Sore, puffy, dry, red eyelids... Help needed, as my pharmascist is the definition of useless!

Apologiies in advance for this crazily long post- perhaps if I had forced my pharmacist to read all of this, he might have actually been helpful.....


For the last few weeks I have been suffering from incredibly sensitive eyes/eyelids which are red, dry and sore, similar to sunburn. I initially thought it was because of some cheap make-up remover wipes that I used to take off my mascara. Although I had been using them for a while, they soon started to sting and burn the area around my eyes whenever I used them. The use of any eye make-up other than mascara would result in a stinging sensation, which varied in terms of severity. Moisturiser and even baby-lotion would burn my skin. Since then however, I have been using some Garnier make-up wipes, made for sensitive skin and the problem seemed to get a bit better, although eyeshadow was still strictly off-limits. But then, last Sunday, my eyes had gone back to their previous state, of being very red and sore. I hadn't worn any make-up or used any products on or near my eyes at all on Sunday, so I'm confused as to what caused it to return.

On Monday and Tuesday, several people commented on the state of my eyes, especially the right one, which seemed to be in a worse condition. My eyelids were dry and painful to touch, especially in the corner and it was continuously weeping, until yesterday afternoon when it seemed to heal up to the point where it looked sore, but no longer felt it.

And then today- my awful eyes are worse than ever. While my actual eyes are fine, my eyelids are large,  puffy and as per usual- RED. My left one was expectionally bad, where it was almost hard to keep open. Since the day has gone on, they've somewhat improved, although they remain puffy and red.

One more thing- it may or may not be related but yesterday morning I woke up with a dry, red, sore patch of skin around the left corner of my mouth. When covered up with makeup, it's not so bad, but still notciable and sometimes itchy. I put on some E45 cream today, as I thought this would help, but I think it made it worse as it started stinging and burning almost immediatley. I never had this before, only since the problem has returned to my eyelids. Related, perhaps?

What is going on with my evil, crazy eyes?! I look awful, as I'm very pale and the contrast between my pale face with the random red patch near my mouth and my dry, puffy eyelids makes me resemble something out of a horror film... :( Any ideas of what the problem could be or how to fix it? Or has anyone else suffered similar symptoms? All help would be greatly appreciated. :)

Alex.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The list of things that might cause this is extensive and long. Dry eyes, eye or eyelid infections, blepharitis, thyroid eye disease, corneal problems, allergies, eyelid abnormalities to name a few.

You will need to make an appointment with an Eye MD physician-ophthalmologist to work through the causes.

While waiting you can use warm compresses to the eye and get some Refresh-PM which you can apply to the eyelids and eyes at bedtime to moisturize them and for day time use preservative free artificial tears (they come in individual twist top vials).

JCH III MD

[onix600]

Thanks for your help. I always thought it would be unlikely that anyone would be able to say, "THIS is the problem & THIS is how you fix it....", but it was worth a shot.
Incidently, my eyes have improved hugely over the last 24 hours after the use of some eye drops... I'm thinking it might have been blepharitis as the eye drops I used were supposed to heal it.
Thanks again.

Alex.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You are welcome, glad things are better.

JCH III MD

[cdaley]

I'm having the exact problem you described (including the use of eye makeup remover wipes, down to the red patch on the 'right' corner of my mouth). I've been doing the hot compresses on my eyes and using Cetaphil lotion on my dry patch and eyelids. The dry patch is gone now, but the sore eyelids remain. Did you ever get a diagnosis from a doctor??

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[Anna1978uk]

I am having the same problems you describe Alex. It came on from nowhere, I am 30 and have been wearing make up every day for 15 years and for the last 12 months my eyelids have been getting progressively worse. I also have a random 2cm diameter dry patch of skin on my cheek.

People are work have started to comment on my eyes which is starting to get to me. I am still wearing make up and eye shadow, mainly to cover it up but I am starting to believe its eyeshadow (although this doesn't explain the dry patch on my cheek). I am bridesmaid for two of my friends next May 09 and I really want to get it sorted out - I look like something out of Thriller with zero make up on! Its starting to affect my confidence.

I can't think it is any different products I am using, my doctor has only prescribed me Alphaderm steriod cream but that just burns (when it gets in my eye) and makes the skin custy. I will do the above but what is causing this to us all?!!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

-

[mysoulheloves]

I don't wear makeup at all and use only Eucerin skin care products and still have this same problem (ie - I don't think it has anything to do with makeup).  It seems to come on every year when the weather changes.  It seems a bit allergy related for me as I notice I also have a bit of nasal drainage.  But I don't know of any kind of antihistamine eye cream.  I goop on the moisturizer at night but it doesn't seem to really help with the redness.  I've had this problem for years.  My last attempt to get help the guy at the front desk at my eye doc told me to see a dermatologist.  So the search continues.  

[ladytalking]

Why blame the pharmacist? He or she is not an MD.

[semchic]

I'm having the same problem and wonder if it has something to do with age and weather.  I'm 31, hve had the problem come and go for about a year now and it seemed to have started from nowhere.  I've always worn make-up but I've tried switching make-up, cleansers, brushes etc and every couple of months it still comes back in my right eye.  Products designed for sensitive eyes don't help.

My doctor told me to start washing my eyes with baby shampoo instead of eye make-up remover and that has helped reduce the puffiness and itchiness.  My dermatologist also prescribed a steroid cream but I'm reluctant to use a steroid cream on my eye.

ONyx 600- What is the name of the eye drops that helped the blepharitis?  I'm want to try that next.

[Lena27]

Hi everyone,

I am 28 years old and developed the sympoms you all described around September 2008.  The only thing is that I never had a drye patch next to my mouth.  I wore any brand/type makeup all my life and I used cosmetics, parfumes and detergent all these years without any issues.

I saw an eye doctor first back in September 2008 who prescribed Alrex (steroid eye drops) and Optiva (moisturizer).  Alrex worked like a charm, in two days I was back to normal.  After my prescription was done in about 6 weeks I decided not to refill it and in about 2 days all symptoms came back.  I refilled my prescription and in 2 days I felt relived again.  In November 2008 I saw my primary care physician for full physical who asked whether I use any medication and I said Alrex.  After primary care physician learned that I have been using Alrex for 3 months, she advised that I see an allergist or go back to an eye doctor since steroid medication like Alrex is not recommended for prolonged use and can lead to complications.

December 2008 I saw an allergist and was tested for sesonal stuff, dust and cat dog stuff- all the usual.  None come up - none.  The allergist confirmed that I am not allergic.  I was given eye drops to relieve itchy red eyes and was advised by the allergist to avoid using Alrex, which allergist suggested is not a cure for the problem.
  
For 2 weeks I was fighting the symptoms, with and without the eye drops, Allegra, Claritin and other Allergy and Dry eye relieve drops - none of it worked - none.  Lubricants didn't do anything either- my eyes are dry and puffy, red and bumpy.  Regardless of whether I use or don't use makeup some days I wakeup and can't even open my eyes.

January 2009 I went back to see the allergist and begged him to prescribe Alrex to me.  I was reminded that Alrex is not a solution to my problem, but rather a temporary relief.  I was told that I will not be prescribed Alrex.  I was offered a test to see whether I am allergic to common chemicals in products, and in the meanwhile I was told to make an appointment to see dermatologist.  So, here I am sitting scrathing my eyes and wondering whether the patches on my back will bring any results - follow-up is in 2 days.  At this point I want to be allergic to something, anything, so I can get a medication that works.

The plan is: if test comes out positive than I will know which chemicals to aviod.  If test comes out negative I would have to see a dermatologist and the eye doctor again.

I hope that all of you got some kind of relief and bring my sympothy to all of you, since I know exactly how it feels....:(
If any of you found a solution please post it here so we can hopefully find a relief.
Thank you.

[Blonde_pony]

We are all a member of this awful red swollen eyelid club I guess with no real answers to our problem.  Except for maybe one thing that I found in almost all body, face and hand creams, and makeup and even hair conditioner that maybe our problem.  It is called methylparaben, and it is and additive that is prevalent in most of our external products we all use daily.  It has been banned in Europe and Canada but not in our own beloved USA!  Shockig to say the least.  I went to a web site called www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
and typed in my favorite hand cream.  Low and behold there was the ingredient Methylparaben with all the hazards it causes and it causes skin irritation $  to eyes  as well as other horrors.  Check it out for yourself and be ready for some shocking information.
I read all ingredients now and buy carcenagen free ingredients in all my makeup and creams and my eyes are way better!.  I am not a doctor but no doctor I have been to knows what this eye problem I had was, and I have been to four doctors even an eye doctor.  SO, what I am saying is, this ingredient may or may not be YOUR partticular problem, but I know my skin around my eyes are not itchy or burn and red anymore after eliminating products with Methylparaben in them! Hope this helps any of you.  My heart goes out to you all, for I have suffered for a year and a half with this too.  All my thoughts and prayers to you all.  .

[Phoebe3]

i seem to have the exact same thing that alex described! back in january i woke up and one eyelid was huge and swollen. i thought it was just an allergic reaction as sometimes i got that in the mornings. but it was still there the next day. i stopped wearing any make up just in case i was allergic to it. my eyelid was really red and very dry. then it spread to my other eye.
i have had this problem for 4 months now and nothing i do seems to make it go away. my mother is convinced it's stress related as i have had a lot of exams to deal with recently, but no matter how much i try to relax, no matter if i moisturise daily and wear absolutley no make up, my eyes remain red, sore and very itchy.
its so ugly! i have loads of wrinkles under my eyes where i have swollen up so many times and been rubbing my eyes. my eyebrows are thinning because i keep rubbing them (though i try so hard not to!) and i feel rubbish. i went to a GP about it and he gave me some antihistamines which haven't done anything, and some hydrocortisone, but because its on my eyes i can't put it on for more than a week. its obvious that it hasn't been very effective!
i have noticed that salt water seems to make the problem worse. for example when i sweat or cry, my eyes sting really badly.
please! does anyone know what could help me?
phoebe
x

[Tadgh151]

I have just developed the same thing. it started in march, thought it was too much studying, eye cremes ect.

I am also in Canada so that rules out that chemical you have in your products that starts with M since we don't have it here but we do have this puffy eye syndrome, redness, stinging, sunburning feeling. Mine are also peeling.

Don't know what to do either. Your posts let me know that I am in for a run around. Thanks for the heads up.

Glad you posted,

Amanda

[MLStein]

My MD just switched me from Alrex to Optivar drops (a non-steroid antihistamine).  Maybe you can ask your MD about using that.

[Alena11]

Hi, I have lower lid problem since January 2009. Both lower lids become puffy, a little bit itchy, red and visibly dry. I went to ophthalmologist and was prescribed Tobradex (antibiotic/corticosteroid). This medication helped after I used it for a couple of weeks. I stopped using it, and everything was fine for a while, my lower eyelids were back to normal, without that awful wrinkles and puffiness and redness. But in about 10-14 days the problem started again. I again used Tobradex for about 3-4 days. Everything went back to normal, but all the symptoms are back once more. I don't use cosmetics, except for a facial cream (which I don't apply near the eyes) and an eye cream (Clinique), which I stopped using once I got this problem. I wash my face with cold or warm water only. Please help, I don't want using Tobradex forever. I'm also wearing contacts and it's not an option for me to stop wearing them.

[Linda72347]

Two days ago, I noticed a sore under my right eyelid...lids are puffy and red and hurt. I went to my eye doctor yesterday...didn't wait...she said i had a clogged eye duct, She gave me  steroid eye drops to take 3x daily. She told me to put hot compresses on it 2x daily. I was told that it may take a few weeks to heal. I searched the problem and it appears that infants have this...is this really what I have? It hurts.....Please help. Never had problems with eyes...I am 61.

[dinkee]

I have been searching for some kind of answer to my eyelid problem which sounds very similar to all of your guys' problems. What seems to continually be dismissed by any of my doctors is that it is NOT my eye, but rather my EYELID.
I am 34 and I woke up one day with a huge puffy, red, stinging, burning eyelid. My initial thought was allergies as I do suffer from them, but no antihistamines have worked. It normally lasts 4-6 days at a time but the strangest thing is that when the welling finally goes away, my eyelids actually get almost scabby and start pealing. It burns and is miserable. There seems to be no consistent behavior that brings it on either.
I went to a homeopathic doctor who told me it was perhaps hormonal. I had blood tests which were fine as well. I have kept food, activity and medication logs for 3 months and there seems to be no correlation to any of it. I am starting to really freak out that there is something serious going on and no doctors want to take the time to figure it out.
I am starting to wonder if perhaps this is a side effect of some kind of mold I cant see. I need a "Dr.House"....is anyone out there that help us poor women.

[Jesizadie]

Me tooo!!! red puffy itchy flakey eyelids, I went to a pharmacist, and she said she has  had the same problem and that its a fungus, she told me to use lamasil (athletes' foot creme), and so far all the looks of the problem have gone away, its just still kinda itchy, but i think its working, i just started using it a couple of days ago, so we will see.
Hope this helps anyone,
Im just tired of being ugly, without makeup :/

[SoreEyes2009]

Re: Dry/Sore/Burning/Flaky/Puffy/Itchy Eyelids=Nice!!!
Hi Alex ------ READ CAREFULLY:
I have experienced the same problems as you for a while.  Checked out on the internet and followed some advice: e.g. I bought "MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream" from the Bay ($36 + tax) - but it didn't help. I couldn't find avocado oil, recommended by someone on the internet.
The doctor prescribed me Hyderm Cream 1% - (or Hydrocortisone Acetate 1%)" to use twice a day (morning and night).  Plus, at night, he said I should add (don't laugh!) Preparation H (which is for hemorroydes) on top of the first cream;  he said this would reduce the puffiness within a week.  I followed this treatment for 3-4 days and my eyelids went better, but not 100%. I still felt some dryness (it's like letting egg white dry on the sking...)
What has made me feel REALLY BETTER is this:
1. Use a "beauty mist" or a 'face spa' - you can buy it from any cosmetics department (for about $40-50).  Add 2 camomile tea bags in the water and keep your face (especially your upper part) in the steam for 10-15 min.  
If you don't want to spend the money on the spa, a cheaper method is this:  boil water in a saucepan, add 2-3 camomile tea bags, take the saucepan away from stove, keep your face over it with a towel covering your head and saucepan, so that you capture all the steam onto your face.
2. Apply this excellent Eye Repair Cream around your eyes: "Obsessively EYEWITNESS Organic" produced by 'Kiss My Face Corporation'.  It costs $16.49 + tax at SuperStore in the organic section of the store.
For the first time after a long discomfort I have felt relief and my eyelid skin gets to normal.
It is essential you don't rub or touch your eyes with dirty hands and do throw out all your makeup and start fresh with quality items (doctor recommended MAC).  
I personally have difficulty in finding a good makeup removal.  Remaining makeup cloggs the pores and over time it creates this eyelid problem.  That is why, 'beauty mist' steam is extremely beneficial, as it does an in-depth skin cleaning.  A little makeup break or very little use of makeup is also good for your skin.
I hope this helps (in fact, I'm sure it will help you)!  Good luck!

DD

[devandry]

I had the same problems with my eyelids - ichy, swollen, dry, then the skin would just peel off - it was awful.  I went to the doctor who sent me to the dermatologist.  They said I was allergic to something but did not know what.  I also have RLS (restless leg syndrome) and at night I would take Advil to help alleviate the symptoms.  I realize now that sometimes I would take Aleve instead of the Advil and that is when my eyes would swell up and burn and itch.  I looked up Aleve online and it said that sometimes it causes rashes, swelling, etc.  It is the naproxine that is in Aleve that was causing my problem.  I have not taken Aleve for over 2 years now and have not had a flare up.  I hope this helps.

SD

[steph8062]

I just started having this problem about two weeks ago and the thing that has helped so far is maximum strength Neosporin + pain relief. It works right away with the itching and the peeling but there is still some discomfort on my left lid. I use it for a day or two but then it comes back a week later. So I guess it's time to see the doc. I'm 31 and this all knew to me the only thing I have done different is join the Y and use the sauna and the pool.

[Ames69]

I have had this too for the last few weeks. Only on one eyelid. Dry, sore and red. The skin is kind of strectched, it's very weird. Nivea made it worse. So I went to pharmacy and got aqueous cream as she thought thats about all you can use on your eyes. Anyway, it's not better although slightly improved, it's still very itchy and dry and pink. I
might go to the docs but reading all your posts possibly a waste of time, like normal. I'm in the UK so can't be thay ingredient and I haven't changed anything either, and it's only on one eyelid. Mysterious.

[Ashley180]

you all could be allergic to Formaldehyde. This chemical compound is found in pretty much all beauty products- shampoos, nail polish, lotion, make up, clothes, you name it.

[Cyn11]

I feel so relieved to have stumble across this forum!  I can't believe how many have these exact same symptoms!  Mine developed around Feb/Mar 09.  I am in my 50's, redhead fair complexion and I have always worn make-up (lightly). I thought the problem first started when I tried a new brand of make-up BUT ...my story is the same, I stopped all make-up, used nothing harsh on my skin and no improvements.  Neosporin was my first relieve along with a gentle skin toner.  Two days ago it flared up again and that is why I'm back in search of an answer!  I'm going to try the steaming and fungus creme... I too want this gone and to be able to use eye shadow again!  I'll keep watching your posts and I'll let you know if I have "great" results!  Thanks ALL

[FiveMittens]

I can't believe I just found this board.  When I was reading all of your posts, I felt like I was writing it all myself.  I actually have tried everything also to figure out what is going on.  

My problem is I get an itchy, swollen, red, eyelid on my right side when I wake up.  This occurs about every 2-3 weeks.  Then I also get almost like an acne rash on the right side of my mouth, lower jaw.  I also get a nose sore, again on my right side.  

I went on-line to see if this has anything to do with allerigies, that is what I was thinking about.  Cremes sting like crazy when I put on my eyelid when it's inflamed. What is going on?  I am 33 and this all started about a year ago.  Very frusterating.

[ossie555]

I've suffered from some of these symptoms.My GP advise to use 1% Hydrocortisone ointment with caution as it actually ages your skin.However I have found Aloevera soothin and efective relief. if applied at overnight.
Give it a go it works for me.

[Starboard]

Hi everyone,

I've went through this entire thread and there seems to be a lot of conflicting causes and varying symptoms. I don't wear make-up and have been using Lubriderm on my whole face since I was 15 (I'm 32 now). I suddenly developed "the eyelid problem" about two months ago.

It started with dry, stiff upper eyelids and then progressed to redness, lines and puffiness. Putting lotion on would offer some relief in the first month, but now this problem has moved to my lower lids and the skin is looking kind of like "aligator" consistency (ie- wrinkling that's in squares, instead of just lines across the lids). Putting lotion on now actually stings mildly and the skin still feels stiff, despite the lotion. Plus now it's itchy.

I made an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow, as I can't take this anymore. Has anyone who's not a make-up wearer experienced what I'm describing? This is absolute misery and looks terrible!!

Thanks and I hope we are all able to find some resolution to this problem soon. I'll report what I find out from the doctor's tomorrow when I get back.

