What Are Nasojugal Fat Pads?

Nasojugal fat pads are what most people just call under-eye bags. They sit in the soft hollow between your lower lid and your upper cheek, an area known as the nasojugal groove.

They form when the thin membrane that holds your eye fat in place weakens with age or fatigue. A small pocket of fat then pushes forward and bulges under the skin. You end up with a puffy half-moon below each eye, usually with a shadowed groove running from the inner corner toward the cheek.

Why do nasojugal fat pads affect facial aesthetic?

Under-eye bags can make your face look puffier and more swollen, even if you are slim everywhere else. Dark circles make it worse, because they make the bags stand out more.

They also make you look tired all the time. For most people it is a cosmetic issue, but now and then it can point to an underlying health problem.

What causes nasojugal fat pads?

Ageing

As you age, the skin and muscles of your face weaken. Elastin and collagen break down, and the skin loses its firmness.

The skin under your eyes is thin and delicate to begin with. As the muscles loosen and the skin sags, fat works its way into the space between the eyes and the nose, and that is what forms the bags. (1)

Sleep problems

Going without enough sleep for a long stretch weakens the skin and muscles of your face. It speeds up collagen loss and slows down how fast your body makes new collagen. Over time, fat and fluid collect under the eyes and form the bags. (2, 3)

Allergies

Allergies play a part too. They block up your nose and swell the tissue in your sinuses, which opens up space between the nose and the eyes for fat to settle into. (4)

Smoking

Smoking damages collagen and breaks down elastin, which leaves the skin loose. It also tends to cost you sleep.

Heavy smokers often have gaps between the nose and the eyes that fill with fat and turn into bags. (5)

Alcohol

Alcohol dehydrates your body and leaves the skin under your eyes dry and weak. Drinking heavily over time is linked to more prominent eye bags. (6, 7)

Heavy makeup

Heavy makeup can irritate the delicate skin under your eyes and make it swell. Leaving makeup on instead of taking it off fully can lead to under-eye bags down the line. (8)

Genetics

Under-eye bags also run in some families. If your parents have them, there is a fair chance you will get them too. (9)

How to prevent nasojugal fat pads?

Neti pot

People who use a neti pot say it helps with under-eye bags and dark circles. You fill it with a saltwater solution that flushes mucus and debris out of your nose and sinuses, which helps keep the bags from forming. (10, 11)

Tea bags

Caffeinated tea bags placed under the eyes can tighten the skin and improve blood flow. That helps keep fat from collecting in the area. (12)

Cold compresses

A cold compress can improve how the whole under-eye area looks. It is a good fix for dark circles, eye bags, and red eyes, because the cold tightens the blood vessels and brings some relief.

Wrap the compress in a soft cloth before you use it, so the delicate skin under your eyes does not get too cold. (13)

Drink more water

Water makes up about 60% of your body, and dehydration is one of the biggest causes of facial problems, under-eye bags included. So stay hydrated. The usual guidance is about 13 cups of water a day for men and 10 for women. (14)

Use a sunscreen

Sunscreen matters if you spend a lot of the day in the sun, since it protects the sensitive skin under your eyes from UV rays. Use one that is SPF 30 or higher.

Stay in the shade when you can, and wear sunglasses and a hat. (15)

Remove your makeup completely

After a long day in makeup, take it all off. Wash your face and use a remover so you go to bed with nothing left on. Sleeping in mascara or other eye makeup irritates your eyes and the skin around them, and it can lead to infection. Makeup also speeds up aging and adds to oxidative stress. (16

Elevate your head during sleeping

When you sleep, prop your head up with an extra pillow. Some people use a special wedge instead. Keeping your head raised stops fat and fluid from pooling in the lower lids, which is what forms the bags. (17)

How to treat nasojugal fat pads?

Antihistamines

If your under-eye bags come from allergies, antihistamines may do the job. Over-the-counter options like Benadryl, Zyrtec, or Claritin can help, but it is best to check with a doctor before you take anything. (18)

Retinol cream

Creams can hide under-eye bags, and the ones with retinol are the key to dealing with the skin itself, since retinol helps your body make collagen. Some over-the-counter creams have it, but if your bags are advanced you may need a stronger concentration. Pregnant women should avoid retinol and vitamin A creams. (19)

Blepharoplasty

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is the standout procedure for under-eye bags. It lifts the lower lid and removes the excess tissue under the eyes and between the nose and the eyes. (20)

Microneedling

Microneedling relies on collagen induction therapy to reduce or prevent the bags. As your face produces more collagen and elastin, the skin tightens and the fat stays where it belongs. (21)

Injectable fillers

Injectable fillers are a temporary option. They are placed around and under the eyes to smooth the transition of fat from the bags into the cheeks. The procedure is painless. (22)