I've been on the cpap for a month I still get bags under my eyes and till sleepy in the morning.
Answer
Dear Sandra,
I will give you some helpful tips to prevent and treat these bags under your eyes. The puffy eyes are caused by CPAP, but doctors have some difficulties to explain how CPAP therapy can cause the bags under your eyes.
Unfortunately, you didn't tell me more details about your type of cpap mask, or if you have leaks or not, or if the sleep apnea episodes are much better than before, so I would write different causes that may provoke the puffy eyes.
Causes of puffy eyes
wrong adjustment of the full face mask - if you have a cpap full face mask, this mask can push on your cheeks right under your eyes, and your nose right beside your eyes.
cpap mask leaks - sometimes, when the mask is wrong fitted or when you move in sleep, tiny leaks of air get into the eyes, instead of entering into your mouth and/or nose.
if the exhaust air is flowing into your eyes, it can dry them out and causing the swelling. Do not block the vents, because the CO2 is released through them!
cpap mask too tight - if the mask is too tight, the pressure from the mask on your face can cause puffy eyes. In general, is not a good idea to tighten the cpap mask to improve the leaks.
some patients with sleep apnea and puffy eyes from cpap have problems with the tear ducts, sinuses and eyelids. The air that enters in the airways, could also enter through these ducts to the eyes. If the air from the cpap machine is also humidified, the liquid may accumulate under the skin around the eyes.
Treatments for puffy eyes
In puffy eyes treatment, patience is paramount. It takes the body a period of time to get used to cpap, and many problems may appear when people first start out the cpap therapy for sleep apnea.
By the time you get the mask you like and get it adjusted perfectly, these problems will go away or they will get much better.
Also, to treat the bags under the eyes, you need any help you can get. Everything works a little; however, nothing is complete. Let's try the homeopathic treatments first:
a big help for puffy eyes: put a metal spoon - any size - in the freezer for a few minutes. Then take the cold spoon and just place it over the baggy eye, for a few seconds.
Continue moving the spoon around, touching the baggy areas for just another few seconds, until the spoon is not cold anymore.
Tip: try this method only with on one eye, then look in the mirror!
There are some cosmetic products to treat bags under the eyes and puffy eyes. Part of the key of their effectiveness is that they have a chilling effect. Olay Eye Serum works pretty well, is inexpensive and is not greasy.
Cucumber works very well in some cases. Try to experiment, and put a cucumber slice on one eye and wait a little. Then look in the mirror and see the difference.
If you have a full face mask, and the mask has a higher pressure on your face, because it's tight, or due to the higher strap pressure, try to experiment other masks, mainly nasal pillows or nasal masks such as Activa nasal mask.
Due to the pressure on the forehead and around the nose, the lymph nodes - which are attempting to drain at night - remain blocked. This is a possible cause for the bags under the eyes and puffy eyelids, and can be prevent with ComfortLite 2.
works pretty well, is inexpensive and is not greasy.
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