[Minka85]

Hey everyone,

I too am currently suffering from a flare-up of very red, itchy, dry and sometimes swollen eyelids. I get this every once and awhile, and for me i know is caused by allergies. Sometimes when i start getting those irritated itchy eyes from allergies i end up rubbing (and sometimes even  scratching - BAD, i know!) my eyes like crazy which later turns into inflammed bright red, itchy and puffy eyelids. This eventually turns into dry, scaling and then peeling skin on my lids. Then once the redness subsides i am left with a brown colouring around my eyelids (like what your skin looks like after sunburn). Anyway, i have searched the internet looking for an answer to what this condition acually is, and believe that (for me personally) it is due to (allergic) contact dermatitis of the eyelid. Here are just a couple of sites that may be helpfull to some of you:

http://www.parkhurstexchange.com/node/5136

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1197726-overview


**Please note that in no way am i suggesting that this is the answer to any of your problems, and if you are really concerned then you should definately consult a GP, Dermatologist etc. to get a definate diagnosis.


Anyway, the only way for me to treat my problem is to follow these steps:

1.) Itchy eyes: First and foremost do not rub, scratch eyes as this will only lead to more irritation, redness and swelling (possibly even an infection). For really itchy eyes i find that for me personally the best thing is to refrain from touching my eyes as much as possible (no matter how itchy - even if it drives me crazy) and to apply a cool compress which seems to help eleviate some of the itching.

2.) Swollen puffy eyelids:  For this i usually use a cool compress which i apply to my eyes several times a day. You could also use cold tea bags which are great also.

In the past i have also suffered from bacterial conjuntivitis which i experienced similar symptoms, one of which being massive swelling of my eyelid which would last for days (usually it only occured in one eye, though sometimes it would spread to both.) as well as severe redness and burning in my eye, for which i consulted my doctor. For this i was prescribed some Clorsig ointment for my eye and sometimes also antibiotic tablets if the case was severe. Therefore if you are experiencing some massive swelling and soreness of your eyelids it could be a sign of an infection, so you should consult your doctor so that they can prescribe some antibiotics or meds to help soothe the problem.

3.) Dry, Red eyelids: Ok, there really isn't much you can do to stop the redness other than not rub your eyes or apply anything which will irritate your lids even more. The only thing i feel safe applying to my already irritated lids to help with the dryness is 100% pure Vitamin E oil. It can be a little sticky and feel a little strange but it doesn't burn or irritate my eyelids and it's great for burns, rashes and abrasions, aswell as dry, cracked skin. Anyway, it seems to work for me.


Well thats pretty much it. it's not a miracle cure, and it does take a few day for results to settle in. I know it won't be the solution to everyones problem, but i hope some of this information will be of use to some of you.  

[Sdevandry]

Hi.  I had exactly the same symptoms as you.  Red, itchy, burning eyelids.  I felt like someone was holding a match to my eyelids and burning them.  The only relief I would get would be from a cool compress (or ice cubes) which would stop the burning.  After a few days my eyelids would then dry up and the skin would peel off my eyelids.  Just like a sunburn and peel.  I didn't know what was causing it. It was happening every month.  I would just get done peeling and it would happen again.  Very frustrating.  I went to my doctor who sent me to a dermatologist.  Nobody knew what was causing it but they both agreed it was an allergic reaction to something.

I have RLS (restless leg syndrome) and at night I would take Advil if needed.  We were in Hawaii on vacation and my legs were bothering me, so I went to take some Advil.  I forgot to bring the Advil but I did bring Aleve and so I took that instead.  After about 1 hour my eyes started burning and itching like crazy.   Looking back I realized that all the times before when I had this problem I had taken Aleve.  When I got back home I went to the doctor and he said that I was allergic to naproxen which is in Aleve.  If you look up naproxen on the web you will see that it causes rashes, swelling, itching, etc.  I am now very careful not to take any medicine that has naproxen in it.  This was 3 years ago and I have not had a reaction in 3 years.  

I  have read through everyone's comments on this thread.  A lot of people have been talking about make up that may be causing the problem.  Many have talked about using different lotions to help alleviate the pain and discomfort.  They really need to keep track daily of medicines, foods, lotions, etc. to see what is triggering their attacks.  It is definately an allergic reaction and the only way they are going to stop this is to find out what the root cause is.  The cause of my allergic reaction was naproxen which was taken internally - not from anything external.  

I don't know if anyone else has takien Aleve and have had these same symptoms.  I hope this information helps others.

[celrocks]

i have somthing like alex said but my eye is not dry its puffy and pink and it BURNS i also have really bad head aches and the bone close to my eye thats puffy and burnsthat bone puffy and sore but its not pink do you know what i have

[Cyn11]

I'm reporting back. I tried to find the common thread amongst all of these and I'm not sure there is one, we may be looking at a couple three different sources to the eye problem.  I don't use Aleve or anything else similar to it.  Ruled out for me.

Age is not a factor as we have ladies of all ages.

The past 4 days I have been treating it like a fungus and have had major results. I think I developed this during the winter months when I was snug in a warm bed (we burn wood in the winter) and heat rises to our upper level.  I'd wake up "sweating" from the room temperature being way too warm. (Not hot flashes!)

My last major flare up came last week after doing yard work on a hot day and I was "dripping".  My eyes took no time at all to become red, swollen and sore again. (Mind you ... between major flare ups, I never truly went back to normal, always a mild pink tone with peeling.

I started on Tinactin antifungal cream for ahlete's foot this past Wednesday. The redness and dry flakes went away following the first treatment. I actually wore a little eye shadow to work yesterday for the first time in weeks without any problems.  My doctor said that this is a safe product FOR ME to use as long as I do not get it in my eyes. (I apply with a Q-Tip) Infact, since this started I have used Q-Tips so that I do not spread it anywhere else.  He said I may have to use this twice a day for 2 to 4 weeks...applied very "lightly".  I have no problem with that as long as it goes entirely away.  If not, he also said we could try a corticosteriod. .. which I would rather avoid doing.

I would appreciate hearing back from Jesizadie and any others that have solved the problem for any length of time.  Good Luck to you ALL!!!!!

[slippersue]

About 2 months I woke up with an itchy corner of my left eye lid, I thought I had been bitten by something in the night as there seemed to be a bit of lump under the eyelid.  Anyway as the days went on the redness, itchyness and soreness grew and spread on that eyelid.  And then it went to the other eyelid.  All the time I was putting some pure aloe vera gelly on it and also some vitamin E oil.  The bit in the corner of the left eye got better or in fact it all moved to the crease of my upper eyelid between the eyelid and the eyebrow, on both eyelids and there it stayed for the next few weeks.  All the time I was applying the aloe vera gelly and some aloe vera gelly and propolis creme.  It stung a lot when I applied it but I thought that must mean it's doing some good.  The whole eyelid area was quite swollen and if I didn't put cream on very tight and dry and scaly, it was horrible and I looked awful and felt depressed especially when I looked on the internet and found this forum, I felt I was doomed to a life of puffy, itchy, sore, red eyelids.

I had been to the doctor and he recommended 1% hydrocortisone cream, which I was reluctant to use because he said not to tell the chemist what I was using it for because they wouldn't give it me as it is not supposed to be used on the the face especially not close to the eyes.

I then spoke to a dermatologist acquaintance and she said use the hydrocortisone cream, just putting a small amount on the affected areas twice a day, then when it had cleared it up to GRADUALLY wean yourself off it, use it once a day and then every other day and then every two days, otherwise the condition could come back.  If this didn't work she said to go back to the doctor and ask to see a specialist.

Anyway so far IT HAS WORKED and my eyelids are now back to normal.  I can't tell you how relieved I am, although I know everyone who has this problem will understand.  Perhaps many things cause these symptoms and so the same cure won't work for everyone, but I hope this helps someone.

[Kar4211]

This is the second time this has happend to me in the last month or so.  I went to the doctor, he said it is some kind of fungus.  Get this he told me to use "Athlete's Foot Cream" on my eyelids.  Well I did and the inflamation (inflammation) and redness has gone away for now.  I am very anel about touching and rubbing my eyes.  "don't know"?  have not worn eye make up and always look like I am tired.  After reading all of your comments, this has to be something enviormental.  God knows.  

[Pudge55]

I have been suffering with the same horrible eye problems as everyone here.  I will see another doctor (again).  But until then, 3 things have helped:
1) Putting a special cover over my pillow (a zippered one that goes over the pillow before you put the pillowcase on) and washing it and the pillowcase frequently has helped.
2) Warm compresses
3) A touch of Cetaphil to the dry corner of the eye.

Good luck; I am awaiting any more news from all of you.

[shelliedrez]

I just woke up with a puffy pinkish eyelid on my right eye yesterday morning.I had burning sensations just in my right eyelid before it showed up.It started a few days ago.I also have a sore right outside of my left nostril.I also have been getting strange raised red bumps on my leg&arm.They start out itchy then burning.I know you cant do this to your eye but after I shower I apply hair conditioner on any bumps(good for acne&mosquito bites too)and leave on for couple minutes then rinse off.This takes a few days but it really helps.It could very well be contact dermatitis.I wash my hands a lot because I have cats.I just started applying neosporin on eyelid.But I really think using a q-tip instead of finger is best so dont spread infection.

[slippersue]

Well, my success with sorting out my red eyelid problem didn't last long,  I noticed some dry patches coming in the corner of my eye lid next to my nose on both eyelids and the next day, red, burning, puffy sore eyelids back again.

Rang doctor and he said use the hydrocortisone cream again, which I did and it has cleared it up, but don't want to have to keep using it, as skin will thin and veins bulge.

Am now trying Graph 200 homeopathic pills, and vitamin E oil on the eyelids.

I think it might be eyelid eczema, which can be caused by low self esteem, which would fit at the moment.  I think this is a chronic condition that you just have to manage.  I'm going to try and raise my self esteem!

[Catherine_Rose]

Hey you guys! My name is Rose; Im 19 and surprise surprise I have the same thing wrong with my eyelids and underneath them. Well my friend's son has had excema since he was born and he's 4 now. She took a look at my eyes and she said it looks just like his sores on his body thats on my eyes. She let me try some of his steroid cream and his strong antibiotic ointment and it has cleared up almost completely overnight. Im relieved finally! My eyelids were so bad that they were bleeding, red, swollen, and a layer of skin peeled off on top of my eyelids and underneath them everyday. I could barely put my makeup on everyday because my skin was sooo raw from the peeling but I had to, otherwise I'd look like a freakshow in a horror movie. IT WAS THAT BAD! I had tried taking allergy medicine because I have cats and I thought I was becoming allergic to pets and their pet dander but it didn't help, not even with the swelling. This has been going on for months now but now it looks so much better and the pain is gone. I dont know what sparked this but it jus showed up one day. I hadn't changed anything I had used like makeup, facial lotions, shampoo..nothing. I had just woke one day and this painful process started. But anyways, I also put a mixture of coconut oil and tea tree oil on my eyes every night and it helps too. It moisturizes and repairs your skin. I think everyone with this problem should give this a try. It helped me and Im sooo thankful!!!!

[skclay]

Ok, so I've read all these posts, here's my story...

--Started over Christmas break 2008/2009, so about 8 months ago.  We always spend X-mas at our old fashioned lakehouse with a wood burning fire place.  It can get hot at night under all the blankets and my room is on the top floor where heat rises.  I woke up one morning with red, puffy, dry eye lids and red, puffy dry skin right under my eyes.  I had just started using a new eye cream from Clinique, which I promptly stopped using.  Obviously, I wasn't stressed over X-mas break, so I thought it might be the eye cream or just the dry cold air from winter.

--It starts to happen every 2 to 4 weeks all during the spring semester at school.  I tried to think of common things that happened each time.  
     *I thought it might be the sun, bc I had been going to the tanning bed, which I promptly stopped doing (it's
       horrible for you skin anyways).  But then it happened one morning after it had been raining the previous day,
       so I ruled out the sun.
     *I thought it might be my laundry detergent on my pillows, bc it always starts in the morning, like I'll just wake
      up with red, puffy, dry skin all around my eyes.  I thought i might be allergic to something in my laundry
      detergent, but then I started using the non-allergy kind that is #1 recommended by dermatologists and it still
      kept happening :(
     *I thought it might be my makeup, but I will go days without wearing my makeup and then it will just randomly
      happen.

I finally go to the dermatologist, which starts my endless co-pays with no results!  She told me to use Cetaphil facewash and moisturizer, which the face wash has the methylparaben (which is apparently banned in Canada and UK but not USA).  The face wash is ranked 7 out of 10 on the hazard scale on the www.cosmeticsdatabase.com website and is considered high hazard... thanks dermatologist!! (complete sarcasm)
She also gave me a steroid based cream to use the first couple times I went, but she said that can't be used long term, so I when it kept happening, she said to come in for a skin allergy test...I did the whole patches on my back thing for a week and the results said I am severely allergic to nickel which we decided is probably in my eyeglasses frame, so I bought plastic glasses...and it still happens!!! Arg!!  So, the dermatologist gave me this eczema medicine that is the consistency of vaseline that literally burns the **** out of my skin and makes it itch a million times more!!  So, now I am at an ultimate complete loss for words, my frustration level is high!

Just out of curiosity, how many of you guys have some form of red hair and fare skin??  B/c I have Irish in me, and I have a red tent to my hair and am definitely fare.  My family worships the sun and I always felt like the odd ball out, so i would just end up getting really sun burned a lot.  I'm 21 and really wonder if I've done permanent damage to the skin around my eyes!!!!!!  I'm terribly afraid!

Maybe it is the fungus, bc i do wear contacts and am probably not the best about washing my hands before I put them in/take them out, but then wouldn't my actual eye ball get messed up?!?  All I know is it is frustrating as anything!

[catklein]

This exact thing has happened to me every two weeks for about two months. so frustrating. If you get something that helps, how do you know if it really is working because it goes away in a couple of days anyway and is regularly coming back

I am at a loss and i hate it. Makes me look old and feels terrible.

My doc basically told me to slowly stop using everything. That helps. Not.

I am going to see my dermatologist soon but don't feel hopeful that she will find the answer.

I wish someone could just tell us what the heck it is.  : (

[EchoM]

This has just started happening to me too. I am 44. It is only on my left eyelid, just at the outer corner. I have tried pure Aloe, Hyderm creme and Blistex Medicated Ointment. The Blistex seems to be working! I have been putting it on at night before sleep for 4 nights in a row now and things have cleared up nicely. I think I will stop using it now and see if this problem develops again. In the meantime, I hope this can provide you with some relief.

[MissSharon]

This started happening to me in June.  I am 44 and this started out on both eyelids and looked like I gotten burned on my eyelids.  There is swelling, itching and redness.  I tried Neosporin first and it was a big mistake.  My eyes swelled up and were redder and itchier than ever.  Then I combed through the internet and found that there are lots of us with this problem and many were going to the doctor with no results, so I decided not to spend the money for a doctor to tell me to stop makeup, stop this and to stop that, with no results......Antifungal cream has helped the best.  I've put it around my eyes twice a day and it's helped.  The redness is mostly gone. I just have scaling for the most part.  What I have noticed the most in the last three months is that it flares up the worst around my period.  I suspect this is all hormonal and I need to take the next step to find a specialist in Dallas to help me.  I suspect this is a matter of balance in my system at this point since there is a flare up at the same time the last three months.  I'll keep you all posted as to what I find out.....

[anjolina]

Its just aweful. I have had this puffy, red, tender eye thing for about a week now. My right eye is swollen and red. Both eyes have this patchy dry spots on them. Everybody has mention dry eyelids but has anyone had dry patches? I have dry flaky patches under my eye and above my eyelid on the brow bone. HEEEELLLPPPPP :(

[slippersue]

I've solved by red, sore, puffy eyelid problem.  I've been clear now for a month having been plagued with the problem since the beginning of June.
On 19th August I went to see a woman who specialises in getting rid of allergies.  I was at my wits end, I just couldn't get rid of the problem, basically I was keeping it controlled with cortisone cream, using it as little as possible, but having to keep using it.  

This lady uses a technique called NAET, she confirms your various allergies using kinesiology and then clears them with NAET.

I went to her every week for 5 weeks, and she gradually cleared my allergies one by one and during that time I had to use the cortisone cream less and less and the last week I didn't use it at all, and I haven't used it since.  During the treatment I used Aqueous Cream to moisturise my eyelids and occasionally I use it now but less and less as time goes on.

My eyelids aren't back to their normal colour but they are not dry at all or itchy and definitely not swollen, so I'm very happy.

The lady said it was caused by an allergy because it was cleared by cortisone.

Hope this helps someone.

[des900]

Thyroid abnormalities can cause such problems,so its a good idea to take a complete thyroid function test.

[jellobug]

Hi guys...I have been suffering with this for close to 10 years now.  I find a 50/50 mixture of Hyderm Cream & Aquatain or Lubriderm works great.  I only put it on in the morning as Hyderm Cream is not good to use for prolonged periods.  Is 10 years too long?  Probably, but I have no clue what else to do.  If I skip a few days without the cream my eyes go all red and puffy again.  Crying doesn't help, makes it worse.  Tired and want to rub your eyes?  Forget it.  Any my doctor doesn't help.  

Keep posting your stories, maybe we'll figure this out for ourselves!

[bentleyandrew]

I am so excited I found this group!!  I have just experienced the same exact awful symptoms out of nowhere. . . I just realized that I have been taking Aleve instead of Tylenol lately and I just took another one a few days ago. . . I always thought I had a funny reaction to Aleve bu then thought I was just over analyzing some weird symptoms.  But now I think my scratchy throat and general discomfort are connected to taking Aleve!!  I also checked my "cheap" lotion I've been using that smells fabulous but has the "M" ingredient.  So I"m going to stop using both and see if my symptoms wain.  I hope so because I'm thrity-four and I have two babies and I already don't sleep!  It would be nice if my face didn't decide to have a night mare as well!

[justeyes]

Does anyone here dring Budweiser?  I'm almost ready to connect a Bud to the itchy and red eyelids.  It is horrible, just like you all have described.  I have put mentholatum on my eyelids, which sort of causes the puffiness to drain.  It is a good moisturizer too.

[Sdevandry]

Hi.  I posted a while back about Aleve.  I was using Advil on occasions for RLS, but when I didn't have Advil handy I used the Aleve.  I was having red, itchy swollen eyes about every two weeks and I didn't know what it was.  I went to the Dr. and a dermatologist who just said I was having an allergic reaction to something but they didn't know what it was.  We were on vacation in Hawaii and I was having a problem with my legs.  I had forgotten to bring Advil and so I took 2 Aleve.  Within 45 minutes my eyes were burning and stinging like someone put a match to them.  I put cold compresses on my eyes to cool them down.  I looked up Aleve and found out it had naproxen as a main ingredient and then I looked up naproxen and it does cause problems like this.  So I quit taking Aleve - that was 3 years ago - and I have been symptom free since.  Thank God I found out what I was allergic to.  There are other prescription medicines that also have naproxen as an ingredient.  It is hell to go through this and I hope and pray this is the answer for you as it was for me.  Good luck.  Sue

[LLJJKK]

Like all of you, I too have the same problems.  Went to three different doctors.  Was given several
types of eye drops and creams.  The one that really worked was Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream 0.1%.
After two days of using it twice a day, the red and puffiness cleared up. Hope this helps

[Peaches2009]

My 17 year old son started having dry, red, itchy eyelids and under the eye this fall.  I assumed it was allergy but cant pinpoint it.  My first step was a baking soda and water mixture to make sure the skin has an alkaline PH  since any irritated skin would not have an alkaline base.  This helped.  He also put aloe vera lotion at night.

That worked but then he started basketball practice and everyday after practice it would flare up big time...again the baking soda worked by morning but again flare up everyday after practice.  I decided the sweat was irritating it.

