Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Patches of itchy, dry skin on face and eyelid, eyelid has now also swollen. Reassess whether or not you need to use all of those products, like primer, shadow, liner, and mascara, all of which have preservatives or even fragrance than can cause a reactionsometimes weeks, months, or years after beginning to use a product. The twice-daily application of topical cyclosporine appears to be especially effective in treating severe cases of ocular rosacea. Regular facial cleansing with gentle exfolitation followed by eucerin sensitive location. Dry, irritated eyes can also become extra watery or teary. In most cases, contact dermatitis symptoms can be resolved simply by avoiding the allergen. Your doctor can tell you the best approach. Treatment may involve: Topical steroids are usually not recommended for eczema on the eyelids. Atopic dermatitis is another condition that may affect the skin of your eyelids. In other cases, a person might require medical help. The use of certain medication to treat the underlying infection or condition in your body might have a side effect of dry skin on eyelids. itchy and quite red. 2018;29(2):96-7. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000338, Zhu Y, Sun C, Zhang X, Shentu X. Ptosis induced by topical steroid eye drops: two cases reports. Doctors will likely only prescribe a corticosteroid for eyelids for a short period of time because of how thin the eyelid skin is. It is thought to be the result of both environmental and hereditary factors. (2016). We link primary sources including studies, scientific references, and statistics within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Such skin irritation, no matter the cause, is referred to as eyelid dermatitis. A healthcare provider can identify them by taking a small scraping of the affected skin and examining it under a microscope. Also, it can lead to tenderness, redness or inflamed skin to the affected area. Unlike corticosteroids, they do not thin the skin. Clean your eyelids with safe eyelid cleansers. The hot water can dissolve and wash away all the natural superficial oils from your skin leaving you with dry skin. Learn more. Dry skin on eyelids may be the result of contact dermatitis. To avoid developing dry skin, people can: There is no cure for eczema, but people can help to prevent flare-ups by: Anyone who experiences any of the following should speak with a doctor: People who suspect they may have a form of eczema should also speak with a doctor, as they may require medicated creams and ointments. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Contact dermatitis can occur on the eyelids when an irritant or allergen comes into contact with the skin. People with eczema generally experience symptoms like very dry and itchy skin; red, brown, or gray skin patches; raised, weeping bumps; and thick, cracked, or scaly skin. It is also a good idea to avoid touching the eyes. The AAD notes that it can often affect the eyes in adults. A person can experience dry skin around the eyes as a result of aging or the weather. Seborrhoeic dermatitis of the eyelids tends to affect just the eyelid margins and is seen more frequently in adults. Try just simple vaseline or aquaphor. The redness, irritation, and swelling of an eyelid rash may be due to an irritation (e.g., from makeup), an allergy, or skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and some autoimmune or immune-related disorders. By Troy Bedinghaus, OD He is an active member of the American Optometric Association. Steroid eye drops or ointments may reduce inflammation. Eczema can usually be diagnosed by sight alone. have used neosporin and eczema creams. It might be an irritating substance that comes in contact with your skin or an allergic. The condition may flare up only to disappear for weeks, months, or even years at a time. Rather PA, Hassan I. See additional information. Taking these steps will help your flaky eyelids heal gently, often without the need for special medications. Food. Learn more about how to treat blepharitis here. However, there are a few measures you can take on your own if youre having eyelid eczema and dealing with an excess of flakes. But they can also be a sign of a more serious condition, including the start of, A ruptured eye is a serious medical emergency that can lead to vision loss. The common signs and symptoms of dry skin on eyelids include: The dry skin on your eyelids can also accompany other strange symptoms such as red spots on the eyeball, dryness of the eyeball, watery eyes, blurry vision, and black spots in vision, floaters in vision, and others. You might want to apply sunscreen before your next nail appointment. You can develop a dry skin on your eyelids due to various causes. However, it can encourage dry or flaky skin on your face. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK. Baby shampoo is an inexpensive . Stop using neosporin. I was able to calm it down when the weather got warmer, but still, every December or January, like clockwork, my eyelids erode into flakes right around the time were seeing flakes for the first time of the year. should i be concerned? Blepharitis occurs on the eyelid and is caused by bacteria or another health condition like rosacea. Symptoms that may accompany dry eyelids include itchiness, discoloration, cracked skin, and eye irritation. Whats Causing the Itchy Rash On Your Forehead? Clean your face with soaps and facial cleansers that are fragrance-free and gentle on your skin. