We have all woken up with puffed-up faces and swollen eyes.

Several reasons might be behind it, ranging from lack of sleep to allergies or even inheritance.

But what we often miss is a good outburst of emotions.

It is nearly impossible to have a good cry without signs like swollen red eyes and a runny nose that rat you out.

Cold compress and makeup are something we have all tried after an intense crying session.

But have you ever wondered why crying leaves your eyes swollen?

Here, in this article, we will reveal why you get puffy eyes from crying.

Types of tears

The lacrimal glands are responsible for the production of tears.

When they produce small amounts of tears, they coat your eyes with every blink.

The excess is drained through the puncta into the nose.

Your eyes produce the following three types of tears. 

Good to Know
Tears aren’t just saline. Each tear has three layers:

  • Inner mucus layer
  • Middle water layer
  • Outer oily layer
  • Basal tears

    They are functional tears. They keep your eyes lubricated.

    Basal tears also protect the cornea and keep away dirt and debris.

    They are regularly produced by the eyes but hardly overflow.

    Reflex tears

    When a potential irritant enters the eyes, they produce reflex tears as an additional protective measure against the stimulus.

    These potential irritants could be smoke, dirt, onion scents, etc.

    They are often made in more significant amounts to flush out whatever has gotten inside the eyes.

    Reflex tears contain antibodies to help fight bacteria.

    Emotional/psychogenic tears

    Emotional Tears
    emotional tears

    Emotional tears are a response to strong feelings.

    These could be emotions of physical pain, attachment, empathy, compassion, or exhaustion.

    Their composition is slightly different from basal and reflex tears.

    They have a higher concentration of protein.

    The protein makes them thicker, making them flow more slowly.

    Emotional tears also contain higher levels of stress hormones.

    This suggests that crying could help relieve stress.

    Why do my eyes get puffy after crying?

    puffy eyes
    puffy eyes

    Your lacrimal glands get overwhelmed whenever you cry a river.

    Tears that usually evaporate or flow into the nose spill out instead.

    This is when the swelling begins.

    Following are the principles that explain the reason behind this puffiness.

    Osmosis

    Tears have a more significant water content and lesser salt than the fluid in your cells.

    Therefore, water from your tears flows through a semipermeable membrane to get into the tissue around your eyes.

    This is because of the process called Osmosis.

    In this process, water flows from a solution with a higher water concentration to that of a lower water concentration.

    This balances out the amount of salt on each side.

    All this causes the eyes to appear puffy.

    The puffiness is aggravated when you rub your eyes when you cry.

    Dilation of blood vessels

    The dilation of vessels also contributes to swelling around the eyes.

    When you are producing large amounts of tears, the blood vessels near the eyes dilate to increase blood flow.

    “The salt in tears leads to water retention and swelling around our eyes. More blood is also flowing to the whole facial region, causing a strained, red, puffy face.”

    Marie Hayag, M.D

    This increased blood flow to the facial area makes the eyes and face puffy and red.

    Also Read: Read the article How to Get Rid of Puffy Eyes from Crying: A Comprehensive Guide

    How long does it last

    Swollen or puffy eyes from crying are common.

    Usually, it lasts for about a day, after which the puffiness automatically settles down.

    If not, you can use a cold compress or other treatment options to reduce the swelling faster.

    In case the swelling does not subside even after 24-48 hours, see your doctor.

    Takeaway

    Puffy eyes are a common sign of allergies, inflammation, irritation, etc.

    But it is also very common to get puffy eyes from crying, excessive rubbing of the eyes, or lack of sleep.

    They result from the deposition of excess fluid in the soft tissues that surround the eyes.

    Dilation of the facial nerves leading to an increased blood flow, also adds to the puffiness.

    It usually goes away on its own, but a cold compress never hurts.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why do my eyes get puffy when I cry?

    Your tears have a higher water concentration and lesser salt than the cells around the eyes. When you cry, the tears sit around the eyes, and the tissues absorb the water through Osmosis. Also, blood vessels dilate when you rub the eyes. This makes them look puffy.

    Will puffy eyes from crying go away overnight?

    Puffy eyes don’t usually last for a very long time. It settles down within a day. You can use a cold compress or other treatment measures to expedite the process. See your doctor if it doesn’t go away in 24-48 hours.

    Can crying cause puffy eyes?

    Yes, crying can cause puffy eyes. When you cry, the skin around your eyes absorbs the water content of the tears through osmosis. This absorption causes the eyes to look swollen and puffy.

    Citations:
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