Dear Jenny,

Do you have any tricks for under-eye bags?  I’ve had them for years and have tried everything but nothing seems to work.  Please help! – Anne D.

Dear Anne,

I know they say that placing cucumbers, raw potato slices, or tea bags, etc. on the eyes can help but that doesn’t seem practical because you have to stop what you’re doing, lie down, etc., plus I’m not sure those things even work. If you’ve had this for a long time, one thing to realize is that it can just be hereditary or it could also be caused by allergies, either known or possibly some you are not aware of. And the cause could be dietary. So the first thing I would do is look at your salt intake. If you start reading labels you may be shocked to see how much salt is in so many foods, like canned products and microwave popcorn, and certainly restaurant food. If you can seriously cut down your salt, which makes the body retain fluids, you may see a difference. A healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit & vegetables can only help, avoiding too much sugar and caffeine (so soft drinks are out). Also, try not sleeping on your side or stomach. I hope this helps – let me know.

Jenny