- A jug
- Clean water
- A clean piece of cloth
What to do at home:
- Place several ice cubes in a jug
- Fully immerse 2 used teabags into the ice cubes
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Remove the used tea bags from the jug of ice cubes after 5 minutes
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Place them over each eye on the upper and lower eyelid until the tea bags start getting warm
- When they get warm immerse them again into the ice cubes for 5 minutes
- Remove and place them on each eye until they get warm
- Repeat the process until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the content of the used tea bags enter your eyes
- If they do, splash your eyes with plenty of water
3. Cucumber
Cucumbers are able to cause contraction of body tissues so it will make the skin around your eyes tight and reduce the puffiness of swollen eyes from crying. It also has a cooling effect that will cool your eyes and make swollen eyelid go down.
Requirements:
- Cucumber
- Ice cubes
- A jug
- A knife
- Clean water
- A clean piece of cloth
How to use it:
- Wash the back cover of the cucumber using plenty of running water
- Cut the cucumber into thick slices
- Place several ice cubes in a jug
- Fully immerse the cucumber slices into the ice cubes
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Remove the cucumber slices from the jug of ice cubes after 5 minutes
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Place them over each eye on the upper and lower eyelid until the they start getting warm
- When they get warm immerse them again into the ice cubes for 5 minutes
- Remove and place them over each eye on the upper and lower eyelid until they get warm
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the cucumber juices enter your eyes
- If they do, splash your eyes with plenty of water
4. Egg White
The white part of an egg is capable of tightening the skin around your eye and eventually gets rid of the swelling. Witch hazel is mixed with the egg white as a supplement because it also helps in tightening the soft skin around your eye. Tightening of the skin will ease swollen eyes from crying.
What you need:
- 2 Eggs
- A bowl
- Witch hazel
- Clean water
- A clean piece of cloth
What to do:
- Break 2 eggs as you collect the content into a bowl
- Carefully separate the white part of the eggs from yolks
- Beat the white part of the eggs until it turns into a stiff consistency
- Add a few witch hazel to it and mix
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Apply the mixture under your swollen eyes
- Let it settle for 15 minutes
- Rinse it off with plenty of water
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the mixture enter your eyes
- If it gets in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
5. Potato
Potatoes are a source of starch. Starch is an anti-inflammatory agent so it will help in relaxing your swollen eyes from crying. Starch is also capable of getting rid of the dark circles around the eye.
Requirements:
- A potato
- A knife
- A grater
- A clean piece of cloth
- Clean water
What to do:
- Wash the back cover of the potato using plenty of running water
- Peel off the back of the back of the potato
- Wash it again and dry it using a clean piece of cloth
- Grate the potato
- Place the grated potato shavings on s clean please of cloth and tie it up firmly
- Lie down with your head elevated
- Close your eyes and place the piece of cloth with the potato shavings over your eye on the upper and lower eyelid
- Let it settle for 10 minutes
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until the swelling reduces.
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the potato juices enter your eyes
- If they get in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
6. Cold Water
If you are not able to access ice cubes you may use cold water as a remedy for swollen eyes from crying. Cold water will contract your blood vessels and reduce the swelling.
Requirements:
- Clean water
What to do:
- Wash your eyes with cold water as often as you can until the swelling reduces
- After you wash your eyes lie down with your head elevated and relax
- Do it at intervals of 20 minutes
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
7. Salty Water
Salt uses the process of osmosis to absorb the fluid around the eye that is making it swell.
Requirements:
- Clean water
- Salt
- A cotton ball
What to do:
- Warm the water and pour it in a cup
- Add 2 pinches of salt to the water and stir until the salt completely dissolves
- Soak a ball of cotton with this salty water
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Place the soaked ball of cotton under your eyes for 5 minutes
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the salty water enter your eyes
- If it gets in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
8. Strawberries
Strawberries contain alpha hydroxyl acid that is able to reduce the bags around the eyes by tightening the skin and reducing the baggy look of swollen eyes from crying.
