Eczema Eye Complications: 4 Ways To Protect Your Vision

We often associate deteriorating eyesight with aging, but serious problems can also occur if you have eczema around your eyes. Often affected are people with existing eczema problems in other parts of their bodies, specifically those suffering from atopic dermatitis. 

While eczema around the eyes poses no serious health risks, the condition can disrupt your daily life. Read on to learn more about this chronic skin condition and how you can deal with it and protect your vision.

What is Eyelid Eczema?

Blepharitis is a form of eyelid eczema that can cause rash-like symptoms

Sometimes, the eyes can become itchy and dry and may result in eyelid dermatitis or eczema on the eyelid. Eyelid eczema is a skin condition characterised by dried, flaky, and itchy skin. It can affect babies, children, and adults. This happens when the skin’s top layers don’t hold enough moisture and struggle for protection against allergens and irritants. 

Eyelid eczema can appear in many forms. Symptoms often appear on the eyelids, but in some cases, the surrounding area may also be affected. It can be chronic and may appear occasionally on one or both eyes. 

Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic type of eczema that can appear around the eyebrows. Its common triggers are stress, hormonal changes and imbalances, medications, cold weather, and the use of harsh detergents and solvents. 

Blepharitis is another type of inflammation that can be caused by a reaction with the bacteria that naturally live on the eyelids. It is often associated with seborrhoeic dermatitis which affects the ears, eyebrows, face, and scalp.

What Causes Eczema Around The Eyes?

Eye makeup can be a trigger of eyelid eczema

The eyelids are filled with blood vessels but covered with little skin tissue, making them particularly sensitive to moisture disintegration. When a part of the eyelid skin becomes wet and irritated, it makes the area more itchy and uncomfortable. 

If you’re suffering from eczema around the eyes, it’s necessary to discover the trigger and identify the irritants. Allergic reactions can be caused by allergens from perfume, sunscreen, false eyelashes, or goggles. Some of the irritants that can trigger eyelid dermatitis are:

• Dust and pollen
• Makeup brushes, pads, and removers
• Eye shadow, eyeliner, and eyelash curlers
• Hair dye
• Face cream and lotion

Symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis usually appear a few hours after exposure to the trigger. The severity of the allergic reaction varies per person, so it’s best to have your doctor on speed dial in case you need immediate relief from the skin problem.

How Do I Know If I Have Eczema On The Eyelids?

Those who do can experience symptoms like dry, red, and itchy skin around the eyes. Eczema around the eyes causes swelling on the thin layer of skin, making it appear brownish and wrinkled. Scaling may also be observed on one or both eyelids. 

At the onset of the condition, the irritated skin becomes extra sensitive. In some cases, a burning sensation may be felt that can cause further irritation. 

If the cause of the eczema is known, treatment can be more effective and immediate. Physical exams can help doctors diagnose skin conditions and get more in-depth information about their possible causes. However, if triggers cannot be identified or avoided, treatment to manage symptoms will be applied.

4 Ways To Protect Your Vision From Eyelid Eczema

Eczema is a lifelong skin condition that still has no cure. However, there are effective solutions to help you manage the symptoms and make living with the skin problem more bearable and comfortable.

Here are tips and ways to deal with eczema under the eyes and minimize the chance that you’ll trigger the skin condition:

Emollients and mild steroids

Eczema on the eyelid is often treated using topical steroids and emollients as prescribed by a skincare expert. Given the thinness of the skin on the eyelids, only mild topical steroids containing 0.5 to 1% hydrocortisone are given for safety. 

For more severe flare-ups, the potency of the topical ointment may be increased for a short period. Usually, the prescription is stepped up for 5 days before returning to a milder treatment over the next few days. 

Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs)

TCIs like pimecrolimus (Elidel) and tacrolimus (Protopic) are often given to patients with eyelid eczema. These don’t contain steroids, so they’re safe to use on the thin and sensitive skin of the eyelids. 

While TCIs are effective in managing eczema symptoms, they have side effects including photosensitivity. It’s better to apply TCIs in the evening so that you can apply sunscreen in the morning if you’re going out. It’s normal to feel a burning or stinging sensation when using TCI products for the first time, but this will subside within a week.

