The Battle for Bloating: 5 Causes of Puffy Skin

We've all had this morning: wake up, look in the mirror and notice a slightly puffier face than usual. Was it an allergy? Alcohol? Yesterday's dinner? As it turns out, bloating can be the result of any (or all) of the above. Here are five common causes of puffy skin.

Excess salt

Move away from the salt shaker. A diet high in sodium is one of the main causes of bloating.alt makes our bodies hold onto water and, in turn, bloating. This is especially true for the thin skin around the eyes.

Lack of sleep

Pull all night? Chances are you wake up with more puffy skin. When we sleep, our body distributes the water that accumulates throughout the day. Lack of sleep takes away some of the time to rejuvenate, which can lead to a concentrated accumulation of fluid, causing bloating of the skin.

Alcohol

You might want to rethink this evening cocktail. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, which leads to a redistribution of fluid. This causes, you guessed it, swollen skin. Like other forms of fluid retention, this is especially noticeable in the thin skin around the eyes. 

Tears

Every once in a while you just need to have a good cry. But after we've "pulled it all out", we're often left with swollen eyes and skin. Fortunately, the effect is temporary and lasts from a few minutes to several hours.

Allergies

Your swollen skin may be trying to tell you something. According to American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and ImmunologyWhen our skin comes into direct contact with something we are allergic to, it can swell at the point of contact.