Possible allergy to eye makeup? Red, puffy, itchy eyelids...

This has been going on for years now and it seems to be getting worse.

I have had what seems to be issues with eye makeup, even hypoallergenic brands.  My eyelids (usually my right is the worst) will get what looks like flesh colored bumps on it, and then it will begin to burn on top of my eyelid.  Putting Aquaphor on it helps.  Usually though, within a few hours (especially overnight), my eyelid(s) will completely swell up to where I can almost not see.  This happened again last night.  My right eyelid is considerbly worse than my left one, and they are both very red, swollen and itchy.  My actual eye has no problems, but it feels like it's burning.

I used to work in a dermatology office and the doctor there said that putting Protopic on it would help it and make it go away, but it doesn't.  I need some sort of relief and changing eye makeup doesn't seem to help at all.  :(

[MommyToMyMunks]

Here are pictures of my eyes from this morning.  The swelling has gone down slightly.  The wet stuff is Aquaphor.

http://i39.tinypic.com/nnl54k.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/5cnmtl.jpg

[Joan M Pernoud, MD]

This sounds like contact dermatitis.

Stop using all make-up or creams anywhere on the body and use 1% hydrocortisone over the counter about 3 times a day (I like the cream much better than the ointment).

Then the hard part to figure out what you are allergic to. You might wish to get skin tested by a dermatologist or just eliminate anything touching your body anywhere (chemically) and stop hand creams, nail polish, fragrances, dust, newsprint, complex soaps or detergents, etc. (use neutrogena soap and ivory or dreft detergent only). Then add on one item at a time every few days and see what incites this reaction. Some people are helped by increasing magnesium intake after about a week of taking full strength magnesium supplement over the counter.

[Lerbea]

I to had this problem with make up and other things.  The only kind I am able to wear is Merle Norman.  I'd gladly pay $100.00 for eye shadow.

[eyelidhelp]

I also have been dealing with swollen, itchy, cracked eyelids on and off for about 3 years.

The problem first occured a few years ago randomly. I had gone a couple weeks without wearing eyeshadow and when I wore it again, I got the symptoms described above. I thought I may be allergic to my eyeshadow or that it somehow got bacteria on it, so I threw it out and purchased new eyeshadow. Same thing happened. I switched brands to a hypoallergenic one and again, swollen, itchy and cracked eyelids. I thew out my old eyeshadow applicators and brushes and bought new ones. Still happened!

I thought maybe it was my eyeliner or foundation or mascara. But after I went a few days just wearing those three (both by themselves and together), I was fine so long as I didn't wear eyeshadow. I thought maybe it was my nail polish. But even when I wear my nail polish I'm okay. My eyelid problem seems to only happen when I wear any eyeshadow. I've worn eyeshadow since my teens, so how is it that I'm all of a sudden allergic to any and all eyeshadow???

I went to 2 dermatologists and both gave me a prescription for a light hydrocortizone and both thought it was "something" I'm doing or touching that is causing this to happen. Real specific... I know. But I haven't switched cleansers, shampoos or products that would introduce a new chemical reaction on my eyelids. I'm using all the same stuff I have been well before I started experiencing this problem.

I thought maybe it's blepharitis and i've been doing the home cleansing w/ baby shampoo. But it doesn't seem to be helping when I wear eyeshadow.

Anyone else having similar issues?

[kimliz]

I had the exact same problem as the last poster, and I went to a website I saw recommended by a poster on another thread--cosmeticsdatabase.com.  (This site rates cosmetics/body care products on a scale of 0-10, with the scale referring to the product's chances of causing an allergic reaction.  I found some eyeshadows that were rated 0, and I tried them, and they worked great for me.  The shadows (they also sell other ultra-hypoallergenic make-up and skin care products) not only didn't cause my eyelids to react, they actually seemed to help with the final stages of healing.  (I didn't put the shadows on until my eyes were done swelling and peeling and back to normal except for some residual pinkness.  Anyway, the website that sells these products is coastalclassiccreations.com.  The shadows are loose and take some practice to apply, but for me it was worth having to re-learn a skill--at least I can wear eye shadow again!  (I have no affiliation/financial interest in these products--I'm simply a very satisfied consumer.)  I hope this helps someone...

[allmymarbles]

If you stop wearing any eye makeup for a while at least you will know for sure if it is the makeup that is causing the problem.