Facial skincare

To protect your eyelids, use a leave-on emollient and frequently apply a mild moisturiser. Avoid washing your face with strongly scented soap or face creams since these products contain substances that can trigger eczema on your eyelids. 

To avoid inflammation of the eyelids, gently applying a warm compress and giving them a soft massage can help. You can also clean your eyelids with warm water without soap. These actions help unblock the oil glands of the eyelid and prevent scaling. Applying artificial tears on the cornea can help clean the outer surface of the eye.

Medovie skincare products

Medovie is a company dedicated to developing skincare solutions using natural ingredients for the most common skin problems. We don’t use steroids and other elements in our products that can be harmful to sensitive skin. 

The Medovie Complete 3HX™ Body Plan can help reduce the appearance of eyelid eczema

Our 3HX™ Derma Cream is clinically tested to reduce visible redness and flakiness of the skin while providing lasting comfort upon application. It’s best used with our 3HX™ Capsules for a more holistic solution for eczema under your eyes. These products have been tested for managing the symptoms of eyelid eczema, and they’ve been found to be safe and effective to use.

Regular soaps and shampoos can irritate your eyelids, so you need an alternative that you can use without worry. We recommend our scalp solutions, specifically the 3HX™ Scalp Care Shampoo. Its ingredients are made from natural herbs so it won’t cause irritation in case it drips down your eyes while showering. 

The 3HX™ formula that makes up Medovie products is generally safe to use for people with eczema on the eyelids. They’re based on the most powerful traditional Chinese medicinal herbs that have been tested for their potency and safety. And since Medovie products are made of natural ingredients, they’re safe for long-term use.

The best thing about Medovie products is that you can use them on other body parts as well. It can be used on your inner or outer elbow, back, knees, groin, and parts where skin conditions often appear. Whether it’s eczema, psoriasis, or any chronic skin problem, Medovie can improve the appearance of your skin and provide lasting relief.

Additional Things To Remember When Dealing With Eyelid Eczema

Rubbing the eyes can worsen eyelid eczema and cause eye infection

Here are the pointers that will help you prevent the triggers to your eyelid eczema and more tips on how to avoid worsening your condition:

• Olive oil and aqueous creams are known to trigger atopic contact dermatitis. This damages the skin barrier in patients with eczema, so avoid products with these ingredients. 
• When removing makeup or eye mascara, use a damp cotton pad with emollients. 
• Stop wearing contact lenses because these can irritate blepharitis.
• Irritated eyelids may force you to rub or touch your eyes more often. This potentially increases the risk of getting eye infections like conjunctivitis. 
• Regularly moisturising your face can help limit eczema flare-ups.
• If you’re working in a dusty environment, wear wrap-around goggles to completely protect your eyes. 
• Your pharmacist may be able to offer artificial or anti-inflammatory eye drops to ease soreness. 
• Use a soft face cleanser without fragrance and moisturising eye makeup remover. Avoid all cosmetics including perfumes as these may irritate the skin. 

Be Careful of Magic Solutions For Eyelid Eczema

The eyelids area is very sensitive, so be careful what you apply over it. Symptoms and side effects from treatment will be very visible in this area. Unlike other parts of the body, you can’t cover your eyelids, so you want a fast-acting solution that’s safe to use and won’t have side effects. Otherwise, it can be a cause of stress, anxiety, shame, or even depression.

People are often tempted to buy quick, magic solutions for their skin problems. Skin conditions can be difficult to hide, especially in sensitive areas like the eyelids. However, relying on so-called ‘instant’ remedies can cause addiction to the treatment and may even result in worsening the condition. 

Choosing a skincare product that’s been tested to be safe and effective on sensitive skin should be your priority. In this case, Medovie products should be at the top of your list because it’s been clinically tested to work on the most common chronic skin conditions. The 3HX™ formula found in our products can provide even faster relief on eyelid eczema because the area has thin skin, meaning it can absorb the powerful herbal compound in our products faster.

Before self-treating, consult a doctor or a skincare expert first. The symptoms you’re experiencing might be similar to eczema but may be caused by a different ailment or underlying health problem, with which a different approach may be more effective.

Skin infections may arise and cause scabs, pus, or sores and worsen your condition. If symptoms persist and eczema on your eyelid becomes too painful or uncomfortable to bear, consult your doctor.