Tea Bags for Eyes: Benefits, How to Use, Tea Types, Risks, and More – Healthline

What are the benefits of using tea bags on the eyes?
Using tea bags on your eyes is a popular home remedy. Tea bags may help to improve the appearance of your eyes by reducing dark circles, puffiness, and redness. They may also help to treat irritation, styes, and pink eye.
Tea bags are an affordable, natural option that you can easily try at home. Placing them on your eyes gives you the chance to rest and unwind. Do the treatment several times per day until your symptoms have abated.
Steep two bags of tea as you would normally if you were going to drink the tea. Then squeeze out the excess liquid from the bags. Allow them to cool down so they’re warm, or chill them in the refrigerator for 10 to 20 minutes. Apply the tea bags to closed eyes for 15 to 30 minutes.
You may use your fingertips to apply gentle pressure to your eyes or gently massage the area around your eyes. If you’re using chilled bags, try covering them with slices of cool cucumber for added relief. A restorative yoga pose could help you relax from the stresses of your day while you’re doing your tea bag treatment.
There are several types of tea that can be used to treat eye concerns. It’s best to use organic tea when possible to avoid any chemicals.
Black, white, and green tea contain caffeine and antioxidants that may help to treat eye concerns.
Herbal teas are calming and soothing. They may help to reduce inflammation, puffiness, and irritation.
Popular herbal teas used to treat eye conditions include:
Continue reading to find out how to treat specific eye concerns with tea bags.
The caffeine in black and green teas has a positive effect on puffy, swollen eyes and can help to keep skin taut. Caffeine constricts the blood vessels within this sensitive tissue. This aids in reducing puffiness and inflammation.
Black and green teas also contain antioxidants called flavonoids and tannins that have an anti-inflammatory effect. The tannins can help to tighten the skin and draw out fluid to further alleviate any puffiness. Green tea may be slightly more effective due to its higher flavonoid content. Use black or green tea bags as a cold compress to treat bags under the eyes.
Other teas that have been shown to reduce inflammation include:
Rooibos and green tea may also be useful in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Calendula, chamomile, and fennel tea are used to relieve symptoms of pink eye, though there is limited scientific evidence to support the use of these teas for the treatment of this condition. These teas may help to remove excess fluid that is draining from your eye. They can also relieve swelling and irritation.
Eyebright tea can be used to relieve inflammation. It has antimicrobial properties to help ward off bacteria and may help to boost immunity. Green tea can also effectively reduce inflammation.
Apply cold black or green tea bags to your eyes to reduce the appearance of dark circles. The caffeine may help to narrow the blood vessels around your eye and constrict blood flow.
Black tea is useful in treating styes due to its high tannin content. Its antibacterial and analgesic properties help to reduce swelling and irritation.
Chamomile may be used to soothe and heal irritated skin, though there is limited scientific evidence on the use of chamomile tea for skin health.
The anti-inflammatory properties of lavender, chamomile, and green tea may be helpful in alleviating symptoms of rosacea. These teas can soothe the skin, and reduce redness and irritation.
You can put the tea bags on other parts of your face in addition to your eyes. Take care to ensure the tea treatment doesn’t cause any additional irritation, however.
Chamomile, rooibos, and green tea can be effective in treating and refreshing sore or red eyes. The anti-inflammatory properties of these teas may help to reduce any swelling or inflammation that accompanies irritated eyes.
Use warm black, eyebright, or lavender tea bags on your eyes to help retain moisture and alleviate dryness. The soothing properties of these teas can relieve any irritation or sensitivities you may be experiencing.
If you have a black eye, you can use black or green tea to reduce inflammation. The tannins can reduce swelling and bruising. They may also help to control internal bleeding. Lavender and chamomile may be helpful in soothing any irritated skin, and providing pain relief.
Always be cautious when using tea bags on your eyes since the area is very sensitive. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
If your symptoms are severe or they don’t improve within a few days, see a doctor. If you’re experiencing any irritation or discomfort in your eyes it’s a good idea to take some extra time each day to rest with your eyes closed.
Here are a few more tips for eye health:
Making simple lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, exercising regularly, and reducing stress, will also be beneficial in improving your well-being.
Last medically reviewed on March 2, 2018
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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