Eyelid dermatitis is aggravating, uncomfortable, and, frankly, a real nuisance. And when it comes to managing it? Well, that can pose a real challenge.
Challenges are there to be conquered, however, and with the right diagnosis and a side of skincare know-how, you can get on top of eyelid dermatitis.
Read on for everything you need to know.
What Is Eyelid Dermatitis?
Also known as eczema of the eyes, eyelid dermatitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the skin above (and around) the eyes. It can be particularly prevalent because the skin in this area is extremely thin, delicate, and sensitive — much more so than the rest of the face.
But not only that. Most people also touch their eyes and eyelids frequently, thus exposing this fragile skin to all manner of irritants and allergens from things like personal care products, household cleaners, and even nail products.
All this makes the skin around your eyes doubly susceptible to eyelid dermatitis.
Sounds familiar? Well, common symptoms to look out for include:
Redness
Dry skin
Intense itching
Tearing
Burning or stinging
Swelling
Blistering
Scaling
Discharge
What Causes Eyelid Dermatitis?
A very common skin disorder, eyelid dermatitis can be split into three main types: contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis (1).
Contact Dermatitis
According to the National Eczema Association, contact dermatitis is the most common form of eyelid dermatitis. It’s a pretty self-explanatory condition (the clue is in the name, after all!) that occurs when your skin comes into contact with a triggering substance like an allergen or irritant. It’s important to remember, however, that it’s not just the products you apply directly to the skin around your eyes that can cause flare-ups; they can also be set off by indirect transfer of substances from your hands.
Contact dermatitis can also be split into two subgroups: allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is when your immune system has a very specific allergic reaction to something (2). This typically occurs hours or even days after the original contact. Poison ivy is an example of an obvious trigger for ACD, but more commonly encountered in day-to-day life are the fragrances and preservatives found in skin care products. Airborne allergens like pollen can also cause a similar allergic reaction. Acrylates (glues) in artificial nails (3) and certain metal elements like cobalt and chromium, often found in eye makeup, are also common allergens in patients with eyelid dermatitis.
Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), on the other hand, is a type of irritation caused by contact with harsh everyday substances like dish soap, kitchen and bathroom cleaning sprays, and bleach. It can also come from repetitively getting your hands wet through multiple washings a day or other chores where your hands get wet over and over. This type of dermatitis is not an allergic reaction, per se, but it causes a similar inflammatory response in the skin.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is what comes to most people’s minds when they think of classic sensitive skin. It commonly occurs in people who also have seasonal allergies (like a runny nose with dust or pollen) and/or asthma. It can be a long-lasting, often genetic condition that usually begins before age 5 and can continue into adulthood (5). Atopic dermatitis can appear anywhere on the body and, while it may lie dormant for years, it can flare up at any time when triggered by factors such as emotional stress, excessively dry skin, extreme temperatures, or other lifestyle stressors. It can be compounded by allergic or irritant contact dermatitis.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Like atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin condition that’s thought to be genetic and triggered by environmental factors. Around 11 percent of the population has seborrheic dermatitis. It can present as a rash with redness and scaling, most prominently at areas where the body is rich in sebaceous glands, like the T-zone of the face. The lay term for it is dandruff. It most commonly affects the face and scalp, but it can also affect other oily areas of the body, such as the chest area.
How To Effectively Treat Eyelid Dermatitis
The smartest move when dealing with any type of eyelid dermatitis is to seek a professional diagnosis from your physician. This will help identify the reason for your eyelid dermatitis, plus they can help you come up with an effective treatment plan, which may include medical treatments like topical calcineurin inhibitors or mild steroids. They may also perform patch testing to pinpoint the substance or substances that are triggering your eyelid dermatitis.
SkinSAFE is also an excellent source of help. If you have your list of allergens, for example, you can request a custom-created SAFE For Me code. Simply enter this code into your SkinSAFE account, and you’ll have instant access to every product that’s free of the allergens you’ve been advised to avoid. Pretty clever, right?