So I thought it might be fungus also, so instead of using a fungus cream that I felt might be risky on the eye, he is using organic apple cider vinegar...the vinegar will kill bacteria and change the ph.  It stung the first time but as it healed no longer stung.  After the vinegar dried he puts organic coconut oil on it, since coconut oil has properties that kill bacteria also.  

We just started this a couple days and its working so far.  I hope it goes away for good.

good luck

[bbent]

this thread was interesting, I've had my eye issue for about 3 weeks, i'm 32, don't drink Budweiser and don't use Aleve.  Mine started with my eyelids feeling like they were severely sunburnt.  Dry, tight, red.  Then they peeled, I bought eucerin's clear baby rash cream and put that on them at night, after about a week, they cleared up, still don't look "right".  Then this past weekend, i woke up and it looked like someone punched my in the eye, big red PUFFY circle around one of my eyes, so not the same burnt feeling, but now just dry and old looking, the puffiness has gone down a bit...but the HELL!!  I've procrastinated going to the dr.'s and reading all of this, it seems like it would be pointless.  With all of us having the same symptoms, does NO doctor know what this is???  HELP!

[ItchyMcScratcherson]

I am 26 years old. I have been having an issue with my eye for about a month. At 1st, I also thought it must be allergies, even though I have never had an allergy ever in my life. But the only symtom I had at first was itching. There was no redness or swelling. Then a few days later after uncontrollable itching it became red, and swollen. The affected area had creases in it, which I can only describe as "wrinkles." Still assuming I had possibly touched something, then touched my eye and was having an allergic reaction, I went to Rite Aid. I bought some Cortisone 10 and put it on my lid. *poof* It all went away...... for 2 or 3 days. Then it came back and the cream wasn't even helping. Then the lid began swelling, to the point that it was visible to others. I now have to wear sunglasses at all times because of my eye- it looks gross and people stare at it. Then I went to the doctor. She told me it was dermatitus, and I may have gotten it from sweat dripping into my eyes. This made sense to me because I had recently started exercising again. She prescribed Cortisporin Ophth Ointment, some eye drops, and told me to get some OTC Claritin. It went away for a week... then came back. NOW it's on both eyes, and on the Right eye it is spreading downward below my eye. Once the redness and swelling disappear, I am left with a dry scaly surface. If I rub it during this period of the cycle, it BURNS like it's cut open or something. It burns like heck. I haven't used any new products or anything. I can't figure it out. Haven't worn makeup in forever. It's frustrating. Now I have developed a rash on my arms, and near my armpits. I am thinking: mites (eeeew I hope not), or fungus. I am going shopping tonight for something called NEEM. I read on a board similar to this one, and almost everyone that tried it there said it worked. There's also something called Egyptian Magic that they were saying worked like a charm, but it's $36 a jar so I am going to start with Neem Oil, and Neem soap. The only problem is, I don't want a quickk fix. I hope this isn't something I will have to continue to do, I am REALLY searching for a permanent solution, but I will take what I can get for now. I will let you all know how the neem oil works out. Anybody else out there find anything out yet that can help?
OBSERVATION:
Has anyone here noticed that only women have posted? I haven't seen one post here by a man. I think there's something to that! Anybody out there using contraception? Maybe it has something to do with that? I have the Mirena IUD.

[ItchyMcScratcherson]

I just did some more research. I am becoming more and more convinced that this is a fungus. It turns out that the Neem Oil is used in other countries- they call it "The Tree of 40" because it supposedly cures/ heals 40 different ailments. Among these, it cures fungus, and also works as an insecticide. If it were a fungus, it would ALSO explain why some of you have a dry patch on your cheek, forehead, or near your mouth- because fungus can spread. It could still also be mites, but none of you have mentioned any other symptoms that describe a mite problem. I went to the store on my lunch break, and couldn't find neem oil. Tonight, I am going to get some tenactin cream, and put it on my lid. If it works, we'll know it's a fungus. If not, back to the drawing board...
And it's likely we all got the fungus (if that's what it is) from our makeup bag. Maybe not cleaning our brushes properly, or using really old eyeshadow? This would also explain why no men have posted......
Wish me luck!

[kristie603]

I have red flaky itchy red puffy eye lids and a spot on my neck... I am 30 years old. I recently went to a police academy school and about two weeks in is when it started.  @ first i thought it had to be exema (eczema) but it didnt go away.  It got so bad that one day i wuke up and my right eye was swollen shut...went to the ER where they discoved that it was a form of athlets foot!!! ON MY FACE..i was perscribed antibiotics and fungile cream and its still bad... I look terrible and im at my wits end!!  I dont want to look like this on my wedding day august 2010 :(  any ideas?? ***@****
thanks,]
kristie

[Peaches2009]

IT WORKED!

Problem solved.

I agree with the above poster who said they believe this is all fungus related.  Since I posted above about my 17 year old son our problem is over since we used organic apple cider vinegar and coconut oil...both contain properties that kill bacteria and fungus.

He has never had another incident and we are in the height of basketball season.

I dont know if he should stop using it but for now we are going to continue...he uses both at night before bed.  We will continue during basketball season.

p.s. His twin brother is now using the vinegar on his acne and it is clearing up too!!!

[meddhelp]

i've had the same symptons and then one day my eye sight started to get really blurry to the point where I could hardly see. I went into hopsital where they gave me steroid tablets and eye drops, it was a painful recovery but the next day i woke up and could see properly again! as the steroid tablets worked, they gave me mild steroid cream for my eyelids and everything healed back to normal.
They told me that it was an allergic reaction to my makeup so since then I haven't worn any makeup yet it's the skin irritation on my eye lids keeps recurring!

i've used E45 cream but it has no effect, if anything it makes it worse! the steroid cream works every time but I know i shouldn't keep using this as it thinnens my skin in the long term

my eyes also feel dried out seem to water slightly, and I feel like i have to re-focus my eye sight often as if I keep going into a daze!
im trying to find a cure for this, but i always use the steroid cream in the end before my eye sight gets really bad because i dont want to have to go through loosing my sight again because it was really scary!

ive also used baby johnsons shampoo and moisturized my eyelids well which was recommended by the doctors but these methods have no effect.

[Celewen]

Hi everyone,

I'm rather relieved to have found this board. And indeed the pharmacist was useless.  It hadn't been until about a month ago I developed many of these similar symptoms.  First, it started around the eyes, and around the mouth.  It was all red and swollen, which became itchy and dry. After a while, it eventually began to peel. I put a moisturizing cream on my face, and then it spread throughout my entire face.  It was embarrassing, but most people couldn't tell.  It just gave my face a reddish tinge.  
I used Vaseline on my mouth and also around the eyes.  It made it feel better temporarily, but it didn't really go away.  After I "peeled" my skin became a bit more normal again.  However my eyes never really healed.  They healed a little, but now the redness, itchiness, and swollen problem has come again to torment me once more.
Blistex Lip Ointment has helped my mouth a lot, I have to keep myself from licking my lips, since that just dries it out and makes it worse.  I came here looking for help for my eyes.  They hurt so much, and the burning sensation isn't going away.

The idea of it being a fungus is intriguing and makes a lot of sense.  I have yet to use an anti-fungal cream. I think I will try a little and if it helps, I might try the organic apple cider vinegar and/or coconut oil.  I also saw Neem Oil.  I'm willing to try anything to cure this.  

I also used to wear make-up and I tried not wearing any but that didn't change anything.  So now I just wear it to cover it up.  By the way, I am 17 years old and I've never had this problem before.  It just occurred overnight and is determined not to go away. Doh.

-Celewen

[UKman880]

Hi, I too am having this problem. I'm a male, - maybe the first to post on this forum. My eyelid is driving me mad, all the usual symptoms as everyone above has mentioned - soreness, redness, swollen. The doc gave me an antibiotic cream, I had to stop using it as it made it worse. I got desperate and rubbed some HC45 on it, this gave me some relief and it got better for a few days although went dry and crusty, now it is back and I'm about to go back to the doc again, I don't feel comfortable putting more HC45 on it. I will keep an eye on this forum and if I'm given a magical cure I will let you all know.

[oxo4444]

Hi all,

I seem to be having the same problem, on and off for the past two months.  It is driving me insane.  It seems also to react to bright lights (i.e. strip lighting) and burns the hell out of me and gets worse.  The other symptom I have is dry chapped lips and if it gets really bad I get a red burning dry patch just on the right side of my chin.

The way it starts with my eye is a burning senstation with "old looking" skin.  If I dont put the 1% cream on it straight away, it will balloon up and I wake up with a really swollen eyelid the next morning!! Just wondering if anyone else have my symptoms and what they have tried that has worked.  PS have changed all my make up products.

Look forward to hearing from you!
  

[sunnyherbs]

so i was out trying to cure this difficult embarassing recurring eye infection and was looking for coconut oil and apple cider vinegar. the only store that carried it happened to have an employee with the same problem and an eye that looked just like mine! he said his case is chalazions. fish oil helps which should be taken anyway because its so healthy and beneficial for you. i am still waiting to try the coconut oil and vinegar batch. i just didnt have enough money to buy the two. but as soon as your eye hurts start using warm compresses to dispose the build up. antibiotics and steroids are not necessary unless the build up is proposturous. i just recently started suffering from this. its a clot in your eye and forms into a cyst. these are the best known remedies, which happen to be natural thankfully and will help. make sure though to take action as soon as it forms! the eye itself will be sore and sensitive as if you just took a punch to the eye. your eyes are extremely sensitive and can effect your whole bodily function. i am one suffering from this odd infection like you all and wish the best of luck to all of you! i know how embarassing and painful it can be and i am one of full confidence and actually enjoy pain. so good luck! HOPE THIS HELPS. if you happen to have blepharitis it differs from chalazions because it burns really bad and is way more painful. either way, these remedieswill help. stay away from cortisone creams. theyre really bad for you.

[oxo4444]

sorry meant to say I also have extreme fatigue.  The eye problem is worse when I go on the computer and in the morning when I wake up.  Initially it was one eye (recurrent not every day) and now the other eye seems affected also.

Thanks in advance....any suggestions/diagnosis appreciated....

[Peaches2009]

Apple cider vinegar should not be expensive.   Coconut oil can be but the vinegar is something you can start off with first.  I use Braggs ACV which is organic and its cost is under 5.00.

My son is still doing good, no outbreaks but we have to continue the ACV or you can tell it starts to get red.  Seems like it goes in cycles and peels a little bit, or flakes, live the ACV is killing the bacteria or whatever.  Then the coconut helps with moisturizing.

[Peaches2009]

update:

My son skipped three days of using the vinegar and he didnt tell me he quit.  He thought since it was doing so good he could stop.  well the red itchy started coming back and I was all worried again.

He finally admitted he had stopped using the vinegar so he started again and it was all gone.  Again, it seems when he sweats its the worse. But praise God the vinegar is working.

I told him to continue using it until basketball season is over then we can try stopping.

[ndmom3]

Hi, I am 56 and the itchy skin, red and puffy, and watery eyes just started for me also. Right eye much worse than left. The unfortunate thing for me is that I rub them so hard and my skin isn't as flexible as a 20 year old anymore.  So now I have wrinkled, red, puffy, itchy, sensitive eyelids.  Corners of eyes red from watery eyes.

I thought it might be dog hair but I have alway had dogs.  I went to eye dr. who gave me some drops and told me to put hydrocortizone onthe skin. She also said my eyeball was swollen a little bit but wasn't concerned.  I don't think she really knew what to do.  It helps a little, but like every other entry I read, it comes back if you stop.
I tried changing my pillowcase now every night and that seems to help.  And I have to keep dogs off my pillow. And one other thing my dad taught me a long time ago, get a shot glass and fill it with water and put it up in your eye and wash your eye out.

So now I look like that dog in little rascals with the black circle around his eye except mine is red.  

[slippersue]

Hi
On 29th Sept I wrote to say that I had been clear for a month, well it's now December and I am still clear.  I am so relieved that it's gone away.  

I can't recomment NAET enough, don't know if it's available in your country, it originated in India.  It has worked for me.

[slippersue]

NAET was started by an lady from India in California.

[Nayru]

Hi everyone.

I'm a college student and moved into a rented house to go to school in September. As soon as the heat was turned on at the beginning of October I started waking up with these swollen eyelids. The skin around the eyes (especially the upper eyelid and the corners) became dry and scaley. I had no idea what was wrong, I went to a walk-in clinic and the doctor gave me some allergy drops which helped with the puffiness but didn't get rid of the dryness. I went to an allergist and I wasn't allergic to anything they tested for. I was starting to get really concerned because my vision was starting to go and I couldn't see the boards in class.

Funny thing is whenever I went home for the weekend the symptoms would slowly go away. I went to some eye doctors about the problem and they told me I had neovascularization occurring.

I googled neovascualarization and allergies and voila I found a website outlining all of my symptoms.

Turns out I have Allergic Conjunctivitis, more specifically Atopic Keratoconjunctivitis (AKC). I'd suggest you look up the symptoms.

Not really sure what I'm allergic to at this point but I'm getting out of my lease and moving back home in a couple of days.

Hopefully this helps, I didn't see anyone bring up Conjunctivitis.

[puffedupeyes]

I am 40 years old and this is the third year in a row that I have had this extreme puffiness around the eyes and scaling and wrinkles. It usually starts with my left eye and then goes to my right eye also. This only  happens in the winter months for me. I live in L.A. where there is practically no rain anytime except the winter months. We just had a week of rain and now for the first time this year my eyes are again severely swollen today. In the past three years Elidel around my eye has worked. It is not a steroid which at least doesn't have the bad side effects of thinning out your skin but it does sting my eyes quite a bit while I am using it. In the past, my symptoms got better in 2-3 days but it could come back after a month. I don't usually use any medication so I don't think it's from aleve. I have always worn make-up and I have been using the same make-up as before.  I went back to my old make-up last year after my symptoms cleared up and did not have any problems, so I know it is not from make-up. I have been using the same sheets and mattress as always. I have a feeling it is from mold or fungus since I have attributed my case to rainy winter months.Also, I have been exercising and really sweating lately  which also can be linked to mold or fungus. I am getting allergy testing tomorrow which sounds like it will be a waste of time and co-pay after reading everyone else's comments. I hope elidel works this time again otherwise I will try other remedies that I have been reading about in these comments.Oe other thing that I read about which was interesting is that I also have the Mirena IUD which someone else also commented about. I also get frequent yeast infections which I don't know if it has to do with the IUD either.

[margypops]

I  have spent the last hour reading this super supportive thread, I have had itchy sore ,red BOTTOM of my eye lid, just the rim, the top eyelid sems okay ..I also have a very itchy scalp which is another Mystery ,I too have tried varying remedies and tested for allergies I am going to try the anti fungal creams, also go and get Neem oil ,any idea if itchy scalp is part of it ?

[pmscom]

My eyelids are driving me crazy this morning and I was in here to seek relief and found this discussion board. I'm going to try the Tinactin which is the item that I can find easily here in my small hometown. I also have the prescribed steroid cream that I use only during the flareups...  I also have the prescribed eyedrops that I use only when I have irritation.  However, has anyone thought of a connection to this and YEAST.  I am being treated for an overgrowth of yeast in my body (not the feminine kind of yeast)...but yeast in my digestive tract.  I came down with this outbreak after someone gave me a bag of SweetTarts and I ate a bunch. Sugar feeds the yeast.  Makes me wonder...

[AimInTX]

I've had the exact same symptoms for a couple weeks now and the only thing I know I did differently than my normal routine was to treat my kids (and myself as a precaution) for lice.  

I notice a lot of us are in our 30s and probably some of you have children... has anyone else noticed this after using Rid or another lice treatment?  I can't imagine the effects would linger this long, but who knows...

Would be interesting to see what we all did in common just before the swelling started that was out of the norm for us.

[Dazon50]

I have been dealing with stinging, tearing, red eyes for over 2 weeks.  I have allergies, and take pills for that along with eye drops, ketotifen fumarate opthalmic solution/zaditor.  

I thought at first it was one of the newer supplements I started taking....Sharp Mind.  I took it back, but noticed the symptoms continued.  It was so bad that it was hard to drive as I kept squeezing my eyes shut and they were tearing so bad.  I then thought it was the jojoba oil with vit. E that I had also recently started using, so I stopped that.

I was given the suggestion to use coconut oil (virgin) for skin, but I am still having the redness & tearing/stinging.  It isn't as bad as when I was using the jojoba oil with vit. E., but I can't really use the eye liner right now, so am going without.  I am going to not use the coconut oil today and tomorrow & see if that helps.

If none of these work, I think I will go to the eye doctor.  It is hard to say what it is on my own.  I don't get as much sleep as I should, so that might have something to do with it.  As I sit here, typing, I have my left eye closed and it is tearing.  Annoying as can be.

I wish everyone the best with finding solutions to what is causing their problems with their eyes.

[eyeliditis777]

I had a problem with dry, red, itchy eyelids about two months ago and I read this post and started to freak out!!!  This is a huge problem and some people have been dealing with it for months/years.  My problem lasted about a month and this is what I did:  I started by just doing hot compressions on my eyes but that didn't really work, I stopped using my eye make up but that didn't work and I hated having "naked" eyes.  The thing that healed my eyes was this Lye Soap my father-in-law gave my older sons that's supposed to work on acne.  It's called Grandma's Lye Soap and it cleared up my dry, swollen, red, itchy eyes in just a few days!!!  On the back of the soap it says:  Highly recommended for dry skin, may ease skin discomfort, Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne, Winter dry, itchy skin.  It's Detergent & Fragrance Free.  I highly suggest you try it because it worked for me.  My father-in-law is from Dubuque, IA and I guess he buys the soap there...the number on the soap is 800-345-3925 and it's out of Tulsa, OK.  Good luck!  My heart goes out to all you guys!!!

[VEMS]

Sorry for repeat post-I'm new to this. Out of the blue, this year I have had three bouts of red, puffy, dry skin around my eyes. It occurs on the inner edge of the eye, next to my nose and flares up above and below the eye. The skin goes red,  very dry,  puffs up and lines form.  I have tried a number of things but Vaseline petroleum  jelly so far has worked the best.  It doesn’t seem to “depuff” my eyes very quickly but rehydrates the skins and the swelling eventually reduces (about 2-4 days). However, yesterday I applied Calendula Sore Skin Relief and the improvement was almost immediate.  Within a few hours the skin was soft and the swelling and lines had almost gone.  This latest bout has lasted almost 2 weeks and today is the first time I have looked normal.  I think my problem is allergy related and I suspect a shampoo that I started using 6 months ago.  The first ever bout of this problem was just after I started using this shampoo. Hope this helps.

[ogodithurts]

Hi

I live in the UK and have had this problem for about 2 years. I also have rough patches at the corners of my mouth. I have a very strong allergy to wasp stings but have not been found allergic to anything else. So I guess what goes into your US products is not what has caused this. Strong argument in support of the fungus theory.

My eyelids are inflamed and my eyes watery. A facial at the beautician recently made me weep for days. I wear no make up near my eyes and only mineral products on my face.

Peaches2009 said IT WORKED! Presumably that means coconut oil and cider vinegar, but I don't imagine her basketball playing 17 year old son wants to wear eye make-up.

Does anyone have a definitive answer to this? It is driving me wild.

ogodithurts

[ZeeIn]

Could be a simple allergy to all the toxic chemicals in the wipes.  Never use them again and make note of the ingredients and let your Primary know.  Also, an Allergist would be a good doc to visit and/or good dermatologist.  