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. For these reasons, aging may lead to dry eyelids. This includes the skin around the eyes, which is thinner and more delicate than skin elsewhere on the body. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. You can care for your flaky eyelids with gentle products designed for use on the eyes and by limiting your exposure to the sun. Antihistamines and other topical ointments or moisturizers can also be used to reduce itching and swelling. Visit your doctor to help you in diagnosis and treatment of your skin condition. Other symptoms that may also be experienced include: Itchiness. Yes see physician. If you develop a feeling of stretched and tightness of skin on eyelids after hot bath or shower, you can treat this condition by applying soothing creams such as Aloe Vera to the affected area. Corticosteroids work to reduce inflammation. I would recommend a face to face encounter. Remember: gently. As that name implies, it's a skin condition caused by your eyelids coming into contact with something a substance or physical trigger that you're allergic to or irritated by. The possible common causes that can lead to dry skin on eyelids include the following: Your face may develop a dry skin on the eyelids as a consequence of dry environmental conditions. Dry skin on your eyelids can manifest in various signs and symptoms depending on the causal agent. When you have this condition, your eyelids will appear greasy. Medical treatment can help to treat dry skin on eyelids that are caused by serious health conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, cancer and severe sun damage. These rashes can really happen anywhere on your skin, but eyelid skin is thinner than the skin on other parts of your body and face. Your doctor may prescribe steroid eye drops or recommend artificial tears to keep the moisture in your eyes. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. 2019;32(6):e13103. Int J Ophthalmol. Some common symptoms of dry skin include: On light skin tones, dry skin may look red. It will also highlight some useful home remedies and prevention strategies, as well as explain when it is a good idea to speak with a doctor. Other common causes include: Cosmetics (eyeliner, foundation, eye shadow) Shampoo. These include: Left untreated, blepharitis can lead to a stye, which is a boil-like lump on the edge of an eyelid. Also discover home remedies and when to see a, When your optic nerve doesn't develop all the way, you may not be able to see through that area of your eye. Some of these may be major, such as Sjogren's syndrome. Atopic dermatitis may result from an infection or inflammation, and it is more likely to affect people with asthma, hay fever, and other allergies, including food allergies. Superior Segmental Optic Nerve Hypoplasia: What You Should Know. You may suddenly develop an allergy to a certain substance, even if youve never reacted to it before. There are many airborne allergens in our environmentthink of the perfume droplets at the mall after someone has used a tester, or the pollen in the air in springand they often react with the very sensitive eyelid skin first, causing redness, itching, flaking, and even swelling, she says. It can also cause conjunctivitis (pink eye), or corneal ulcers. Gently apply it to your eyelid with the stye. Dry eyes can feel itchy and like something is "stuck" in them. Signs and symptoms of dry skin on the eyelids: How to get rid of dry skin on the eyelids: Home remedies for dry skin on the eyelids: Signs and symptoms of dry skin around the eyes: Causes of dry skin on face around the eyes: How to get rid of dry skin around the eyes: Home remedies for dry skin around the eyes: Home remedies for dry skin on face around the eyelids. Restasis (cyclosporine) eye drops may be prescribed if your symptoms persist. Trying to push through attacks can lead to a vicious cycle of more headachesand more sick days. Litwin D, Chen W, Dzika E, Koryciska J. If you have dry eyelids, you might also experience oozing and crust forming on your eyelids and in your eyelashes. It may also lead to areas of dry, flaky skin that itch or crack open. There are many possible reasons for this happening. Eczema is thought to be caused by environmental factors and genetic predisposition. This transfers the irritant or allergen to the eyelid. The harmless condition of the dry skin on your eyelids can go away within few days without the use of treatment. Symptoms can include: It is uncommon for eczema to affect the eyelids only, but it can happen. A doctor may recommend that you track all of your daily activities and your symptoms over several days to help identify triggers, or refer you to an allergist for patch testing. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? You can control and treat dry patches of psoriasis by using prescribe medicated creams or ointments. It was the year we started using the term polar vortex (meaning it was suuuper cold), and throughout the winter, the skin around my eyes got progressively dryer and flakier. They are usually harmless, but can sometimes cause symptoms in people with weakened immune systems. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. We avoid using tertiary references. For this case, you can seek the help of your doctor for diagnosis and treatment. You may learn over time what causes the dry skin on your eyelid and determine how to best manage it at home.