Black eye is a condition that results in the darkening of the area surrounding the eyes, which appears like a bruise. It might appear like a bruise because the most common causes of black eyes, are in fact, external injuries. The discolouration occurs when there is internal bleeding in the tissues surrounding the eye, which leads to internal clotting. However, there are a number of effective home remedies for black eyes that you can use to get rid of them.
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Apart from getting punched in the face, there are other causes of black eyes as well. You might develop a black eye because of a surgery, a facelift, an infection that you might have developed in some other facial area, insect bites, allergies or the like. A black eye usually fades after 12-14 days, but unless it is treated in the meantime, you are likely to experience symptoms like headaches, migraines, hot flashes, insomnia, pain, loss of vision, unconsciousness, nausea, and several other things that you can avoid altogether when you are equipped with fast and effective home remedies for black eyes. Here are some examples:
Suggested read: 12 Superbly Effective Tips On How To Get Rid Of Dark Circles
1. Cold Compress
The most common first aid remedy for when you get a black eye is using an ice pack as a cold compress to reduce swelling and bleeding immediately. The cold also makes the area numb, considerably reducing the pain and helping the healing process start immediately.
You can either use a bunch of ice cubes wrapped in a towel as an ice pack, or you can even freeze certain objects like a spoon or a bag of gel to apply it to your injury every hour or so. However, you should be careful about cold compresses, as applying ice cold objects to your black eye directly can cause the condition to worsen.
2. Oatmeal
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Oatmeal is a quick and easy home remedy for black eyes. Oats contain healing properties, which can reduce the swelling immediately so that your black eye disappears within a maximum of 3-5 days.
Mix a cup of oatmeal with warm water and let it rest for 5-10 minutes so that it becomes a paste-like texture. Apply that paste in the area surrounding your eye and let it dry for 20 minutes before gently washing it off with warm water. Do this every day to see maximum results.
3. Potatoes
Raw potatoes are an excellent cure for black eyes, as the starch and iodine in the potatoes help reduce swelling, and promotes internal clotting, which helps the bruise to appear less intense, with a couple of applications. Raw potatoes when applied to the black eye also have a soothing effect, reducing the pain and headaches that you might feel as after effects to your injury.
Slice discs out of a potato and apply them on your eyes. Alternatively, you can also grate a potato and apply the grated root to your eyes, before washing it off after 10 minutes.
4. Teabags
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Teabags are a handy thing to have around the house when you are suffering from a black eye. Take a couple of teabags and soak them in warm water for 2-3 minutes. Place them in the freezer for them to magically turn into a cold compress, and apply it to the affected area. Alternatively, after you have dipped the teabags in water, soak a cloth in the tea and apply it on the affected area. The tannins in the tea helps reduce swelling and keeps the pain at bay, while reducing the discoloration.
5. Cucumber
Cucumbers are an effective cooling and healing remedy for any eye or face related problems. It is 90% water, which makes it full of natural vitamins and minerals which accelerate the healing process. They are great for reducing eye bags and dark circles, and they are no less effective when it comes to curing black eyes in a matter of days.
You can take thin slices of cucumbers and place the discs on your eyes at least twice a day for 3-4 days. You can also grate the cucumber and place the pulp on your eyes, till you see visible reduction in your black eye.
Suggested read: 15 Super Effective Home Remedies For Bloodshot Eyes
6. Olive oil
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Olive oil, when massaged on bruise can help it heal twice as fast as it would otherwise have done, while at the same time, naturally reducing pain and swelling in the area. All you need to do is massaging the area with a couple of drops of olive oil and massage it for a couple of minutes before washing it off with cool water. You are likely to feel immediate relief from the pain and a gradual reduction of the bruise.
7. Pineapple and papaya
Both pineapple and papaya are rich in an enzyme called bromelain, which helps heal the broken blood vessels surrounding your eyes. These yellow fruits are also rich in anti-oxidants, so that the wound heals as fast as possible, without causing any additional pain or bodily dysfunctions.
You can either apply the pulp of these fruits to your eyes for localized remedies, or you can even drink the juices of the fruits or have them whole, to make the discoloration fade in 5 days.
8. Marigold
Image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Marigold, also known as calendula, has a number of anti-inflammatory properties, and when your wound isn’t inflamed, it is less pronounced and obvious. Therefore, using marigold is one of the most effective home remedies for black eyes.
Soak a cup of marigold petals in warm water for 10 minutes before draining them out completely. Soak a cotton cloth in the water and apply it to the affected area at least twice a day to see results within a week.
9. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a great healing agent, which helps repair the broken and damaged blood vessels under your skin, so that your wound heals in less than half the time. Vitamin C also prevents the other side effects from appearing, such as nausea, or loss of vision and fainting, making it an all-round remedy for black eyes.
You can either take Vitamin C capsules, or you can consume food that is rich in Vitamin C such as citrus foods like oranges and lemons. You can also apply the juices or the pulp of such foods to the affected area to see results.
10. Cayenne Pepper
You might be taken aback by the use of chilli peppers for healing eye-related problems, but in reality, cayenne peppers contain a substance called capsaicin, which is one of the most effective ingredients for healing bruises and marks on the skin. In fact, it is part of an ancient treatment technique, used for centuries in China and Taiwan, for curing all skin-related problems.
Mix a teaspoon of freshly ground cayenne peppers into a little Vaseline to create a paste. Apply this very, very carefully around your eyes and don’t engage in too much activity when your bruise is soaking in this mixture. Also, it helps if you are wearing gloves when you are mixing and applying peppers to your face.
11. Arnica
Arnica is an age-old method for curing bruises and internal wounds that may lead to discolouration of the skin. It immediately stops the pain and helps in swelling. Arnica oil is widely available and apart from curing black eyes, it has a host of other uses, which is why you should keep it handy at all times.
Massage a couple of drops of arnica oil in the area around your eye, and not just the bruise itself. You can do this 2-3 times a day, and once before going to sleep, so that it can work its magic throughout the night.
Suggested read: Puffy Eyes Ruining Your Appearance? Let These Home Remedies Come To Your Rescue
These simple, yet effective home remedies not only help in concealing the black eye when you want to step out of your house and look respectable, but they work at the root of the problem and solve it internally. They heal the broken blood vessels and ease the pain that you might have otherwise felt during the healing process, making these home remedies a life-saver when it comes to dealing with black eyes. These home remedies not only fight the swelling and the discoloration, but they also help reduce the side-effects that inevitably follow when you are suffering from a black eye. This is why it is also important to study the side effects and treat them with the right natural ingredients, so that the treatment is localized and not general.
However, if you see the condition prevailing even after 10 days of using these localized and home treatments, make sure you consult a doctor to check whether there are some other problems that might be affecting your condition.
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image, under Creative Commons License
Facebook
Disqus
Google + 
