Using tea bags on your eyes is a popular home remedy for reducing dark circles, puffiness, and redness or other color changes. The caffeine in tea helps constrict blood vessels, lowering inflammation.
Tea bags are an affordable, natural option you can easily try at home. Placing them on your eyes gives you the chance to rest and unwind. You can use them several times per day until your symptoms subside.
Read on to learn more about how to use tea bags on your eyes.
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 and allow them to cool down so they’re warm, or chill in the fridge. 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.
What types of tea can I use?
There are several types of tea you can use to treat eye concerns.
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.
You can try using:
- rooibos
- chamomile
- lavender
- eyebright (clary sage)
- calendula
- comfrey
- fennel
- fenugreek
According to a small
Black and green teas also contain antioxidants called flavonoids and tannins that have an
Some people use calendula, chamomile, and fennel tea to relieve symptoms of pink eye. However, there’s limited scientific evidence to support the use of these teas for the treatment of this condition.
While these tea bags may be soothing, there’s no evidence that they work better than a warm compress.
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 may be useful in treating styes due to its high tannin content. Its antibacterial and analgesic properties help reduce swelling and irritation.
You might
The anti-inflammatory properties of lavender, chamomile, and green tea
You can put the tea bags on other parts of your face in addition to your eyes. But take care to ensure the tea treatment doesn’t cause additional irritation.
You can try chamomile, rooibos, and green tea for refreshing sore or red eyes. The anti-inflammatory properties of these teas may help to reduce any swelling that accompanies irritated eyes.
Try using warm tea bags on your eyes to help retain moisture and alleviate dryness.
If you have a black eye, you can use black or green tea to reduce inflammation. The tannins may reduce swelling and bruising. However, there’s not much evidence to support this claim.
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:
- Wash your hands and face thoroughly before treatment.
- Remove makeup before treatment.
- Never use hot tea bags.
- Discontinue use if you experience any pain or irritation.
- Avoid tea bags that contain staples.
- Use unbleached tea bags.
- Keep liquid out of your eyes.
- Remove contacts before doing the treatment.
- Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes.
While tea bags aren’t a replacement for conventional treatments for infections and eye conditions, many people enjoy using them as a simple home remedy.
If your symptoms are severe or they do not improve within a few days, contact 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.