My sister had a severe reaction to a lip balm that took her a while to get rid of.  Her doc prescribed ointments that made no difference.  I gave her some organic cocoa butter  (with no preservatives) and it finally cleared up.  She was allergic to one of the chrmicals in the balm.

Read the ingredients in those eye wipes and then ask yourself if you would put those ingredients directly in your eyes.   I use Shea and Cocoa Butter on my face and baby oil to remove mascara, if soap and water don't work.  Organic soap is also best.  I have lots of allergies and pure is always better than something loaded with dyes and preservatives.   It doesn't last as long, but that is also a good thing.  Good Luck!!    

[LKlauschie]

I have had bouts of blepharitis since I was a teen (I am now 56). I wash my eyelid margins with diluted baby shampoo and do washcloth soaks (recommended by the ophthalmalogist). Nothing has helped. I went to the optometrist today and he diagnosed me with Rosacea. He also gave me prescriptions for Restasis and Lotemax. I will let you know if it works.

[Deebrat]

I can't understand this problem sorry people I've tryed it all nothing works for me, whell at first its great then it just stops working. I'm sure we have something hopefully we will figure it out because the doctor do not help at all. I've had this time for about 3 mounths and it just started to go under the eyes

[slippersue]

I too have suffered from Blepharitis for years, nothing seems to cure it, it's a nuisance.
Perhaps that causes a weakness in the eye area where allergies can then attack.  I really believe it is an allergy problem and it could be many allergies as it was with me.  Since my NAET treatments my in August 09 my eyelid are still normal, thank goodness.  But I had more than one allergy that was affecting me.  I still have the Blepharitis and certain things rev it up - wheat straw dust, horse dust in particular.  I am going to get these eliminated by NAET, so I will keep you posted on the Blepharitis front.

[Cugsy]

I have had red and itchy eyelids for about a month now.  I tried E45 and Aloe Vera cream, which eased the itchiness but did nothing to help the underlying condition.  Went to see my GP who advised bathing the eyelids in Johnson's baby shampoo and putting on vaseline.  He also gave me some Loratadine anti hystamine tablets.  None of these has had the slightest effect.  Bumped into a nursing acquaintaince who said I had a fungal infection.  Managed to persude my chemist to sell me some Canestan cream who was reluctant only because I wanted to use it near my eyes.  I said I would be extremely careful - which I have been - and I do believe it's starting to work!!  Watch this space....

[eva428]

I have a toddler she's going to be 3 in a couple weeks. She has red,dry,scaly eye lids and also red eyes. When wind blows in her face her eye lids and eyes seem to get even more red. I've tried putting lotion around her eyes n I've also tried an eye cleanser, but it looks to me that its not helping. Also she has very dry skin I've tried putting calamine lotion I've tried baby lotion. I've even tried not putting any lotion at all..she's always had dry skin since she turned 1! What can do so that she doesn't have this anymore?

[darenka]

Hello, my name is Susan and I'm a mushroom.  I suspect that at least for some, it is indeed a fungus.  I have the same eye lid problems most people are describing, but I also have patches of that miserable sore, stingy, itchy, raw, burning, chapped skin on several other places (back of knees, chest, inside elbows, etc...)  I seem to have a reoccurring yeast infection as well.  I've been using anti-fungal creams and they do seem to help, but as this nasty bugger is spreading on me, I want a cure, not just palliative care.  It's a little frightening to apply things near the eye and as many of you know, it seems to seep into the eye and cause additional problems.  

I have read that there are several types of fungal infections of the skin and they can be difficult to diagnose and treat--some respond to one drug, others to another.  It often presents itself as a rash or allergy which complicates diagnosis/treatment.  One broad spectrum drug fluconazole (used as a 1 day pill to cure a yeast infection by some US MDs) seems to work well on many of the fungi.  For a chronic skin infection, treatment seems to be 7-14 days.  So wish me luck in strong arming the doctor to try this remedy.  I will report back my results.  

And for the statistics keepers here:  48 year old female.  I don't wear makeup, I currently live in Germany (so no creams or potions with the earlier suspected chemical).  For birth control I use Depo Provera shots.  Problems started in the fall about when we turned on the heat (being wimps from warmer climes we do this earlier than the locals).  I do have thyroid issues, but they have been controlled for years.  Dog owner, with no known allergies to them, but I do have seasonal allergies.  Because of my symptomatic relief with the anti-fungals, nothing else helped, I'm quite sure in my case it is fungal.  One of the problems is we are talking about something that could have several causes.  A rash can be a result of 20+ different things.  I'd suggest people try several things, if you are have good results with anti-fungal stuff--logically, you have a fungus.  If your problem abates with antihistimines, it's allergy based.  There probably isn't one single cure for everyone.  But I certainly wish everyone success in finding your cure.  This is painful and unsightly.  I even looked up leprosy, because it's that awful.  I'm a social leper at least with these unsightly eyes--imagine old dry skin bags, with nearly open sores and chaffing skin.  Makes some of you glad to be 19, doesn't it?  Good luck everyone.  

[darenka]

I forgot to add, that if your problem is fungal based, you'll receive some relief by using dandruff shampoo to wash your face.  For more mild cases, the dandruff shampoo and anti-fungal creams might be an effective cure.  

[puffy2010]

I have redness and puffy upper eyelids in both eyes and chapped lips and redness around the lips.  I have read the comments and am going to try washing with baby shampoo and use the extract from an aloe vera plant.  Any other remedies?

[smilesalot233]

This eye lid stuff is not new to me. As a younger person I use to get this when I would go out in the garden and eat tomatoes off the vine to my heats delight. I would get this red puffy itchy scalling patch on my upper eye lids all the time. When I stopped eating tomatoes the patches would eventually go away. I have since stopped eating tomatoes. I am 45 and 2 weeeks ago I started having the eye lids flear up and they have been bothering me since. (no tomatoes in my diet) I do not wear make up and I have not changed any products that I have been using. I have not taken any meds or advil etc. I know that I am sensitive to molds. I am in Colorado (USA)

I am going to attempt the apple cider v. and check in to NAET thank you all for your input and follow up. It is nice to know that I am not the only one suffering with this.

[jluthye]

Well, as EVERONE gas stated, I am glad to have found this thread.

I have all the symptoms too. Red dry itchy and eventually peely upper eyelids. I originally thought makeup, but then decided it wasn't.

After reading the posts, I think there are two forms. There are those that are caused by allergies and those that are fungal. When I say allergies, it can be food allergies to. Have you been craving something since this started? I know yeast, and cradle cap in infants have been related to food allergies. I am on a restrictive diet due to breastfeeding an infant with MANY food allergies. I have not journaled a link to my outbreaks however, only her throwing up. Yay something else to add.

Then there are the fungal patients. It may not be a reaction to the makeup but once your makeup is infected its ALL infected. You are supposed to change out your mascara every 3 months due to fungal as eyelashes are a big culprit.

I too notcie a 3 fold increase in symptoms after sweating. I am thinking I have a combo. Fungal and allergy, and I assume that most don't try to treat both which is why it is ineffective.

I have also read that is can by thyroidal/rheumatoid I have come across this too "Sjogren's syndrome with is marked dry eyes, dry mouth and sometimes an inflammatory Inflammatory bowel disease
Ulcerate colitis arthritis."

I noticed my arthritis has spread about the same time ( last 2 months) and the past week my mouth has been very dry waking up. I cant swallow and I have to drink 4-6 glasses of water during the night. Then the WORST, last night intercourse with my husband seemed to hurt. I associated it with working out and my muscles being sore. I am not so sure anymore. I will be using the vinegar though today. Screw it they already burn and are almost bleeding. I will welcome the vinegar pain, hopefully it hurts so bad they go into shock and go numb! That's what I am shooting for anyway lol!

[scorpiogirl_40]

You may have Preseptal Cellulitis. It is caused by contiguous spread of infection from local facial or eyelid trauma, insect or animal bites, conjunctivitis, chalazion, or sinusitis. Symptoms and signs of preseptal cellulitis include tenderness, swelling, warmth, and redness or discoloration. A course of antibiotics is the most common treatment for individual with this eye infection. Even if the eye infection does vanish the antibiotics must be completed; such as clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, or doxycycline for oral treatment. A steroid shot such as Cortizone will not work (at least it did not for me) Today is my 1st day of treatment on the antibotic (antibiotic) so I will keep you posted. By the way my was caused by untreated sinus problem. The doctor told me to buy Mucinex-D Maximum strength in the red box. The one you have to ask for at the pharmacy counter.

[Peaches2009]

Update:

My son continues to use the apple cider vinegar with great success and the coconut oil for dryness.  He was able to stop using them during the 2 week christmas break but the minute he resumed practice for basketball the sweat caused it to flare again.

I continue to believe its fungus related, but since the ACV is working we are happy to have the problem contained.

[fantamas]

I got the same problem as you, swallen lower eyelids with red spots under eyes and many many wrinkles like very old woman (I'm 42, but now it looks like i'm 60).  It is not itchi, but I get burning feeling.  (Few days ago I just tried to apply Clinique eye cream, then at night I tried few new eye shadows and mineral make up over liquid make up....Now I'm lost which product broke my eyes?  Hate it when manufacturers care only about money, not about people's safety!!!!)
Scary... I'm getting afraid to put any cream/cosmetics and just waiting when my eyes will be healed.  I will try eye drops...
I sweat in GYM and it makes my eyes skin irritation worse..:-(  I think that shampoo and conditioner may cause our problems too....  what if it is biological war??? sometimes we get food poisoned and etc...

[fantamas]

Please share info about cosmetics (cream, shampoo, conditioner, parfume, etc) you use and let's watch the statistics...

[chitowngal]

So I just stumbled across this thread; I suffer from the same symptoms as everyone else.  I do have seasonal allergies/overactive sinuses; however, I get the puffy/itchy eyes sporadically (like today), when I have no other allergy symptoms.  My allergy meds have helped somewhat, but some days (like today), not at all.

I'm now wondering if my shampoo is the part of the cause.  While I've been using the same facial cleansers and cosmetics since I was a teen (I'm 33 now), I jump around shampoo brands. So, I started reading about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/SLS, a harsh ingredient very common in shampoos (http://www.squidoo.com/sls).  I read that SLS can intensify allergic reactions and eczema.  It also mentions that those who have reactions to SLS are often more severe in the winter (like now). I was also reading on http://www.parkhurstexchange.com/columns/dec08-p24 about eyelid dermatitis and how it says, "cosmetics applied to the hair, face or fingernails are more commonly implicated in eyelid ACD than those applied to the eyelids themselves."  Hmm....Hair?

I'm currently using Herbal Essences shampoo which I now know contains SLS.  Prior to that (and recently) I was using Redken (and not experiencing any problems).  Redken contains Sodium LaurETH Sulfate (SLES), which can also be an irritant but from what I've researched tends to be less so.  I have also noticed that I seem to suffer with more regularity when we are at our vacation home in Wisconsin.  I always thought that this was due to there being more trees (and therefore more pollen to trigger my allergies).  However, it just dawned on my that the bottle of shampoo I keep there happens to be Herbal Essences.

If our shampoos are partially to blame, it may explain why we 1) wake up with the swelling eyes in the morning as I'm sure it's all over our pillows, 2) why it's mostly women as many of us probably have longer hair than most men.  

I'm going to buy some nice, natural, gentle shampoo tonight and start testing this theory; wouldn't it be crazy if it were as simple as that?...fingers crossed!

[fantamas]

Can you imagine, my mom gets the same problem with itchi internal corners of eyes, red, dry  and at the same time the samething happen in her nose and ears... and even in cervical area.... O, my GOD!!!  Hydrocortizone was prescribed to her %1, did not help.  Doctor increased streghtness to 2,5% - does not help.  Dermatologist said that she got seborrea.  This is radiculous, he adviced to use dandroof shampoo which does not help and problem gets worse!!!!
I do not know why doctor's get paid by insurances high prices.
I think if doctor cures patient, then he suppose to get paid ( like lawyers, if they win cases)

[Moni815]

What luck to find this thread today! I have been suffering from this off & on for many years to no avail. This bout has been going on for 4 days & is so bad that I haven't gone out in public because I looked so scary. Anyway while reading through the post I decided that the fungus/ yeast  solutions made sense in my case, especially since I had symptoms of a yeast infection starting this morning . So, all I had at home was some CVS antifungal spray powder for athletes foot which I decided to test on my eyelids & the peeling itchy patch that has been growing on my wrist & lower palm. No guts, no glory right? Well ,TA DA ! In the time it took for me to flip through the tread , about 45  minutes , the spray has worked it's magic .I know it seems fast but, swelling is all but gone (98% better), no itching or redness is left. Also decreased pressure or weight on eyes. Amazing.  Thanks to the persons who mentioned Fluconazole for female yeast overgrowth, & the sugar connection to yeast. When I read these posts I had my Aha moment. You made me remember how this all works together to create havoc in the body.Good luck to everyone in finding your answer. I hope this helps.

[pmscom]

I wrote earlier, but thought I'd share my latest efforts.  I went to another dermatologist. She prescribed Elidel which works great on everything but my eyelids. I have some patches of this on my neck, behind an ear, and around my mouth and Elidel has worked nicely. But when I used it on my eyelids, it irritated them and made them swell.  So after a couple of days of usage, I stopped putting it there.  However, I have noticed improvement since I began using her recommended skincare regimen:  CeraVe cleanser and moisturizing lotion. It's inexpensive and you can buy it at CVS. My sensitive skin doesn't react negatively to it and I can tell a difference already in the way my facial skin feels...the wrinkles are not as prominent as long as I keep my face hydrated. Also less irrititation on the eyelids.  She also gave me a topical cream for rosacea which seems to be working. I don't remember the name of it. Both are prescribed, but my insurance paid for them and I only had small copays to deal with.  Anyway, so far, so good. We'll see how this regimen helps.

Patti

[mrschipper]

I have the described eyelid problem too and I just wanted to let you know that I have been using Sulfate-free hair products for years.  My stylist has used a brand called Enjoy since they first started.  All of my hair care products are this brand and are sulfate and paraben free, so in my case, with same symptoms, it cannot be an allergy to sulfates or parabens.  I almost with it where as it would give me somewhere to start, haha!

[kreenybean]

I too am so glad to have found this forum, but, of course, wish someone had found THE definitive cure for what ails me and apparently many others.

I would agree though with some of the posters that there might be two or three different conditions described here, so I will detail mine.

For a few years now I have had this problem in the winter. It seems to start with the inner corners of my eyes being itchy, which I will "scratch" with one of my fingers. Then it seems I wake up one morning with lizard-like puffy skin around my eyes making them look as if they were those of a 90-yr.-old - no offense, but I am only 53. The puffiness eventually goes away, only to leave very wrinkly skin behind for the rest of the day. In a "duh" moment today, I finally realized that whenever I touch the skin around my eyes - for example to pat in concealer or to itch the corners, it burns the skin and makes my eyes water excessively. At different times throughout the day my nose runs to the point of dripping embarrassingly if I don't get a kleenex to it quickly enough. My eyes water throughout the day and this liquid seems to dry up and flake on my eyelids and around the inner corners.

I really don't think this has to do with any specific chemicals in products since over the years, I have used many different makeup products, all usually of high quality, different shampoos, cleaning products, etc. The common thread as far as triggers go simply seems to be winter when cold air and hot air from car heating blows into my face. Also, sweat really provides an additional irritant, but I don't get any of the other symptoms in the summer.

After having read up on all this online, I had come to the conclusion that this is a form of excema which I have since treated with the aforementioned Neem oil, Vaseline, Calendula cream, YSL Temps Majeur eye cream which I thought had helped last year, Burt's Bees Repair Serum, all to no avail. I just put Neosporin on my lids which doesn't really seem to have provided any relief, but we'll see. Tomorrow I will get some apple cider vinegar and some Omega 3/fish oil rub on. Oh and the athlete's foot cream or another antifungal will be on the shopping list also.

A couple of years back when I had the first flare-up it seems my hair (I wear bangs) also was very irritating to the eyelids when it touched them. Today I described the whole thing as me being "toxic" to myself - the burning when I touch my eyes, the tears burning my eyelids and the hair irritating the skin (also that doesn't seem to be the case this year). It almost seems like I am excreting something that "burns" my skin, but tell that to an eye doctor and they just ignore it.

A few years ago I had a long period of dealing with iritis, which is said to stem from inflammation in the body and is often linked to psoriasis, and sure enough I had a few patches of it here and there.

All this just to be specific with what is going on for me and here's hoping it helps someone to identify their own condition. I will post if any of the new "treatments" help. Oh, and I have no confidence in a regular eye doctor or dermatologist, as they will not really listen and understand the total picture.

[reynerdiesel]

As one of the few males on here I can say my case is 100% not down to cosmetics. My symtoms (symptoms) nearly identical to Kreenybean, as above,  and I have had it for nearly 8 weeks now. After reading on some other forums and tried many creams, moisturisers,  I have now been on Emu Oil, otherwise sold as "dremu oil" for 4 days. My redness has disappeared completely on the lower eyelids and 50% better on the upper. The lizard type skin bags on the corner lower eyelids are 90% better, the red patchy skin on my cheek is 50% better, although still dry and flakey. For me this seems to be working and is such a relief visually and comfort wise. The only thing that it hasn't helped is the itching, I have to be very careful as soon as I put the oil on, as it seems to make the itching worse for the first 2 hrs. I wash my face with warm water, no soap, dry with clean kithchen towel and apply the oil 3-4 times a day. For £8 a bottle its well worth trying.

[johnny8656]

I, too, am a male (age 53) and have had many of the same symptoms reported on in this forum. Some background - I've had sensitive skin which has been diagnosed as anything from eczema to atopic dermatitis. Rashes would start out as small red bumps that really itched. I went to a dermatoligist several years ago who prescriped tiamcinalone acetonide (corticosteroid) and the bumps and itching went away. I used this whenever I'd get a flare-up, which was usually a few times a year. The bumps would normally show up under my arms or on my neck. Last summer, I rode my bike on a century down to the Jersey shore (the real place, not the show) while wearing a hydration backpack (camelback). I developed a severe rash (red bumps) under my arms where the pack straps were that were the worst I'd experienced. I visited the urgent care clinic, told the doctor of my experience with triamcinalone and she said that she would prescribe  a combination of corticosteroid and fungus medicine - (generic form of lotramin). When I put it on, the bumps went away within a day. Amazing stuff! So, now I have the red, itchy, and wrinkly skin around my eyes. I work out everyday and sweat (I don't glisten, I sweat). Also, my eyes water quite a bit from the cold and dry conditions this time of year. Sweat and eye-secretions (eeewww!) are breeding grounds for fungus. So, my hypothesis is it's a fungus thing that will need to be cured intitially with a lotramin like cream (I need the corticosteroid initially to reduce the red and itchy symptoms). After the symptoms fade away (I hope), I can go to more of an over the counter anti fungal cream. I tell you all this before I visit my doctor (GP) in an hour. I'll keep you all apraised of my (hope to have ) progress. Film at 11...

