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• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Treat a black eye immediately
• Method 2 of 3: Take further care of your black eye
• Method 3 of 3: Cover a black eye with make-up

A black eye can be both painful and embarrassing. Fortunately, a black eye is usually not serious and usually clears up without requiring extensive treatment. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to make your black eye go away more quickly. However, there are techniques you can use to help your black eye heal as quickly and safely as possible. Plus, you can always use makeup to cover up the discoloration when you go somewhere.

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Method 1 of 3: Treat a black eye immediately

1. Apply ice to the area around your eye. Place a cold compress, an ice washcloth, or a bag of frozen vegetables over the swollen area for ten minutes at a time. Place the ice pack on your black eye for about 20 minutes every hour for the first few days.
   • Start this treatment immediately and continue for 24 to 48 hours.
   • Press on the skin around the eye and not on the eye itself.
   • Make sure to wrap the ice pack in a towel or cloth. Applying ice directly to your skin can cause skin damage and frostbite.
2. Take a pain reliever. If the pain or discomfort is difficult to tolerate, take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Paracetamol is generally considered the best option, but ibuprofen (Advil, among others) also works. It doesn't matter which one you take. You can get both types of painkillers from pharmacies, chemists or supermarkets without a prescription.
   • Avoid aspirin as it limits blood clotting.
   • Follow the directions on the package when taking painkillers. You usually need to take two pills every four to six hours.
   • If you have kidney or liver problems, talk to a doctor before taking painkillers like these.
3. Don't try to open your eye. Often times, a black eye is accompanied by significant swelling around the eye. If this is your case and it is difficult for you to open your eye, then there is no need to try to open your eye unnecessarily. If you have determined that you only have a black eye and no other serious injuries, then it is no problem to keep your injured eye closed if it is too painful to open it.
4. Protect your eye during risky activities. During the healing process (which normally takes 1-2 weeks), make sure to wear glasses or use other protective aids in situations where your eye could potentially be further damaged. If you injured your eye while exercising, stop exercising until your eye is completely healed.
5. Check for further injuries. A black eye is bad enough, but it is not necessarily a danger in itself. However, if you have other injuries to your eye, you will need to seek professional medical attention as soon as possible. You may have suffered serious injury to your eye or head.
   • Look closely at the white part of your eyes and the colored iris. If you see blood in these areas, your eye may be seriously damaged. In that case, make an urgent appointment with the ophthalmologist.
   • If you have vision problems, such as blurred vision, double vision, or increased light sensitivity, you should also contact an eye specialist.
   • Other symptoms that may indicate serious injury include severe pain when moving the eye, facial numbness, swelling or compression of the eye or socket, nosebleeds, and dizziness.

Method 2 of 3: Take further care of your black eye

1. Don't put pressure on the eye and try not to cause more damage. The injured area will be sensitive until the discoloration fades. Applying pressure to the eye can make the area hurt more. It can also further damage the already damaged blood vessels under the skin, making the injury more severe and taking longer to heal.
   • You should also not try to keep your eye open for long periods of time before the swelling is gone.
   • Don't lie on the side of your body where your black eye is. The pressure you put on the area by lying on that side can cause your black eye to last longer.
2. Switch to moist heat after 24-48 hours. Change your technique after using an ice pack for a day or two to reduce swelling. Instead, apply moist heat to the injured area.
   • Hold a warm, damp washcloth or compress against the injured area. Do not use a hot pack, as it gives off dry heat and can even be too hot. This will damage your sensitive facial skin even more.
   • Apply the warm compress to the painful area in 10-minute intervals. Always take a break for at least ten minutes in between.
   • Do not put the warm compress on your eye itself. Only put it on the skin around the eye.
   • A warm compress increases blood flow to the damaged blood vessels. This allows the accumulated blood beneath the skin's surface to be reabsorbed, which can speed up the healing process.
3. Call your doctor if the injury gets worse or doesn't heal. Your black eye should have faded significantly after a week and a half. If not, call your doctor to make an appointment.
   • Also, make an appointment if your black eye appears to be getting darker or gets worse after two to four days of treatment.

Method 3 of 3: Cover a black eye with make-up

1. Wait for the swelling to subside. Right after you get a black eye, making sure the injury is going to heal should be your first priority. Applying makeup to your black eye while it is still swollen can cause further damage to the already damaged blood vessels.
   • Additionally, the makeup you use to cover up your black eye is likely to come off if you apply a cold compress to the area. So it makes no sense to apply make-up before starting the treatment.
   • Wait to apply make-up until you get to the stage of the treatment where you put a warm compress on the injury. Only apply makeup when you have to go somewhere or when people come to your house.
2. Choose a corrective concealer. For best results, use a liquid corrective concealer with a yellow or green tint. Liquid concealers are easier to apply than most creams, blend better and you need to put less pressure on your skin.
   • Use a corrective concealer before applying your regular concealer. A regular concealer matches your skin tone, so it can only cause uneven colors to blend together. A corrective concealer uses complementary colors to correct discolored areas of the skin.
   • A yellow concealer generally works best on a black eye in the early stages, when the injury appears to have dark purple undertones. As the injury lightens and becomes more red or tan, you may need to use a green corrective concealer.
   • Apply the corrective concealer with your fingers. Use your fingers to dab patches of corrective concealer on the discolored area of ​​your skin. Apply light pressure to blend the concealer gently and well into the skin. Make sure to cover the entire affected area with concealer.
3. Continue with your regular concealer. When the corrective concealer has dried, use a regular concealer that matches your skin tone over it. A normal concealer can smooth out unevenly colored areas caused by the corrective concealer.
4. Only use extra makeup if you want to. Both concealers should be enough to cover up your black eye without using additional makeup. However, if you want to continue with your regular makeup routine, then you can.