Not sure what your triggers are, but still want to avoid the most common eyelid irritants and allergens? No problem. We also have an EyelidSAFE marker throughout the site, which guides you to over 9,000 products – all of which are free of common fragrances, preservatives, soaps, glues, and other eyelid no-nos. Simply click on the EyelidSAFE icon in the search bar and apply this badge to your search. It really is as easy as that.
Other important do’s and don’ts to remember when dealing with eyelid dermatitis at home…
✅DO wash your hands regularly and touch your eyes with clean hands only.
❌DON’T scratch or rub your eyes.
✅DO protect your eyes with glasses, especially when you’re outside on windy, extremely hot or extremely cold days.
❌DON’T give up hope. Eyelid dermatitis typically doesn’t spread to other parts of your body, and it’s perfectly treatable when you know what you’re dealing with.
✅DO stick with Eyelid SAFE cosmetic, household, and personal care products.
To follow are some of our SkinSAFE 100 and EyelidSAFE beauty favorites…
1. Florence By Mills Up A Notch Volumizing Mascara
If you’re yet to be acquainted with Florence by Mills, this is the brainchild of Stranger Things actress, Millie Bobby Brown. The entire beauty range is clean, vegan, and cruelty-free. We especially love this lash-enhancing mascara because it’s free from common skin irritants, which can be a major red flag for eyelid dermatitis sufferers. It’s also a mighty fine mascara, creating length, volume, and definition in the flick of your wrist.
2. Vichy Laboratories Pureté Thermale Waterproof Make-up Remover
Love to wear makeup on a daily basis? Then you also need to ensure you remove it daily. And that can be especially irritating on the eye area if you choose the wrong kind of eye makeup remover. So don’t! Go for this gentle, bi-phase cleanser instead. Combining an oil-in-water formulation with kind-to-skin ingredients like vitamin B5 and cornflower extract, it helps rid your skin of all traces of makeup while respecting the delicate eye area and minimizing eyelash fallout. It’s also dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested.
3. Urtekram Beauty Fragrance Free Sensitive Skin Hand Wash
Whether you’re tired or suffering with allergies, it’s almost impossible not to touch your eyes throughout the day. So the least you can do is ensure your hands aren’t transferring bad things to the eye area. Of course, clean hands are the first step, but it’s also crucial to use cleansing products that are free of eyelid allergy-causing or irritating ingredients. Well, this hand wash from Nordic beauty brand Urtekram helps you do exactly that. Refreshing and moisturizing, it contains skincare powerhouses like glycerin, aloe vera, and hyaluronic acid. What’s more, it’s certified organic.
4. NYX Professional Makeup Epic Wear Waterproof Liner Stick
If you’re a fan of awesome eyeliner and love adding a bit of color to your makeup routine, these long-wearing eye liner pencils from NYX are totally your jam. Available in 33 shades, they claim to offer up to 36 hours of smudge-proof color. Now, we don’t know about you, but we prefer to remove our makeup after 16 hours or so. But still, it’s reassuring to know your eyeliner is going nowhere unless you physically remove it! Easy to apply and gentle on the skin, these liners are 100 percent here to stay – and without causing potential irritation to the skin around your eyes. That’s no mean feat.
5. Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Eye Cream
A good eye cream is hard to come by, especially if you have sensitive skin that’s prone to itchy, scratchy flare-ups. However, this Vinoperfect Brightening Eye Cream, from French skincare giant Caudalie, checks all the boxes. It’s crafted with some of the gentlest, most tried-and-trusted skincare powerhouses, including vitamin E, niacinamide, and sunflower seed oil. All of these are ideal for the fragile eye area. It also harnesses the brightening powers of caffeine to help correct dark circles and lift the skin around your eyes.
https://nationaleczema.org/blog/ask-the-ecz-perts-how-do-you-treat-eyelid-eczema/
https://eczema.org/information-and-advice/types-of-eczema/eczema-around-the-eyes/
https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-symptoms/skin-allergies/contact-dermatitis/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atopic-dermatitis-eczema/symptoms-causes/syc-20353273
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