[pmscom]

After reading some more on this board yesterday, I decided NOT to wash my face in the shower using my Dove soap. I also remembered someone talking about sulfates in shampoo, etc.  So when I showered, I used a therapeutic (dandruff) shampoo on my hair and then just wash my face with it.  When I came out of the shower, my eyes were noticeably feeling better. The itch was not there. Later in the day, I went to the local herb shop and purchased some emu oil. I applied that last evening and this morning and my eyelids feel so much better. Yes, still a wee bit of itch but not so bad.  I was actually looking for that neem oil or the Egyptian Magic cream that I had read about on here, but the herb shop had neither. I'm to check back later with them. I am hoping that this new routine, with the therapeutic shampoo and emu oil, will help.  Oh, for the last two weeks, I have used the CeraVe cleansing lotion and moisturizing lotion and have been very pleased with both. I just have the habit of washing my face again when I get into the shower. I'm going to lay off the Dove soap on my face for a while.  If someone knows of a soap I can change to that would be better, please advise. I had a dermatologist tell me a few years ago to use Dove because it was gentle on my sensitive skin.  So glad I found this message board!  Hope everyone has a great day!

Patti in Alabama

[wandan]

Hello, I have been keeping up with the forum for a while now and trying different remedies as suggested.  So far I have used dandruff shampoo, organic tea soap, olive oil, vitamin e, fungal cream, benadryl ointment, steriod cream......and on and on!!!!!!
Benadryl gives me the quickest relief for the itchy eyelids but then it is not a cure.  It does seem that when you use the steriod cream, it gets better for about a week, you get really excited then bam....it's back again.  I have dealt with this about 2 years.  I have had chemo therapy in the last 5 years so I thought it occured due to my immune system.  Anyway, now I have it not only on my eyelids but inside both ears.  Is anyone experiencing this?  Ears itch, flakey and weeping.  What a drag.  Guess it could be worse though.....Good luck to everyone.

[Rachbaby]

I can not believe that I stumbled across this discussion! I am a 30-year-old female. My eyes started this red, itchy, swollen thing October/2009. On and off. I KNOW it's not my make-up because the first 'outbreak' - I sworn off make-up for quite a few days and it didn't get any better. I have it all the way around my eyes - the worst part of it is in the inside corner and under my eyes. I look like I got beat up. I think I scratch my eyes in my sleep on top of everything else because they burn so badly in the morning. (I should wear baby gloves to bed. HA!) Back in October my doc told me all about hydrocortisone cream 1% + Preparation H. I was religious about it. Every time I’d feel an itch, I’d pull out the hydro cream. It worked. 2 weeks. GONE. Now…it’s back…in full force.  Soooo…today I have had it with my darn eyeballs! I just jumped onto Google and found all of you with the same horrid eye issue. After reading through some great suggestions, ’m going to the drug store after work to get Refresh PM and preservative free artificial tears. I’m also going to try the Chamomile tea…boil water on the stove…stick head over steam for a few minutes…rinse, wash, repeat ;) I’ll keep you all posted. I hope we all wake up with non-swollen eyelids manana!

Cheers!
~Rach

[pmscom]

Just wanted you all to know that, so far, the emu oil is working! I have continued washing my eyelids (and face) with Equate Therapeutic Shampoo that you can buy at Wal-Mart.  I have no itchy eyelids, no scaling, etc.  I am so thankful this is working for me! Hope it continues!

Patti

[swiggins14]

Thanks for  this forum.  I was thinking I'm the only one with red & swollen eyelids!   Mine are itchy, but do seem to me to be an allergic reaction to something.  I have no idea to what, though.  They also burn when any eye cream or face lotion touches them.  The only thing that doesn't burn is Neosporin, which is okay at night, but too greesy to use in the daytime.  I tried to cover the redness with translucent powder today, but the redness came right through the powder.  Since it may be an allergy, I took Zyrtec and put some hydrocortisone cream on top of the Neosporin.  I'm also going to change my pillowcase.  I will see how all this helps by morning.  Thanks for all your suggestions!

[yevsky777]

Thank you for these posts.

A few days ago, I awoke with a slight irritation under my left eye. Withing a day, both of my eyes had dry wrinkly skin around them. A couple of days later, I awoke with red puffy wrinkly dry skin aroun my eyes. It was a scary site. I wore sunglasses when going out and got funny looks inside stores (and the bank), as no one was wearing sunglasses inside in February. I didn't mind the looks as I knew they would have been much worse if the sunglasses were off.

I prayed for God to help me find a natural cure for my condition. My husband came across this post and I carefully read every post.

Because I realized it could be one of several conditions, I followed a safe natural procedure that would deal with multiple conditions. I threw away my makeup that contained parabens and bought an organic shampoo without SLS or other harmful ingredients (at whole foods). I went to whole foods and purchased the NEEM cream and a new makeup line with safe ingredients (Dr. Hauschka eye liner, mascara, blush, and "mineral fusion" compact foundation). Repeatedly, throughout the day, I washed my face (especially around the eyes) with LYE soap, which I was able to purchase at "True Value" (SC True Value stores carry it, perhaps other states as well), and then applied the NEEM cream. Once, I used coconut oil (organic, "Now" brand) for extra moisturizing instead of the NEEM cream (not together, just replacing it once), then washed my eyes again with Lye soap and reapplied NEEM. Before going to bed, I washed my hair with the new shampoo and changed the sheets.

After a few days, my eyes are finally almost completely back to normal.

Getting rid of paraben cosmetics and SLS products would take care of allergies to these extremely harmful ingredients. The Lye soap would take care of skin conditions such as exzema (eczema), as well as sooth other irritations. The NEEM cream (organic) would attack a fungul case (even if it was not a case of fungus, I didn't worry about using it because it is a very healthy product overall without any negative side effects, so I wasn't worried about using it specifically for a treatment of something that wasn't there, as it is safe and healthy overall). Then changing the sheets would, of course deel with either allergies to harmful shampoo ingredient, or infection that made it unto the sheets.

As for the new makeup, my original plan was to use it only after everything healed, in case it was a case of infection and I didn't want to transfer it to the makeup (which is kind of expensive). However, I carefully applied the compact and blush avioding the affected area. Then used the new eyeliner when the swelling started coming down. I decided to do it this way and pay attention to see if the healing process would come to a hault upon my applying the makeup again the next day (thankfully, it did not).

This safe and natural combination treatment has worked very well for me.

Thank you, "chitowngal," for your explanation about SLS reactions being more intense in colder months.

Thank you,"Blonde_pony," for writing about parabens.

Thank you, "eyeliditis," for mentioning the Lye soap.

Thank you, "ItchyMcScratcherson," for recommeding NEEM.

Thank you, "pmscom," for your thoughts pertaining to another cause.

Thank you, "SoreEyes2009," for your mention of "Kiss my face," which I plan to purchase for my new skin care line.

Thank you, all of you, for your thoughts on this, all of your posts helped me to think through this and come up with a safe and natural procedure that would take care of multiple causes, without each part of the treatment interfering with the other in a negative way. It has worked very well for me. Thank you so much! I hope each and every one of you finds a safe remedy that works for you.

[Therebster]

Hi,

I've just found this sight and have spent past two nights reading all this.  It's a relief to find other people with the same thing.  Well at least it sounds the same.  My eyes sting and itch like hell.  (Never had this before except a year ago when I was very run down).  I try not to touch them for obvious reasons but would love to rub and rub them since they are so itchy. For me it's mainly the circles under the eye (where bags are) I'm 34 and have never had really bad bags, but now all the skin is wrinkled.  Sometimes when it's worse the eye lid swells up over night too and my eyes look dreadful like hooded!
I've had this worse and sometimes bit better since before Christmas, and don't know what to do. Doc prescribed the dreaded hydrocortisone which I hate putting on since I know long term its really bad.  Plus it hasn't seemed to have worked properly.  Today since reading this I have a Neem cream but am not sure how much Neem is in it (Its a Ayucare, Ayuravedic product) and have taken a capsule of Oregarno Oil (Was this to be ingested?  Or put on the eyes?  I've taken it as a tablet)?
Went back to ODctor again today and he prescribed a soap substitute containing antimocrobals (Dermol 500) which he told me to gently wash with.  Then put on antibacterial emolliant cream.  So I'm trying the Neem, emolliant and the Oregano Oil as of today.
I wondered if anyone could say how long it takes to see some results?  As we are all aware, this thing brings you down so much.  I hate going out and have to work etc. but feel worried every morning by the state of my eyes.
I wish everyone luck getting rid of the hateful thing.
Ps. I'm in the UK so products may differ?

[Therebster]

So good to hear the post two above Yevsky777 - that you've cleared it.  It is nasty!
I too approached it with vigour - I hoovered bed, turned matress, clean sheets, put on anti dust mite covers, sterilised whole bathroom in bleach, thrown make up away (when I look at what I was putting on my face yuk), took a good vitamin mix (vit B complex, good for women, acidophalus (gut bacteria), evening primrose (to absorb vits), multi vit and added oil of oregano).  Tried washing face with anti bacterials yesterday added Neem and vasaline and woke up.  AWFUL worse than ever.  Went back to doc who prescribed anti bacterial hydrocortisone (I'm desperate).  COuldn't go to work (At busiest time doing a clinical doctorate)!
BAck on here reading and suddenly thought about this fungal thing.. I used to clean my computer keys with nail varnish remover!  Clearly have stopped that but I've become so aware of my fingers now and wondered if there were nasty things harboured all over our keyboards (we are after all all on the computer).  I've just cleaned mine with SIMPLE face wipes which may not do much, but will try to wash hands a lot more after typing.
I'm wondering if its a mix of bacteria and fungal.  I eat a lot of japanese miso soup which I put mushrooms and dried mushrooms in.  So am definately going to stop eating anything fungal (inc cheese).

I hope we all get rid of this nonsense - its awful and I feel so sad for us all.

[sickofthisproblem]

hey everyone i think i have the same thing as you and i think it is called Blepharitis.  go to the link below and it will give you all the details you need to hopefully fix it.  i am sad for all of you b/c i know how bad it is.  good luck!!!  

http://www.agingeye.net/otheragingeye/blepharitis.php

[UnluckySkin]

I cannot believe I've waited this long to look this up online.  I have so many skin problems, I didn't even bother looking for a cure.

Like everyone, I have very unsightly red, dry, flaky eyelids. I also have a dry patch beside my mouth on one side. I've been using cortisone on my eyelids and it works alright, but is definitely not a long term cure.  

Some facts that are/can be in any way related to skin problems..

(I live in Ontario, Canada, so it's fairly cold/dry and I'm usually in buildings with heat.
21 years old, female)
My complexion is extremely fair. I rarely get a tan
I have eczema,but usually only flares up when I am stressed. Cortisone seems to get rid of my eczema patches right away, so I know my eyelid problem defintiely is not eczema.
Have had extremely dry skin in the winter for the past 4 years (I always have dozens of  bruises from scratching so hard)
Birth control - Yasmin
VERY Prone to yeast infections.. I've given up trying to cure them since I always seem to have one. The skin around my vulva is also very sensitive, and sex is often quite painful.
I wear cover up around my eyes perhaps a couple days a week, on average.

I'm glad this is not a dating site, I don't think any boys would want to get near me after reading that hahah. If any of you have any of the same problems, please let me know.

So I'm definitely going to try the coconut oil/vinegar combo, as I assume it's a fungus. I'll get back asap with my results


PS. Does everyone with this eyelid problem have very fair skin? I feel like it's been mentioned quite a lot in the previous posts. Poor us.

[Florida33]

I have finally looked up my eye issue and found this site. For the past few years, every winter, I get a dry spot on my upper left eye. It may get to my right eye, but not as bad as my left. It always seemed to go away and I believe it is when I start laying out in the sun. I live in Florida. Even tho I am in Florida, I don’t really suntan in the winter months even tho we have our nice days, but especially this year since it has been so cold. Last night me & a friend went for a very long power walk. My eye started acting up a little more than usual yesterday, but last night before bed my eye was pretty bad & when I woke up this morning it was so very swollen and red. It's weird because the dry spot was not there, just very swollen. I went to Walgreens and asked the pharmacist; of course they said it may be allergies and told me to get Zycam. I did take one today remembering that yesterday I did wash our cars which were full of green pollen. I don't think my eyes were that bad early in the day, but started flaring up later in the afternoon, so Zycam it was remembering the pollen. I did a cold compreess this morning, took a zycam, the swelling did go down quite a bit today & it's strange because that dry spot is not there? I don't remember getting this up in NY in the winter months, but do remember my skin getting bad in the winter months up there. Also, I use to get really red itchy irritated skin under my rings on my fingers. Someone told me it was from build up of soap not getting rinsed away under there. It use to itch really really bad. Still at times, during the winter months I start to feel that little irritation under my wedding ring, but don't get it like I use to.
After reading all these posts I keep narrowing it down to bacteria or allergies, or even the post where someone mentioned: QUOTE (cut & pasted): I jump around shampoo brands. So, I started reading about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/SLS, a harsh ingredient very common in shampoos (http://www.squidoo.com/sls).  I read that SLS can intensify allergic reactions and eczema.  It also mentions that those who have reactions to SLS are often more severe in the winter (like now).

Since this happens to me only in the winter months, and I do tend to shower alot more in the winter months and wash my hair due to not wearing it up so much like I do in the summer here in Florida. I tend to just put my hair up in the shower and do not shampoo it as much in the summer because I wear it up so much, but when it is cold I really want that hot shower and tend to shampoo alot.

Plus I thought that since I am not sweating here, or up in nY in the winter my pours are not getting cleaned out. I do tend to wear alot more face makup in the winter here to to where in the summer I rarely do. I am not one to spend time washing my face at night before bed, and without sweating to clean out my pours it is causing bacteria?

I don't know, but I am going to try steaming my face tonight. I will also bathe my cats. I do hold them a lot, and try the apple cider vinegar, stay away from sugar, stop eating oatmeal almost every morning, and keep tabs on this site.


This is a horrible thing that so many people go to see a doctor and get so many different treatments? if the  pharmaceutical  world only knew this they would market something w/1,000 side effects for this problem.  

[Florida33]

I have notice a lot of people asked if many of these posts are from people w/fair skin? I do have fair skin, but do not seem to sunburn too easily and do get quite tan in the summer months. Being 1/2 Ukranian, 1/2 Slovak, I am not too Irish, not too Italian, so I guess you would say not too fair skinned? Hope that helps? It made me laugh. :)

All I know is that does not happen to me any other time than in the winter months and it starts with that same redish dry skin patch on my upper eye lid which just started a few years ago. I am 43.

[pmscom]

Try to use some sort of candida cleanse remedy like Candex which is taken orally. I also think my eyelid problem is due to an overgrowth of yeast in my body and I continually have to battle yeast.  I have had this documented by a medical doctor and my yeast count was "off the charts" and it's not so much vaginally.  It manifests in other ways, including skin problems.  Also diet can help to curb this problem. Avoid sweets (sugar), white stuff, and most fruits (sugar), and eat lots of vegetables and meats for a while. You can research systemic candidas or yeast overgrowth and find the diet online.

As for my eyes, the emu oil is still helping me tremendously.  I ordered and received the Neem oil, but am waiting to try it because the emu oil is working.

Good luck!

Patti in Alabama

[Anuliini]

I too was so relieved to find this thread, to know I'm not the only one with this awful crustry eye. I tried everything from steroid creams (that doctors kept prescribing me) to natural things such as avocado oil, emu oil... you name it. Some of these helped but nothing helped for longer than a few days, I felt like every time I tried something my crusty eye became immune to these new things I tried. Finally, during a moment of despair I received a tip from a friend who turned out to be a "former crusty eye" herself. She said I should try Mario Badescu's control cream. At this point I thought I was going insane with this awful mystery eye condition that had just starter to show signs of spreading from my right eye only to my left eye too. I bought Mario Badescu Control Cream and I also bought Mario Badescu Healing Cream. I put the control cream on at night and the healing cream in the morning. Within 48 hours my eyes were noticeablt better and within a week... perfectly back to normal. I couldn't believe it and I still can't. It's now been 3 weeks and I feel great - it has been such a relief for me as I can't even remember the last time the skin around my eyes was "normal".

I'm in Australia so these Mario Badescu products don't come cheap but I think in the US they are not expensive at all so I would give them a try.
I must admit I didn't have high expectations as I thought nothing would work but here I am, happy, amazed, relieved... really so happy. It's the first time in so long that I can wear make up and look my age and not itch and burn.

I really hope this helps at least some of you out there. And my apologies for not writing this sooner but I wanted to wait and see if my crusty eye really was stying away this time.

:o)

-Anuliini in Australia

[manorbaby]

I too just found this site and am amazed that so many peole have the exact same syptoms (symptoms) as me! There has to be a common theme here...
These are my thoughts on my recent activities...

-own 2 small Maltese dogs-they sleep with me-have for 12 years
-recently started to use the "Ped Egg" for the callous's on my feet
-i have hypothyrodism-have for 13 years
Thats all i can think of right now-I started useing Tinactin last night-maybe a little relief this morning
It started on the outside corner of my right eye-slowly spread to my left eyelid
and now my upper left eyebrow has a dry patch-and my chin and jaw bone area is starting to feel dry and course
My eyelids are -especially my left is puffy -itchy-dry and look horrible.
when this first started i threw out make-up stopped wearing make up
altogether.
It seems to me all these posts are from femails, so may be my next step is haveing my blood drawn to see how thats going.
Until then i am going to faithly use this Tinactin....maybe it is fungal after all.....

[Rraugen]

Sorry for the length of this, I’ve shortened it as much as I can.
I recently (late January) started suffering from red, dry, swollen itchy eyelids.
It started off as a tiny dry patch on my right eye grew and seemed to spread to my other eye.
I suffer from eczema and have done for around 4 years now, however my eczema hadn't flared up since April last year.
I'd had a dry patch on my eye before so I treated it the same as usual and expected it to go away. I assumed it was stress related as I had exams at the time and my battle with eczema started right when my first GCSE's began.
I called the doctor when I woke up with the swelling and she diagnosed me over the phone (She couldn’t fit me in that day) with eczema and prescribed me the wonderful Hydrocortisone 1% (note sarcasm). If she’d looked at my history she would’ve seen how many times I’ve been prescribed this and how many times I’ve came back with even worse looking eczema.
I used the ointment and the skin around my eyes is now bright red and the red patch now covers my entire eye area. Also, the eczema on my arms has come back.
Oh, I’m female, 17 and from the Uk.
I’ve decided that it isn’t my new makeup causing this as one eye is worse than the other and I stopped using all makeup for a month. It has got to be stress related in some way as my eczema first started when I had exams, completely went during the summer holidays and now appeared around my eyes when my exams started again.

Also, I suffered with dry skin and cracking in the corners of my mouth which went away after taking vitamin B tablets.
I found this forum yesterday and decided to go down the ‘fungus’ route as I’ve tried most other things, so today I’ve bought Apple cider vinegar and coconut oil (thank you, Peaches2009 :)) and Just I’ve used them for the first time so *fingers crossed*.
Also, I noticed that ALL my facial cleansers/washes etc had either sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate or sodium myreth sulphate. Even the brands which claimed to be for sensitive skin had one of those or another which can irritate eyes, so I’ll be using extra virgin olive oil as my cleanser from now on. I’d even been washing my new brushes in a popular branded ‘baby shampoo’ and after reading somewhere (It might be on here, I’m not sure) that people recommended using this ‘no more tears’ shampoo around the eye area to help, I did so... Only to look at the ingredients out of curiosity and find that it contained one of the above!
So that could be causing the irritation, especially as most of the brushes I have are for the eye area...
Also, I read that someone thought it could be spreading through glasses for it to get from one eye to the other? It’s an interesting thought.
I’m beginning to manage with the redness and wrinkle effect on my eyes or the ‘living-dead look’ as my mum likes to call it.. I found that Clinique products don’t make it worse. I use the redness solution daily base which is tinted green and therefore helps to disguise the redness and the ‘all about eyes rich’ which helps to moisturise, reduce puffiness and the wrinkles without irritating them and then to make them look more of a skin colour I use ‘touch base for eyes’. Even with these you can tell there’s something not right with my eyes but I feel confident enough to actually leave the house.
I also recommend that you all have a look in Lush or on their website. If you haven’t already heard of them, many of the forums I’ve lurked on prior to this have mentioned them and that they helped. I went in, told the lady my skin troubles and she showed me all of the suitable moisturisers, I currently use ‘Celestial’ as it actually did get rid of my redness at one point.
So yes, I’m using the ACV and coconut oil and I’ll report back in a week or so depending on how well it turns out.
To anyone else who’s tried this method, how long would you say it took for you to notice a difference?