Below is what you need:
- Strawberries
- Ice cubes
- A jug
- A knife
- Clean water
- A clean piece of cloth
How to use it:
- Wash the back cover of the strawberries using plenty of running water
- Place several ice cubes in a jug
- Fully immerse the strawberries into the ice cubes
- Remove the strawberries from the jug of ice cubes after 10 minutes
- Peel off their back covers and cut them into thick slices
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Place the thick slices over your eyes on the upper and lower eyelid for 5 minutes
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let strawberry juices enter your eyes
- If they get in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
9. Aloe Vera
Natural fresh Aloe Vera is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants that are efficient in reducing the size of the swollen eyes from crying. They tighten the skin, improve blood flow and get rid of the dark circles around the eye. You can use Aloe Vera products or extract the gel at home.
Requirements:
Aloe Vera leaves
A sharp knife
A mixer/ blender
A bowl for collecting the gel
A clean piece of cloth
Clean water
What to do:
- Take two pieces of aloe Vera leaves and cut them on both ends. Use a knife to take out the upper green layer from the leaf in order to expose the thick aloe Vera gel in the leaves.
- In case you find any yellow liquid on the leaf, rinse it out with clean water.
- Peel off the green back of the leaf.
- The clear thick gel that is left is the aloe Vera gel.
- Cut the gel into small pieces and blend the gel into a liquid form.
- Collect the gel in a bowl
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Lie down with your head elevated
- Close your eyes and apply the Aloe Vera gel directly around your eyes in circular motion.
- Let it dry
- Do not let the aloe Vera enter your eyes
- If it gets in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
10. Massage
Massaging the area around your nose will reduce sinus pressure and eventually reduce the swelling by improving blood flow.
Requirements:
- Massage oil
What to do:
- Pour a drop of massage oil on your hands
- Apply it on your nose
- Close your eyes
- Massage your nose gently focusing on the bridge of your nose and the area where the specs usually rest.
- After you are done with the massage lie down with your head elevated and relax
- You may also download YouTube videos or pictures from the internet that demonstrate on how to conduct a proper massage around your nose in order to relieve sinus pressure.
11. Milk
Milk is able to reduce the swelling as well as clear the dark circles around your eyes.
What you will need:
- Milk
- A cotton ball
- A clean piece of cloth
- Clean water
How to use it:
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Pour a small amount of milk into a cup
- Soak a ball of cotton with the milk
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Place the soaked ball of cotton under your eyes for 5 minutes
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the milk enter your eyes
- If it gets in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
12. Honey
Honey works as a remedy for swollen eyes from crying using a similar concept as salt. It uses the process of osmosis to absorb the fluid around the eye that is making it swell and soothe the pain.
Requirements:
- Honey
- A cotton ball
- Clean water
- A clean piece of cloth
What to do:
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Scoop a few spoons of honey into a cup
- Soak a ball of cotton with the honey
- Lie down with your head elevated and close your eyes
- Place the soaked ball of cotton under your eyes for 5 minutes
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the honey enter your eyes
- If it gets in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
13. Rose water
Rose water is widely known for its anti-aging properties. It capable of tightening the skin around your eyes hence relieves swollen eyes from crying. Since it is also used as a skin toner, it will clear the dark circles around your eyes.
You will need the following:
- Rose water
- A cotton ball
- A clean piece of cloth
- Clean water
How to use it to relieve swollen eyes from crying:
- Wash your eyes with clean water and pat them dry using a clean piece of cloth
- Pour a small amount of rose water into a cup
- Soak a ball of cotton with the rose water
- Lie with your head elevated down and close your eyes
- Place the soaked ball of cotton under your eyes for 5 minutes
- Repeat the process as many times as you wish until you feel better
- Your eyes will relax and the swelling will reduce
- Do not let the rose water enter your eyes
- If it gets in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
14. Make up
Although it is a fast and easy remedy for swollen eyes from crying, it is not a good idea at all and it should be your last resort. You may need to go out and you don’t want people to notice that you were crying. You can use make up like a concealer that matches your skin tone to quickly fix the dark circles around your eyes and hide the puffiness.
Requirements:
- A concealer
What to do:
- Stand in front of a mirror
- Apply a concealer that matches your skin tone around your eyes to hide the dark circles
- Do not let the concealer get into your eyes
- If it gets in, splash your eyes with plenty of water
Here is a video on what to do to get rid of swollen eyes from crying
