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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffBags under eyes can include:
- Mild swelling
- Saggy or loose skin
- Dark circles
When to see a doctor
You may not like the way they look, but bags under eyes are usually harmless and don't require medical care. However, see your doctor if the swelling:
- Is severe and persistent
- Is accompanied by redness, itching or pain
- Affects other parts of your body, such as your legs
Your doctor will want to rule out other possible causes that can contribute to the swelling, such as kidney or thyroid problems, infection, or an allergy.
- Tsai LM, et al. The eye and ocular adnexa. In: Doherty GM, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2066221. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Golberg RJ, et al. What causes eyelid bags? Analysis of 114 consecutive patients. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2005;115:1395.
- Narins R, et al. Ask the experts: Why do bags form below our eyes? Scientific American. 2005;292:106.
- Understanding blepharoplasty. American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. http://www.aafprs.org/patient/procedures/shareable/s_blepharoplasty.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- In brief: Your guide to healthy sleep. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthysleepfs.pdf. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Dana MR. Allergic conjunctivitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 30, 2009.
- Gibson LE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 12, 2009.