[hunnichow]

AH! I have this too, I originally thought it was a make up remover I used because thats what started this mess, but after nearly a month with no make up  I am still having no luck, anytime I got near my face with any make up now, the dryness, itching,redness and soreness just starts again.

I'm beginning to panic I can never wear make up again :(

I also had a little red and dry scabbing round my mouth too but after using intensive moisturising cream thats died off  but its still over on my eyelids and under and they are swollen and very painful.

I have the doctor in 2 days and I'll reply with that the outcome was.

[Anuliini]

Rraugen,
I symphatize with you, I believe my weird eye condition/eczema was stress related too. Whenever I got stressed my eye got so much worse... and when I went knocking on my doctor's door hoping they would have something new for me to try I would always get different hydrocortisone creams and then they worked for a couple of days but after a while we were back in square one.
I also tried eliminating products with certain ingredients, tried eliminating certain foods from my diet... tried pretty much everything and when nothing worked it all just got more depressing.
Anyhow, I found my cure in those Mario Badescu products that I mentioned in my post above and would definitely recommend to try. Not sure how much they cost in the UK and where you could buy them but at least some ebay shops sell them online too. I know I may sound like an ad for these two Mario Badescu creams but I know it worked for me so it's worth a try for sure.
A lot of people have written about a dry patch around their mouth or similar... mine was on my neck. A stubborn dry and itchy patch that wouldn't go away... even when it was "dormant" you could see it... a red patch you would want to avoid touching in case it got angry.
It's been well over 4 weeks now and loving my normal right eye and normal neck! I'm using make up again so super excited about the change obviously.

Good luck to you all!

Anuliini in Australia :o)

[19vidal65]

Hi, everyone, I'm a 44 yr old man, living with this problem for over 10 yrs. There is nothing out there that I have not tried. No Doctor will ever cure this. The only way is with natural remedies, which will only aleviate it but not cure it.
This is caused by your own body's immune system attacking the skin around your eyes, and possibly the face as well. This is apparent if your skin is not that great, and has too many imperfections. Also if your skin is very oily. This is caused by an underlying disorder, usually associated with the thyroid.
It is hard living with this problem, because it makes us look older than we are, especially being that our eyes are the windows to the world. If they look tired and abnormal, people will notice and criticize.
The best remedy that I have found is to sleep the full 8 hrs per night, drink plenty of water everyday, use any kind of tea bags that have been soaking in water in the fridge, and put them on at night for 10 min. before sleeping. During the day, wash out the lids often, with a mild soap.  This problem has made me very self conscious, and it keeps me from going out. I have a problem going anywhere especially in the afternoon, because by then my eyelids are so red and puffy that it makes me feel embarrassed to be out in public. I feel people will stare, and think I'm on drugs or something. It is horrible living with this condition. If anyone out there has a solution, please let me know. Here is my email. ***@****  Thankyou so much everyone for reading this.

[monitorp]

I came across this thread via searching "dry eyelids".

First, I felt compelled to join this thread, because i'm FLABBERGASTED that nobody here among over 100 posters seems to have been struck with the same sort of epiphany that Helen Keller did by connecting "water" with Annie's communications.

Namely:

[Emphasis]
COMPUTER VIEWING!
..COMPUTER VIEWING!
....COMPUTER VIEWING!

THE COMMON CULPRIT FOR MOST OF YOU IS THE FLUORESCENT EMF's FROM YOUR LCD OR CRT MONITORS!
"LIGHT" is EMFs
again: "LIGHT" is EMFs
Light causes action to take place (just like alcohol & chemicals do)
Light can cause "hangover" / inflammatory symptoms (just like chemicals do)
LIGHT CAUSES INTERNAL BACTERIA & FUNGUS TO GROW, GROW, GROW!
LIGHT STIRS THINGS UP INSIDE YOU!

AGAIN - the common culprit for most of you is:

COMPUTER VIEWING!
..COMPUTER VIEWING!
....COMPUTER VIEWING!

Further reading:

Black On White online PDF book (Granlund-Lind)
Invisible Disease (Nordstrom) - i.e. programmer w/detached retina due to computers
Cross Currents (Becker - he observed EMFs causing cataracts on INNER eye!
computer monitor pain: http://www.freewebs.com/eclectives/monitorpain.htm

Secondly, I've tried many many creams in recent years. I found that calendula & aloe-gel can have a burning "irritant" effect which doesn't work for me. Tea tree oil definitely doesn't agree with me. Nor does coconut oil agree with me.
What does agree with me (though most below weren't tried for eyelids yet):
Avocado butter
Flax oil (any)
Rachel Perry (excellent stuff, for example the orange colored ginseng/collagen creme
Many of Rachel Perry cremes are great, including the cucumber, etc. etc.
CamoCare cremes are great
Old-fashioned (vs. modern) A&D ointment. Today's A&D is NOT the same as past.
Eucerin original is great & also aquaphor
Novitra (from old days - should i try this on eyelids?

P.S. also suggest referencing Dry Eye Zone board, it may be helpful. Also note that some people have found relief by setting up projectors, to avoid direct computer viewing. There's also talk of OLEDs, but they're very expensive, albeit enabling blackout of the background pixels on screen, similar to 1980s CRT screens, where there were green letters on black bakground.

[Rraugen]

I said I'd come back in a week... here I am :)

So I was using the ACV and Coconut oil, at first and that took the redness down so much and it really helped, though I found my eyelids were still really dry (even with using moisturiser constantly) and also, it seemed to help to a certain point and then not improve much more – Though I continued using it anyway.
Then I came back on here to see if anyone else had posted and Anuliini had and recommended the creams from Mario Badescu, so I decided I’d take a look into it... All I can say is THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I couldn’t order straight from their website as the shipping prices were crazy (It cost more to ship the product than it did to buy it!) but I managed to find the Control cream in a Uk based shop online (Harvey Nichols) so I bought that alone. It was delivered two days ago and my eyes are practically back to normal already! They’re just a little but dry still, that’s all. I’m not even exaggerating when I say this.
I truly can’t believe that this one cream has got rid of the redness, swelling, dryness, flaking, everything within the first few hours of using it, after all the products I’ve tried. I don’t know whether this is anything to do with the cream either but my eyes didn’t water at all today.
I’ve even used it on the patch of eczema on my arm and that’s healing really well too, the patch was red-raw this morning and now it’s just slightly red and a little dry.
I don’t even know how this works so well.
(I should mention that the first day I used it, I applied it and then let it dry and reapplied about 3 more times)

So I highly recommend you all try this control cream, I wish I had a before and after picture to show because I know I wouldn’t believe my post if I read it.
Again, I’d like to thank Anuliini for recommending this product, you’ve helped me so much!!

[Anuliini]

That's great news! I'm so happy for you! And thanks for sharing the update - this really made my day.
I have no idea what it is in that cream that makes it work but I don't care; my eye is back to normal and my eczema patch on my neck is gone too. It feels like a miracle ha!

I'd like to add that although my skin is now better condition than it has been in a very long time, I still apply the cream daily but just a very thin layer... to try and keep the nasty crusty eye away for good. I haven't noticed any negative impact so I don't think it's harmful.

Again thanks for sharing the great news!!  :-D

-Anuliini

[Jassygirl21]

I just bought the control cream online today. I'm hoping it works the same for me. My eyelids are very dry, cracked, and crusty. I was told by a doctor that I had eczema a few years ago when I noticed it on my arms, but not to worry about it. I guess it wasn't that bad? It eventually went away on my arms and it never really bothered me to begin with. I'm only guessing but I think my eyes are a flare up from the eczema. I will follow up with updates if the cream worked for me too once I receive it.
Crossing fingers!

[joe_mama]

I've FOUND SOMETHING THAT WORKS!

My eye doctor suggested:

Allergan Refresh PM Sensitive Lubricant Eye Ointment

which can be found at Wallgreens or Target stores. This is a product that is made to go IN your eye so it's safe to use AROUND your eye. Drop the product name above into a search engine and you will see where you can get it locally.

I've tried a bunch of the homeopathic remedies found on this board with limited success. This product worked within a few hours to calm the skin around my eyes. 48 hours later my eyes are 95% better.

I hope this helps some people with this common problem.

[Georgiagirl1949]

I would like to print out this discussion to take to my doctor visit tomorrow.  However, I only seem to be able to print out the first comment.  Any ideas how to get the entire thread on paper?  I was going to highlight the posts that seemed most pertinent as it doesn't appear that many in the medical community have the answer.  I was amazed at ho many people are suffering from this condition.  I thought I was alone.  Misery love company but I'm sorry to see how many people appear to be hurting as much as I am.

[Kitrenee59]

It has been several years since your post so I'm curious to what you ever figured out causing the problem. Your explanation of symptoms matches mine very closely including the corner of my mouth. It originally started with my left eyelid being very dry and shiny as if I touched clear nail polish on it. The skinn seemed tightened wheeee shiny but also the eyelid had sections whre the skin was seriously wrinkled (like I had aged years) the skin was literally peeling off. This eye has literally gone through the peeling process at least 5 times. Invthe mean time my right eye became red and I woke up with the inside corner seriously puffed up/swollen. At this time noth eyes were now Ted and the right eye under the lashes also was the same. I was prescribed eye drops for an eye infection ($85) I couldn't see much improvment and as some of the drops touched outside my eyes the lids burned.  Finally a suggestion for a natural remedy.... Mix 4 capsules of goldenseal,4 capsules of dandelion an 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic clove chopped steeped in 1 cup of water ( like making tea) for 15 min. When cooled down Some but still hot to where you can stand hold over eyes with washcloth until cooled ... Repeat 2 more times.  Repeat this entire process 2 more times throughout day. I was amazed at hiw quickly the redness and swelling went down. Since then I went back to my skin care regimen and after about 3 days my eyes are red, swollen, shrivelled , burn and are attempting to peel. I think the skin product litrally BURNED my eyelids like a severe sunburn that oozes. I'm back to the goldenseal mixture!  

[veewei1]

hi

[Olddear]

I too have had the red, dry, swollen, wrinkled eyes for many months. Also red swollen skin on cheeks, below my nose and on and around both lips.
I have tried most of the "cures" here with no luck. THEN, I read about Grandma's lye soap and Mario badescu control cream (on this forum) and bought both. Wonders will never cease !!  My skin is now back to normal after only 3 days.I am so happy and planning to go out dancing this weekend. I will be able to wear some nice makeup and go out again.Ya hooo !

[pmscom]

Emu oil is still doing the trick for me. My eyelids have been just fine for about a month now. I still have some of the patchy dry skin areas on my neck and behind my ears, but I am now treating those with the emu oil. Hopefully, it will do the trick there, too.

Patti, Alabama

[RiotGrrrl]

I'm 18, and my same situation has been going on for 2 weeks. i've tried using neosporin, an antibacterial, benedril, and i've been taking an anti-allergen, though i've never been allergic to anything in my life. it was like i just woke up one morning and aged twenty years. my uper eyelid is esspecially wrinkly, and it strange patterns, more like boxes. after reading all this i feel like there's no point in a trip to the doctor. but thanks for all this advice, and i'm looking forward to trying some suggestions. hopefully all goes well, but if not, then i'll definitely do more research and follow up.

[Misstyfied]

Hi. I live in the UK and have had the same symptoms talked about here for the last 4/5 years and have been convinced that the problem is a seasonal "Hayfever" type allergy. It starts in late February and continues ,in varying degrees until June. However; I realised this year that my symptoms occur to a more fixed date than the seasons do. The onset of the tree pollens (what I have always felt is at the root of my problem) varies each year, and is particularly late this year. Despite this, my sore eyelids started at exactly the same date. Having tried to find a common factor that starts each year at the end of February, I am now wondering if it could be linked to something that the farmers spray on their fields every year at this time and again at intervals (hence the flare ups) throughout the Spring. Does anyone have any thoughts about this or suggestions for investigation?
Thanks, Misstyfied.

[thinkk1]

My eyes are always red, itchy and puffy all day long, my face is always dry and my neck and the inside of my arms turn red on and off. I have no allergies and after i had all the scratch tests i was called a medical mystery. Is there any hope for me? i have had this for about 3 years now. I'm a Male 21 years old, i don't put make-up so its not that.

Does anyone have Anything that could help me?

[pmscom]

Just read the many posts and you will see lots of recommended treatments, but seems everyone has struggled with this ongoing problem. Emu oil helped my eyelids a lot, but I still have places on my neck, jaw, and ear areas that I continue to treat. I saw a dermatologist who recommended Ellidel prescription but I haven't noticed it helping a lot.  Emu oil worked better.

Patti in Alabama

[mell_x]

ive got the same problem at the moment n been to the doctors two times over it.i woke up one morning last week n looked chinese with big puffy blower fish eyes from top eye lids to the botom i seen my doctor he gave me pantal eye ddrops it helpd wit swelling but still so itchy i had to take the rest of week of work n monday i went bak to work n mmy manager sent me bak to doctors she said it could take two weeks or more to clear n to take claritine grrrh i justy wnt it gorn.

[dryredeye]

I too have had weird issues with one of my eyes (it's only been my right one, never my left!). I am 25 years old and a few months ago, I woke up with a weird red "ring" around one eye. It looked like I had a black eye, but it was completely red and puffy. I had to take half days at work for a few days, it was so noticable. I tried a TON of Vaseline, lotions, different eye creams (meant for wrinkles or moisurizing, not meant specifically for eyelids) and it never went away. Slowly, the redness went away but then my eyelids were very dry. My eyelids never were itchy and I don't have anything else wrong with the skin on the rest of my body. I haven't changed anything in my routine in years. Again, I tried the Vaseline or lotions, but my eyelid was completely dry all the time. There was no way I could wear eyeshadow. After reading this column for about a month, I first tried the antifungal cream Tinactin. The dryness went right away, however the next day I woke up and my eyelid and under my eyes were completely red again! So my eye area was either completely red or really dry. It was so miserable. Next I tried the Mario Badescu Control Cream. So far, I have found the cure for me. I picked it up at Nordstrom (they sell it online also, if your local Nordstrom doesn't carry it) and within hours, the redness had subsided. It has been 3 days, and not only do I not have any redness around my eyes, I have absolutely no dry areas either. I have continued to use it a few times a day and I will keep doing this for a few weeks, but it has worked nothing but miracles up until now. My eye hasn't been this clear in months. Pick this up, it is around $25 which is a really good price for a face product sold at Nordstrom. It completely took care of my redness and my dry eyelid. I feel SO much better and hope you all do too!

[kerri1227]

Since late 2007 I have suffered from red, itchy, puffy, dry, peeling eyes.  This is so frustrating and UGLY to say the least.  It would come and go.  At first I thought it was my make up and my doctor suggested I use a natural make up.  This did not help.  I thought maybe it was my eye make up remover.  This also was not the case.  I thought maybe it was my face wash.  This was also not the case.  It would come and go, but I still do not find any ryhme or reason or pattern for when this comes and goes.  But when I get a flare up, it is nasty.  My eyes get scaly and so dry.  I look old and feel gross.  I tried eye cream after eye cream and nothing helped.  I tried Vaseline, basitracin....nothing seemed to help.  I can't even wear eye make up.  Eye shadow dries them out even more.  Anyway, I found this thread last week and read all the posts.  I am familiar with Mario Badescu products and knew right where I could go to get it so I decided to try one solution at a time.  I was gonig to try the lamasil and Refresh PM.  I bought the Mario Badescu Control Cream and IT WORKED!!!!  My eyes are back to normal.  I put the cream on semi heavy at night and light in the morning before applying my make up.  I can't believe this.  I can't remember the last time my eyes were this normal!  It's amazing.  To the point where my boss asked me if I did something different with my make up today!  I feel AMAZING and I highly recommend trying this.  I got it for $15.  Thank you to whomever suggested this product.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I am still at a loss as to what causes this though.  Good luck to everyone!

[LikeTheMermaid]

I've had this same problem! Last year I got it just under my eyes and then it went away and then back in January of this year it started again! Now it's spread to my whole eye.  It's so good to hear about the Mario Badescu Control Cream.  I'm an actor and this has definately been a challenge to deal with.  I'm off to buy it now! Here's hoping it works. Thanks to you all!!!

[dryredeye]

Almost a week since I have purchased my Mario Badescu Control Cream and still no sign of any redness or dryness... it's a miracle! I feel so much more confident than I have in a long time!

[Anuliini]

I just have to say that I am so happy that Mario Badescu's control cream helped you guys too. I started using it in March and my eye (and neck!) has been perfectly normal since then. I use it less often now that my skin has calmed down, just once a day and not every day... I guess I'm going with intuition.
As I said before, I have no idea what it is in this cream that works so well but I really don't care because the point is that it works. I'm so happy it's doign the trick to so many others too!

All the best to everyone,
Anuliini

[redeyeredeye]

Hi,
I've had this problem for a really long time, but it's been getting worse.  I have no clue what it could be from.  I never use Alleve, I don't have pets, I am allergic to lots of things though.  I try not to have anything around with sodium lauryl sulfate, but my makeup is low on the list of safe products.
I read all these comments and will try the Mario Badescu Healing Cream first since it seems to have the best results for quite a few people.  Here's the list though that I got from reading these posts of what people are trying:Apple cider vinegar and then coconut oil,Vitamin E, lamasil and tinactin for fungus, steam, cortison cream, neem oil, emu oil, Lye soap, Allergan Refresh PM Sensitive Lubricant Eye Ointment, vaseline.  Hope one of them helps.
My red eyelids hurt so much, sometimes in the morning I can't even open my eyes.  
Went to the eye doctor but since he gave me a really wrong prescription for glasses, I don't trust him to help me with this.
I agree with the person who said, we keep paying and paying these doctors who do NOTHING to help.  We keep taking all these prescription drugs with side effects worse than what we had in the first place.
Good luck to everyone I'll let you know what helped me.  So far, I've just been suffering.  I tried allergy medicine and eye drops to no avail.

