Anyone who suffers from allergies knows they're the worst. Depending on the type of allergy, they can wreak havoc on folks' bodies in a manner of different ways. If you're in the midst of fending off your allergies, you'll want to know how to reduce bloodshot eyes from allergies, so you can look less like a zombie and more human again.
Of course, there are so many awful ways that allergies can affect people, as we're all different — signs of allergies can be sneezing, itchy eyes, and skin redness to name a few. But if you suffer from bloodshot eyes when your body is undergoing an allergic reaction, you might be left feeling more than a little frustrated. Sure, there are some terrible allergies in existence — such as being allergic to tampons or allergic to wine (the horror!) — and getting bloodshot eyes may not seem so bad in the grand scheme of things. But, when you couple your bloodshot eyes with other symptoms, you might feel like giving up the fight against your allergies.
Even if your allergy causes you to suffer solely with bloodshot eyes, it can be a huge annoyance. Bloodshot eyes are often associated with tiredness, stress, or a hangover. It's seemingly rather tricky to hide them too, considering you probably spend much of your day looking people in the eye and folks can easily jump to the wrong conclusions.
Never fear: There are some ways to get handle them. Check out what the experts had to say below.
1. Ditch Long Term Contact Lenses
"Daily contacts and glasses are better options than long term contacts. Allergens can accumulate on the surface of contact lenses, so long term contacts could exacerbate your symptoms," says Dr. Janet Prystowsky, board certified dermatologist and founder of Livad Skincare.
2. Lubricate Your Eyes
"In the short term, saline eye drops and eye lubricants will help bloodshot eyes," says Dr. Prystowsky. However she warns, "It is possible to get ‘addicted’ to decongestant eye drops. After a week of use they may make your symptoms worse." So bear this in mind before you start taking decongestant eye drops.
3. Drink Plenty Of Water
Celebrity esthetician Gina Mari, tells Bustle over email, "Stay hydrated!" Ensure you're getting enough water throughout the day and keep some with you at all times.
4. Invest In Bed Bug Proof Bedding
"I also recommend buying allergy and bed bug proof mattress and pillow covers," says Dr. Prystowsky, "while you can wash your sheets, there isn’t much you can do about washing your pillows and mattress. This will make sure you don’t become allergic to your bed. No one needs to wake up every morning with bloodshot eyes."
5. Medication
"Some allergens can’t be avoided though," says Dr. Prystowsky, "so you may need medication to tough it out. There are many over the counter allergy products, but depending on the severity of your allergy, your allergist may prescribe a medication." Don't play the tough cookie if you're really suffering with your allergies, go visit your doctor and see if there's anything they can help you with.
If your entire eye area is suffering too, Mari advises, "Keep eye creams in the refrigerator to help de-puff and calm the eye area. Placing cold tea bags under the eyes also helps with reducing redness and swelling."
At the end of the day, Dr. Prystowsky explains, "If you have allergy induced bloodshot eyes, then you should take an allergy test. Discovering your allergen and avoiding it would be the best course of action."
Don't delay your diagnosis, take an allergy test to get to the root of the cause of your bloodshot eyes — because what's the point in suffering unnecessarily?
Images: Allef Vinicius (2), Christopher Campbell (1), Mark Solarski (1), freestocks.org (1), Abigail Keenan (1) /Unsplash