[myeyessuck]

So my problem started on my left eye last month with a little crack that would sting when I put my eye cream on. It slowly spread across my left eye, not thinking it could be a fungus, I didn't use any sanitary precautions to keep it from spreading. Fast forward a couple weeks, it's now on both eyes and the were both really puffy this morning like a was crying all night long or something.
I'm totally surprised there is so much info on hear about the same problem. So a little back story about me. I'm 34, a vegetarian for 13 yrs. I stopped using all products with sulfates and parabens  last year. I use only organic and natural beauty products. I do not suffer from allergies but I have been suffering with re-occurring yeast infections for the past 3 years since I had my son (and yes I'm blaming him, cuz I never had them b4). I also do not take any medications of any kind (aside of the oral med for the yeast infections). I am totally believing this is a fungal problem and may be related to the yeast. I don't know why the yeast problem though, as I eat very little sugar and if I do eat it, it's not refined. Anyhow, I read this and went to the med cabinet and put my husbands athletes foot cream on my eyes. I hope it provides some relief until I can get the other natural products everyone is recommending. Also I don't recall anyone saying to WASH YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES! I used to do it once a month, now it's going to be everyday until this clears up.
This *****, I've never had any type of skin problem. I watch Dr. Oz regularly and he as never addressed this subject. We should all write him, he could make an hour long show out of this problem alone.
Good luck fellow sufferers!

[redeyeredeye]

Ok, listen.  I've had this problem on and off for YEARS!  You have to stop trying to figure out WHY you've got it.  It's like all those people fighting over WHY oil well in the Gulf is spewing oil.  You need a solution! There are too many reasons today with all the air and food and environmental pollutants.  It's allergies!  You need a threefold approach. Here's a solution.  Take an antihistimine like loratadine or claritin.  Use eye drops like Similasan available at Health Food Stores AND  Refresh PM lubricant Eye Ointment available at Walmart.  DO it EVERYday.  Use the eye drops at least 4x a day.  It goes away then FAST.  Last year I was in GA in March when it was warm there.  I got pink (red) eyes and eyelids, could barely see, with pain and swollen, red eyelids.  I used Similasan Pink Eye drops.  It was gone quickly.  I used the threefold approach today andI am 75% better than I was yesterday.
I'm serious kids, I'm 70, I've been around for a long time and have tried everything.  This has always worked for me, it's just that sometimes I get stubborn and think I can drop the meds.  I have allergies to trees, dust, mold, food, medicines, animals etc.  When I lived in NYC I was allergic to all the auto exhaust from the LIE and would get an asthma attack in the middle of the night.  If you have to take claritin or loratadine all year so what, at least you can see.  It will take an allergist the rest of your life and all of your bank account to figure out what you are allergic to and it IS allergies.  You say your are stressed, well yeah, if your eyes are killing you all day, on top of everything else.
Good luck, I hope this helps.  Remember two days ago, my eyes were swollen and red as Santa Claus's suit, I couldn't open them in the mornings and they hurt BAD.  I should have started loratadine in  early Spring, but I didn't so I suffered, it isn't necessary, I'm not a medicine person, I take nothing else but when the time comes just take the antihistamines and the eye drops.

to:myeyessuck  You seem to have a different problem than the red eyelids and swollen eyes that a lot of people have been talking about here.    Ask your Dr. for Fluconazole, the ONE PILL cure for yeast infections.  if your Dr. hasn't prescribed it he's an idiot, get rid of him.  Years ago they didn't have that pill, so I used yogurt by putting it, you know where, that cured it, those creams are useless for a raging yeast infection.  You also could have a staph infection, I had one after my son was born and a very, very brilliant pediatrician recognized that I was sicker and needed a Dr. more than my baby needed anything.  He gave me a strong antibiotic and that was the end of all my skin infections which were getting real ugly.
At least TRY these suggestions.
redeyeredeye

[Brenda4242]

Everyone, it's uncanny isn't it how we are all from different areas, different climates, different ages, different ethnicities - but we are all women (as far as I can tell from the posts).  My eye problems for the past 2 years flare up around October, when it gets cold and dry here in Alberta Canada.  I DID NOT want to go on steroids after reading a lot of comments, especially when people noted that the symptoms returned after they stopped using the steroid creams.  My eye problems were accompanied by strange flat whitish dry patches on each side of my neck that later turned red and itchy.

I found by trial and error that I could get rid of almost all of the symptoms this way:  wash your face and body with Ivory soap - it's very pure.  put the following items on your eyes and affected areas every night - extra virgin olive oil, Spectro ExzemaCare intense rehydration cream (in a tube), and yes, I figured this one out myself - zinc baby cream, the kind they put on babies' bottoms - the zinc is very healing.  then my regular face cream over the rest of my face, but always as soon as I've finished washing, so my eyelids are still damp, I put the combo of oil/Spectro/zinc baby cream.  sometimes I have used only the zinc cream, sometimes all three, and when my eyes are healed I continue with the olive oil every night and the Spectro I just use every time I wash my face as my regular eye cream.  None of these are recommended for the eye area but I've had no problems - just don't get it in your eyes of course.

Anyway I hope that helps some people - these are very inexpensive creams to buy from any pharmacy and sometimes the best cures are the least complicated and the least expensive.  except it's not really a cure is it, as it can come back and I am not sure why it cycles during the autumn and spring seasons, what's that about.

[Rraugen]

Hi again.
It's been a while since I posted so I thought I'd give an update.
The control cream from Mario Badescu is working perfectly for me. Since I bought it, my eyes have looked completely normal.
I didn't use it around my eyes at all during April and they didn't become red/dry/swollen. I have added the healing cream to my morning routine though.
I even used the makeup that I thought might have dried them out.
The control cream has also took away the eczema from my arms.
I've only recently had to start using it again (this week) when my eyes felt a little itchy and they've felt fine ever since.
I have my first summer exam next week so I'm interested to see how my eyes/skin reacts and whether the control cream will help prevent my skin from getting as bad as it usually does.

[Percyfaith]

Been following this thread Sore, puffy, dry, red eyelids...  for some time now and there are great ideas shared here. I have had many of the exact symptoms as some of the rest of the posters here also behind my ear have been red sore and flaky.  I especially agree with redeyeredeye about allergies and working on the symptoms.

I hate prescription meds but Doc prescribed Triamcinolone .1% cream and it worked for me mostly on behind my ears - supplement wise I upped my fish oil and took another oil called Squalene, I got from Wellness Resources.
I am under control now - Thanks for all the wonderful sharing here.

[redeyeredeye]

Good News! I found a product called OCUSOFT Eyelid Cleanser!  They have regular and Extra Strength - alvailable at CVS $15.99 $9.99 for the regular. 30 individually wrappped cleanser pads.
I was using Cover Girl Makeup on my eyelids because they were slightly red.  Then they turned bright red and I got little white dots and scabs on my eyelids and they HURT!  It is allergies so.
I got rid of the makeup, I tried washing out the jar in the sink, it took two caps full of laundry detergent and still could not get it off my hands or the sink, used half a box of tissues and finally used comet to clean the sink.  After two weeks of not putting it on my eyelids, there was still some makeup residue on the Ocusoft cleanser pad.
I also threw out my hair spray and gel.  Use  flat Beer to set your hair, I had forgotten about that.  It does not make  your hair smell, it's actually good for your hair and the set stays longer and  your hair feels great.
There's a fairly new makeup available at Walmart called: Physicians Formula Organic wear (green box)100% free of harsh chemicals, parabens, synthetic preservatives.  They also have mascara, which I bought, but am saving until I'm 100% clear.  My eyelids are 95% better and I stopped using the eye drops and loratadine.  It's the eye LID not my eyes that were the problem. It's still allergy season and I may revert to the loratadine but for now I'm trying to stay off it.
The agencies that are supposed to be testing cosmetics, and foods etc., for dangerous chemicals are in bed with the manufacturers.  So let the buyer beware.

redeyeredeye

[Melb159]

Hi,

My dear husband has been looking for me as well for cures and found this site. I have found this to be so helpful, as I cannot understand why dr's can't help us & I feel so alone. I have suffered from dry eye for almost 2 years, changed contacts, and then developed some severe allergies b/c they wouldn't give me restasis. Finally got restasis a month ago, and now my eye whites are cleared up, but in Feb. I started with this swelling/dry/flaky/crusty stuff. I will wake up randomly, usually once a week or so, and look like either someone beat the crap out of me or I went on a bender. The swelling will go down by the end of the day, but I am left with flaky, dry, skin all around the eyes that won't quit. I have been doing the coconut oil for  a few days, only did the baking soda once, but it does seem to help a little, but I am going to a dermatologist's on Tuesday. Doubt they can help me, but I am taking all of your wonderful ideas with me as it might be a fungal infection, since it is so hot and burning, which could have happened b/c my eyes were watering so much from the dry eye and allergies for so long that the skin got cracked and could have gotten an infection in there. I will be taking some of these ideas to them, it will be interesting to see if they are able to help me, they said they see what I described to them a lot, so I will def. keep all posted I am tired of wearing my glasses, can't wait to get back to contacts again but the glasses somewhat hide the ugliness. Will keep you posted on what they say Tuesday!!

[Ajay1806]

I used to have  eyelid problems, it seems it was due to a combination of Ocular Rosacea and Seb Derm. ( Seboric Dermatitius ) I think that's how you spell it.Cream for the seb derm helped alot and  I treated the Rosacea on my face with a laser treatment and deits and now have very little problems at all. Rosacea and Ocular rosacea is very often ignored by Dr's but a REAL problem.It might be worth mentioning it to the Dr at  your next visit and see what they say.

[cegosnel]

My condition also started in March. I have suffered from the same eye condition as everyone has shared. One day my eyes started to swell and itch; but only in one eye. Then, both eyes. Then it got worse. I went through March and April with continuous daily symptoms. Because we have had pollen in record numbers in Georgia (people who don’t have allergies do acquire them in Georgia), I thought it was some severe allergic reaction. Since I have had allergies for years, I figured it would go away later in the Spring season. Overtime, it occurred to me that not only was it not going away but I had to stop using all of my cosmetics. I just threw them away and figured I would start over. During this time, I was developing other problems which seemed to mimic pre-menapause. But after visiting my dermatologist and internist, I realized there was going to be no relief or definitive answers. When the blood test came back, the doctor told me my hormone levels were just a little on the low side. Boohoo. I’ve been getting random flare ups of itchiness, redness, swelling, wrinkled, and flaking and peeling. During May, the symptoms seemed to slow down and have become less frequent. Today, it’s back! I AM DESPARATE FOR /CURE and am also tired of looking 10 years older. When I exercise my eyelids hurt and burn really awful. It takes a couple of days for my eyes to improve. I look tired most of the time too. I hate that I can wear makeup anymore. I also look like a horror show. Thanks to everyone who has shared. You have made me feel so much better.

[Dafty78]

My eyes have been dry and flaky for a while, it comes and goes, for months at a time. Unlike the other posts, my eyelids aren't swollen. They were when I got some new eyeliner - a different website got me sorted on that - used  tea bags helped loads with the swelling. It was a new Garnier eyeliner in a fetching greeny gold that caused that reaction. I've thrown out all my Garnier make up, but my eyes are still dry, red and peeling, if no longer swollen. I suffer from eczema elsewhere, so I'm not sure if it's part of this.

I've noticed someone has recommended neem oil. I happen to have some neem balm from a trip to India last year. It didn't work on eczema elsewhere, but I'll give it a go on my eyes and see how it goes.  

I don't live in the States, so a lot of the advice above does not always apply!

[nicole4812]

            I'm in the same hopeless boat! I have been suffering-and I mean SUFFERING with this for two years. I'm 37, not fair, and in the Midwest USA. My symptoms began like many others, In my right eye. Which seems to be a common factor with most of us. Itchy, watery, and dry/scaly. It continued to worsen into swollen and hunchback of Notre dame looking. Embarrassing to leave the house. I currently have an "open sore" at the corner of my eyes that never heals. Possibly due to constant rubbing? I haven't slept well in two years due to rubbing my eyes in the middle of the night. I wake up several times each night and find I am rubbing and scratching my eyes. When I wake up in the morning my eyes are gross with crusty stuff. I have lost the eyelashes in the corner of my right eye, about a 1/4" worth. Not sure if this is from the rubbing or something else. I frequently have scum/mucus like stuff in my eye- possibly from the sore in the corner of the eye.
            In the beginning I saw my GP/Family Doctor. She prescribed oral steroids, this helped while I was taking them and them WHOA did it come back worse than ever. A month later she gave me a long term steroid shot. It worked for a few weeks and then once again, the flair up was back worse. I then saw an allergist that told me steroid always made the eczema worse and gave me nasonex, optivar, and claratin. I did all of these for three weeks with no improvement. He then tested me for allergies and the only patch test reaction was to PPD, an ingredient in hair dye. I don't work with hair dye and do not color my hair. He had no other suggestions. I then saw an ophthalmologist. He gave me a cream to put in the eye. It didn't work either.
             I am at my wits end and feeling hopeless at this point. I'm buying the control and healing cream online tonight and giving it a try. I can't even explain how bad this has been to deal with for the last two years. Just devastating. The only thing I know of when this started is I had silicone breast implants one month before the symptoms began. It was the only thing that was out of my routine. Any one else had surgery shortly before their first flare?

[Cyn11]

It has been almost a year since my last entry or flare up. I alternated between Tinactin antifungal and a cortisone cream. I used one in the morning and one at night and then I gradually decreased there usage by 4 - 6 weeks.  For me, I really think it was due to perspiration on my eyelids. I avoid sleeping in rooms that are too warm and I wear a sweat band when working outside in the summer or during strenuous exercise.  A fungus needs moisture. I hope you all find something that works for you. I don't want it to ever return!  I just wanted to share that there may be hope for each of you. (I don't think there is one cure fits all because I think we maybe looking at a couple different problems.)

[vicky83]

Hi everyone, I think I might have found a solution!!!

A few weeks ago I had very similar symptoms to a lot of you with puffy eyes and extremely sore, dry and discoloured eyelids. It seemed to ease after a few days and then it came back with a vengeance!!! It was so bad it was like the skin on my eyelids was going crusty. I struggled to open my eyes and the thick skin had become brown, almost like a large scab. Any moisturiser I put on just seemed to sting and I'd have to wash it off immediately. The only thing which gave me any relief was vaseline with aloe vera. Although this stuff is great for your lips I wasn't so sure about my eyes. I read this discussion and was comforted to find I wasn't the only one suffering with this.

Then I was telling someone else about my symptoms and they said they'd had it before and they recommended a cream. It's a facial skin cream for babies so it's extremely safe for the delicate skin around your eyes. It's designed to protect babies skin from the elements so it provides a slightly greasy surface. It's not expensive, is completely natural and organic. When I used it I was instantly relieved, I couldn't stop applying it because it was so soothing and within a couple of days it had gone. It's also very effective for other very dry areas. I was so grateful to the woman who had advised it, I felt like I had my life back. I was no longer embarrassed about my face.

It's called Calendula Face Cream.

I swore when I found it  that I would let the rest of you know. I hope you have as much success and relief as I did!!
Kind regards to you all x

[hurt3]

hi,im a 19 yr old female and am having this problem as well.i had it about a week ago but it went away and now its back, this time worse in the left eye.it starts out itching and then blows up and gets a little red.now it hurts.its not dry.this eye problem occurred randomly,if it was an allergy or from the heat why hasn't it happened before? i don't think i've been exposed or used or eaten anything that i havn't before.

[KRPink]

Well, I must say thank you to everyone who has posted.  It's nice to know I'm not alone!  My red, swollen, puffy eyelids first started about a year and a half ago.  I'm 26 and live in San Diego.  Like a lot of you, I thought it was due to my eye make-up or make-up remover.  I've always used Clinque due to my sensitive skin.  However, I don't think it has anything to do with make-up.

I've tried Neem and it helps, but does not completely cure the symptoms for me.  Definitely offers relief from the itching and burning though.  Neosporin didn't help for me at all.

After reading everyone's posts, I went out and bought two different eyes drop as well as the Ocusoft eyelid cleanser.  Just simple allergy eye drops helps to relieve the dryness.  I also used Refresh PM Lubricant Eye Ointment on my eyelids.  I'll let you know how that helps.

I ordered the Mario Badescu control cream online at Nordstrom since they don't seem to sell it in any of the stores near me.  It should get here in a few days.  I'm very eager to try it since everyone else has had success.  

I have a doctor's appointment in a week, but with any luck, my eyelids will be better by then (trying to stay positive!).  Also, my sister is a nurse practitioner so I'll ask her for any advice when I see her this weekend.  

Please keep posting any success you have!  Definitely helpful :)  Good luck everyone!

[nicole4812]

I posted a few weeks ago a similar problem to nearly everyone else. That same night I ordered the Mario Badescu control cream online after seeing another poster say how much it helped her.  ( i ordered the healing cream also, but it is back ordered) It is amazing! I can not stress how much it has helped me. The first few days I used it five or six times a day. Each time I felt the tight dry feeling I put the cream under my eyes and on my eyelid-even rubbing it into the corner of my eyes. Each day I felt the need to use it less and less. Now it has been two days since I used it. I will continue to apply it if symptoms reappear, and I'm pretty sure they will.  I am currently symptom free and it is a wonderful feeling. I actually wore eyeliner today for the first time in two years! It is the best 15.00 I have spent. Much cheaper than the hundreds of dollars I have spent going to Doctors that have NOT helped me. I encourage you to try it. If it helps you half as much as it has helped me, you will not be sorry. I just googled mario badescu and found their website. It was cheaper than ordering from Nordstroms online. Good luck, I'll continue to update if it changes or no longer seems to be helping.

[emmysmom527]

I found this forum when my teenage daughter had the same symptoms on both her eyelids.  It started after she spent a week camping (no showers) with a big group, so a fungal infection made sense.  We tried athlete's foot cream (carefully!) on her eyelids and that helped noticeably for a few days, but things got worse again.  We went to Nordstrom's and bought Mario Badescu Control cream after reading suggestions for it.  The salesgirl gave her some on a qtip to sample, and by the time we were done talking, the redness was gone and the swelling was noticeably down.  It was that fast!  She's been using the cream for 3 days now and her eyes look and feel totally better.  That stuff is amazing!  I have no idea what's in it or why it works, but it really worked fast for my daughter.  

[ClaudiaC1120]

I am going through the same thing, I really thought it was these target brand makeup remover wipes but I have discontinued the use of them. I too have the itchy patch on my check, I'm wondering if it can be related to fumes??? I first got this after cleaning my kitchen (although I've used the same products for years) and the symptoms have come and gone. I am know taking a photography class where yesterday I was exposed to the chemistry and yesterday I could feel it coming on and sure enough today I woke up with the red swollen dry eyelids.

[eyelashlady]

I may be the first one to admit that my bright red eyelids are due to using Latisse for the last 4 months (Latisse is a prescription solution applied to the lashline that helps eyelashes grow longer and thicker--and, incidentally, WOW!  It works!!).  Because I have had such incredible success with the product, I plan to keep using it.  For the last two weeks I've been on the maintenance program of applying Latisse two nights per week instead of every night.  I thought this would cause the redness to go away, but it didn't.  I don't like the eyelid redness but for the last 4 months have just applied tons of cover-up, as I LOVE my long, thick eyelashes too much to give Latisse up.  However, after reading through the comments on this site last week, I decided to try the Mario Badescu products.  I used his pimple-drying solution years ago when I suffered from acne, and it worked really well.  And the bottom line is this:  If you are a user of Latisse with red eyelids up to your eyebrow like me, RUN, don't walk, to your nearest Nordstrom and buy Mario's Control and Healing Creams!  I am thrilled.  

[lpcolor]

I have been having severe problems with my eye lids, red, extremely swollen, and flaking. I discontinued eyeshadows and makeups containing mica. I've been cleaning off all make-up at night before bed and all the thing most of you have tried. I'm just wondering if any of you use TileX to clean your showers. I'm beginning to think that might be what I'm allegic to. Please let me know if any of you use TileX. I'd like to know the percentage of you that do use TileX.
Thanks, LP

[helly720]

Hello everyone.  

I went through this entire list desperate to find a cure for my red, ithcy, flaky, dry, scaly eyelids.

I tried the vinegar first which gave some relief, it took away the soreness and a bit of the redness but my eyelids were still dry, flaky and itchy.

I ordered the Mario Badescu control cream and have been putting it in my eyelids for the last week.  I am happy to say my eyes are CURED.

My eyelids are back to normal.  I don't know what is in the cream but it has worked and I am so grateful I found this forum. My eyes look like those of a 32 year old again!

I am in the UK and bought the cream online from Beauty Bay for £13.50 and £2.50 delivery.  

Hope this helps, this cream is a miracle cure for this wierd eye lid thing!

[LovelyWelshLady]

Hi Everyone,

A fortnight ago I Googled the question 'Why are my eyelids red and dry?' and this was the first page that came up.  I've suffered with eczema all my life on and off, and recently it has been quite bad.  I think this is due to the recent British heatwave and high pollen count.

Rather than trying to find why I am suffering, I first of all wanted to find something to ease my symptoms.  After reading through your many responses I found people discussing Mario Badescu Control Cream.  I've not heard of this brand in Britain, and at first was dubious about buying it, but was so desperate that I thought anything's worth a go.

I found the product on BeautyBay.com, a 15ml pot for about £13.  I've spent much more than this on previous products so was willing to pay this.  It arrived the day after purchasing and I could not wait to try it.  I applied the product all over my face, neck and inner arms, and within about an hour, I noticed dead skin coming off on my hand when I rubbed my face.  I applied a bit more, had a shower a little while later, and when I came out my skin was about 90% improved.

That night I used more of the product, again on the problem areas and by morning my skin was pretty much perfect.  The redness had calmed almost completely and there was not a patch of dry, flaky skin on my face.  Amazing!

Honestly, I cannot recommend this cream enough.  I have tried what seems like every product available on Boots and Debenhams beauty counters and shelves.  I've used prescribed creams, steroid creams and ointments, but nothing has worked like this before.  This is a miracle product for me and I cannot wait to try some more products for other problem areas.

My next purchase is the range of products for Keratosis Pilatis (the little bumps and blotchy red skin on the backs of the upper arms).  If anyone has any recommendations for this, I'd be really grateful to hear them.

Thank you so much for the people who recommended Mario Badescu Control Cream, I am eternally grateful!

[muchbetter]

I have to add my own THANK YOU to those who have recommended the Mario Badescu Control Cream.  I, too, was skeptical at first.  Thought it might be some company person trying to push their product on this forum.  But then as I read more and more people who were saying it worked, I went ahead and got some.  I have been dealing with this problem (swollen, dry, burning, itching eyelids) for several months and was becoming very frustrated.  I tried lots of different things from this forum and from the doctor, but to no avail.  I couldn't wear makeup...didn't want to leave the house...etc.  I got the cream yesterday, have applied it three times and am almost completely back to normal!  I even plan to wear makeup to a wedding this evening!!  I am so glad.  I have no idea why this works so well, but it DOES.  Buy it right now if you haven't found a solution for yourself yet!!  You can get it at Nordstrom, or just order from the Mario Badescu online site.  Thanks again for the recommendation!

[JGinUK]

This forum has been a revelation to me. For so many years I have had random bouts of this condition. I wake up with swollen red eyelids so I can hardly see out from under, then as the swelling goes down during the day, being left with lumpy red weals under dry flaky skin, stinging patches especially in the outer corner, puffy between criss cross wrinkles. Tears sting, sweat stings, if my hair falls in my eye it stings, even my normal gentle face creams sting.

This went on for so many years that eventually my eyelids resembled deflated balloons with so much excess stretched skin hooding my eyes that I opted for eyelid surgery, with good result.

Over the years I have blamed eczema, contact dermatitis, allergies to washing powders, changes in face cream, formalin in nail varnish, hair dye, eye shadow, strawberries, hay fever or in fact anything I could touch with my hand and possibly then touch my face - but even eradicating all the possibilites it still happens!

Reading through all these letters, the one possibility I (or my doctor) hadn't thought of was a fungal infection. Having just had a recent bout over the last 2 weeks, despair had led me to surf the internet. I tentatively treated for fungal, fearing an even worse flare up, but overnight had a significant improvement and now day 2, hardly any signs left.

I am continously moisturing with the most basic simple sterile eye ointment I can get from the chemist to try and recondition the damaged skin, but it's a relief to open my eyes this morning!

Many many thanks to all of you who took the time to post!!

[Diana537]

So glad to find this forum.  I'm lucky in that I've only had two bouts of this problem in the last 5 years.  The common thread has been when working in the yard and sweating profusely.  The first time was 5 years ago on a very hot humid day, I was mulching around my trees.  Sweat was running down into my eyes.  I was wearing gloves and was being very careful not to touch my eyes so I know for sure it wasn't the mulch.  I broke out with itchy, swollen eyelids.  Even in the eye crease, it was cracking and actually bled.  Dry scaly lizard skin followed with peeling.  Went to the dermotologist and he said no one knows why women get it. I bathed it with baby shampoo and it finally went away after about 6 weeks.  Then on June 24 this year, we had a small tornado hit our development.  We had many, many tree limbs and branches in our yard so out we went to clean up.  Again a very hot, humid day and again I was sweating heavily with the sweat dripping into my eyes.  The very next day the eyelid problem was back again.  So I believe that since this is NOT a chronic condition with me and that I've had just these two incidents separated by a long time, that it is (for me anyway) fungal due to heavy sweat dripping into the eye area.  I've been using the baby shampoo again. I still have some flaking and the leathery skin but it's much better than it was.  I'm going to try the antifungal cream with the Q-tip to see if I can clear it up for good.  Next time it's extremely hot and I do yard work, I'm going to wear some sort of terry headband on my forehead to minimize the sweat dripping into my eyes like the tennis players do.

[heyjude916]

I just want to thank everyone here for their input and suggestions.  I purchased the Mario Badescu Control Cream and Healing Cream, and they are already working wonders.  Before I got the creams I tried the zinc oxide (Desitin) and that helped a little.  I have been dealing with this problem on and off for close to 20 years.  I have been to several doctors, and gave up because nothing gave me any long-term relief.  It would work for a while, and when I tried it again it either didn't work or made it worse.  At one time I was convinced it was makeup related, but I'm not so sure any longer.  My eyelids (most notably the right eye) have ranged from puffy and red to crusty and red, and at times were even cracked and  bleeding.  I diagnosed myself with blepharitis at one point, but by the time I went to see the eye dr. it was gone.  I have also tried the occu wipes, which sometimes help and sometimes don't.  I think I will actually be able to wear makeup again in the near future after not wearing it for about 6 weeks (with no relief).  I will throw away all the old eye makeup just in case and buy new.  I've noticed that certain shades of eye shadow or anything that glitters wreak havoc on the lids so I stick to earth tone colors in a matte finish (I use Clinique only).

I can't that you all enough for the Mario Badescu suggestion.  I hope and pray that it continues to work wonders, but right now I am very hopeful.  Best of luck to all of my fellow dry, red eye lid sufferers.  It would be nice if someone could come up with something that would help ALL of us!

[finlay1]

This forum is very interesting and now I don't feel like I'm going mad!  My problem is restricted to my left eye (although over the years I've always had weepy eyes re hayfever, windy weather) and started about 4 months ago with a really sore, bloodshot eye with swelling.  This disapeared after a few days and since then I've had a swollen, sore eyelid, sore patch on edge of lower lid and some disappearance of outer corner eye lashes.  I can see a small white bump on the inner eye lid - could this be a blocked tear duct?  Went to GP - but it was on a "good day" and he said he couldn't see anything after examining my eye. Nothing seems to soothe the lid or ease the itch - any ideas please?  

[lbian14]

I, too had similar symptoms of crusty, cracking eyelids. I thought it was the make-up I was using but after reading the comments in this website, I was convinced that it was not that, but fungus. So, I bought Tinactin anti-fungal cream, and have been using it for a week now. I also ordered the Mario Bedescu control cream but it arrived after I had relief from Tinactin. So, I plan on using Tinactin for a few more days, and then use the control cream during the day. My eyelids are itch and flake free for a few days now. Thank you for those who posted what have worked for them. I tried several things before from Neosporin, Vaseline and Garnier eye roller but all of them didn't work.

[ItchyandRed]

Many thanks to you all who have posted.  I have found relief from the problems we are all suffering from, and just want to recap the actions I have taken:

In my case, I am fairly certain that my condition is jumping back and forth between eczema (which itches) and the fungal infection (causes dandruff) moving to the irritated eyelid skin from my hairline.  Several posters hypothesized the same thing.  Eczema products generally don't work on fungus, and the anti-fungal products just burn when applied to eczema.  If you have both or alternating conditions, trying to chase with different remedies just doesn't work.

The relief came from breaking the cycle between the two conditions.  

1)  Use Nizoral at the hairline.  I alternate between the Nizoral (OTC), the Neutrogena Tar shampoo (also helps the eczema), and the selenium sulfide (Selsen Blue) shampoos.  This is so I don't build up resistance to any one of the active ingredients.

(Note to those with colored hair.  These products really strip my color, so I use just at the hairline and scalp, and follow with regular shampoo/conditioner and try not to message the "salon" products into the scalp.  I have had to decrease weeks between color visits, but it is better than the eye problem.)

2)  Change pillowcases every day or every other day.  I am a stomach sleeper, and believe this is how the fungus was being transferred to my eye area.

3)  Pull hair away from face while sleeping, allowing air to get at the hairline.

4)  Clean eyeglasses daily with antibacterial soap and water.  The solutions for anti-reflective coating should be used just on the front of the lens, not on the side of the lens facing your eyes.

4)  Use the Mario Badescu Control cream on the face (thanks to this board!).  This helps the irritation that provided the landing site for the fungus.  I still have other patches of eczema (neck, arms) that I battle with the Triamcinolone Acetonide cream, but I am not putting anything strong near my eyes.

5)  For the irritation caused by perspiration (had this problem too), I use either Eucerin or A&D ointment as a thin film around my eyes.  I think this retains moisture and blocks the transfer of the fungus carried into the area by perspiration from the forehead/hairline.

The only problem I have not solved is which sunblock to use.  It all causes irritation for me.  Any advice from the MD's or any other posters on my regimen or the sunblock problem would be appreciated.

[UK_Lndn_10]

Well what a relief to find there are others suffering with a similar condition.

I had this last year around summer/ autumn time and it lasted for ages (about 6 weeks). I was going back and forth to the doctors, and then to an opthamologist who just said to use chloramphenicol drops and hot presses. Anyway, that was last year, but guess what - this year its back!

I have no idea what causes this. I never use make up (being a guy!!!) so that rules an allergic reactions out. I do notice that from time to time my eyes feel tired and sometimes my eyelid does seem to swell a little, but it usually recovers on its own after a day or so. Now its very red and swollen and I am waking up with crust and yellow stuff in the corner of my eye.

I have been pretty stressed out and tired for the past two years (studying) and so I've felt very tired. I also get a lot of tension at the front of my head which feels like a surge of stress to my forehead when I am relaxing. Could this and the infection or be related in anyway? Otherwise I am completely stuck as to what causes it?

I have a customer service job which makes it worse because if I do go into work, I have to tell everyone about it. But if I don't, I face being frowned upon for taking time off sick!!

Anyway, nice to know I am not alone!

good luck with finding a solution to this problem (and please share if you do)

[brightz]

Just read some of your problems , some of  you have allergies to some components of the make-ups you use (some mascaras have iron and some other components) and some of you have blepharitis .As far as blepharitis is concerned mostly if not all times its a chronic inflammation of eyelids so that means the symptoms will be ON and OFF ,but hygiene and hot compresses help a lot .
I advice all of you to read this link -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blepharitis

As for UK_Lnd_10 you might need to check your refraction with your doctor , you might be slight or moderate  hypermetropic(far sighted) . Hypermetropics might experience symptoms like yours of getting tired during reading ,soon after reading ,headaches ,burning sensation ,fatigue, Blepharoconjunctivitis( Blepharitis+Conjunctivitis ) especially if your hypermetropia is compansated  ,which leads to overuse of ciliary muscles .So that might be a possible relationship of your symptoms .

Hope this might help

DrBrightz , Ophthalmology Resident, Ukraine

[UK_Lndn_10]

DrBrightz

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Yes, I am waiting to see how bad this all gets. If I need to take time off of work, I will most certainly go to my doctor (hopefully the same one I saw last year). In the past when I have seen the doctor with conjunctivitis/ blepharitis, they have sent me away to get chloramphenicol drops (without a prescription) and use them for 4 weeks and if it doesn't go then to return. This doesn't really solve the underlying problem though.

Last year, when I had it very bad (for 6 weeks) the doctor did refer me to an opthamologist. They did an eye test (reading letters from a flipchart) and I was fine. I'm not sure if this would rule out hypermetropic though? Or would another test be needed for that? They also scanned my eyes under a big microscope and didn't seem to find anything wrong.

I'm very confused because this seems to come and go. I use an eye wash and keep my eyes clean. The problem is also restricted mostly to one eye only so that rules out an allergy. The problem begins with symptoms which suggest blepharitis (swollen eyelid, red skin in the corner of the eye, but not a red eye itself), and then develops into conjunctivitis (red eye. yellow liquid etc). When this happened last time the conjunctivitis did transfer to the other eye, but the problem always seems to originate and be significantly worse in one eye??!!

Thanks for the link. The info is very interesting and I will speak with my doctor about this if it gets worse and let you know how I get on.

Once again, thanks for the reply.

[brightz]

l see , so at the moment we can out  allergy  , so as refraction problems  .
Blepharitis is still under question , and you might as well consider what is called angular conjuctivitis . check this link for a picture  http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eyeforum/atlas/pages/angular-conjunctivitis.html

if symptoms progress go and see your  ophthalmologist and  please give me feedback .Okay?

Good luck
Dr Brightz     Ophthalmology Resident, Ukraine

[tacha187]

I have been having a similar problem mainly a slight redness to the white of my eye and itching, there is no swelling at all and I very rarely wear make up.Its horrible I have to exercise extreme self control not to rub as I know it will make it worse. I am wondering if its allergy related being that its spring here and we just moved next to a large reserve that has pine trees that are pollenating like crazy. I have taken some antihistimines this morning and I am also a contact wearer so I washed my face and rinsed each eye with contact solution which certainly helped to soothe it, that was about two hours ago and the itch seems to have settled, still hurts but I must admit I did rub the eye a little this morning. I will head to chemist and purchase some proper eye drops and will keep you posted on the out come, ps this has been on and off for about a week now, seems to get better and then re-ocurrs, This is my first attempt at doing something to help it, so I will keep you posted about what happens. Also I am not on any medication and have not used any new products.

[finlay1]

I have been using Liz Earle "eyebright" lotion to soothe the soreness, itching and swelling.  Her "eye repair" eye cream seems to be helping the dry patches on the lid and corner of the eye.  I get the products from QVC!  Hope this helps.

[pmscom]

The Mario Badescu Control Cream has worked like a charm for me! And it only costs $15 from their website. I use a tiny bit of it each day on my eyelids as a preventive measure. I love this product!  I ordered the acne control kit for my daughter and it seems to be helping her, as well. I am very thankful for reading about this MB control cream on this discussion board and deciding to order it.  I am now totally healed and will keep this product at all times!!! I highly recommend it!

Patti

[yarrow]

It's interesting that many here have had a positive experience with the Mario Badescu cream, because it does contain Balsom of Peru, a resin that has been used medicinally for a long time--but which, paradoxically, has a high allergic/contact dermatitis potential:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15932578

[tweeten]

I ordered Mario Badescu Control Cream since today!!  I can't wear makeup today, they are so swollen.  It even hurts to blink, or look up!  My right eye is much worse.  I will report back with my results!! Can't wait! I have had this on and off for about 6 months.  About a year ago, I had my eyeliner tatooed, and I kept thinking it was due to the tension and pressure of getting that done....but I am sure it is not.  The timing in between is just too long.... I will be watching my mailbox!

[Frustratedinidaho]

I'm so relieved to find this website!! It just makes me more frustrated that no one knows what this is!!
This August I started waking up with red,puffy,dry skin around my eyes. My under eye area is also red and puffy and wrinkly. My right eye is considerably worse than the left which makes me rule out allergies and contacts-which i haven't been wearing because of this. My eyeballs have been getting red and irritated when I wear my contacts but that IS because of allergies so I'm ruling out contacts as an issue as well. It looks like someone did that trick where you look through something and they put ink on the end of whatever it is that leaves a circle around your eye, but its all filled in and red.  I also have really painful, dry cracked skin around the outer corners of my mouth going down my chin. I switched birth control recently so I figured it was that.  I've been off those pills for almost a week now. It got better for  a few days and I was sure it was the new BC pills and then I woke up this morning and its back. I haven't changed any of my makeup, although I am now doing the bare minerals with their mascara because its the only thing that will cover this uglyness! Before then all I wore was eyeshadow and mascara and since this has started I've stopped wearing eye makeup all together. Anyway, no new food, no new shampoos or lotions or soaps. The derm said nothing really and gave me an ointment for eczema to try on my lids which burned like HELL and made me want to die so I'm not using that anymore!! I've been using Aquaphor for the dryness but that only seems to help the dryness. Not sure if the dry skin patches around my mouth and shin have anything to do with the eyes or not but ive seen other people post on here about that issue as well.
Just wanted to share my pain with everyone. I havent' found anything to help. I guess I'll have to go broke buying creams and ointments and vitamins to figure this thing out cause the derm seems to have no clue!

[yarrow]

Have any sufferers here ever been diagnosed either with "Dry Eye" or with ocular rosacea?

[starryone]

I've been having the same problem several times in the past few months.
I would wake up in the morning and my eyes would be very red and puffy, but just under the eyes.Then it would get kinda scaly and dry later in the day or the next day. And I would have a little red irritation around my lips. And it seems to happen in the few days before my period begins.

The solution (for me anyways)... Stop consuming so much darned salty food!

It seems to be a combination of hormones and too much salt intake.
I noticed that when I would eat lots of salty food around the few days before my period, I would wake up the next morning with the puffy, red undereye issue. Excess salt causes fluid retention and in the few days before my period, I already tend to retain fluids more... so the excessive salt causes me to retain even more fluid, resulting in... puffy, red eyes in the morning!
And the red irritation around my lips? Also from consuming too much salt.

When this has happened, my solution has been to use a couple of cool chamomile tea bags placed over the eyes and drink lots of water. (and cut down on salt)

Hopefully, that all makes sense! :)

[LinInDenver]

Hello there,

Well My story is similar to the rest: I'm 30, female, dealing with this for about 6 months. I think mine must not be a bad as some others, you poor things. :-( my eyelids don't burn/swell up unless I put something on them I shouldn't. They are however bumpy/scaly, itchy, and will flake, turn red.

Below, a little background on what I've tried, and my environment.

So far I've tried neosporin, vasoline, and Melt's "Walk In the Clouds" body butter (which worked the best, but isn't made all year round!). I threw out all my makeup and brushes worried something in there had given me an infection, and bought fresh. I am very conscientious about cleaning my brushes each week, as well as my eyelash curler and pencil sharpener after each use.

We live in Colorado USA, so it is VERY dry here. I have lived here all my life though, so I'm not sure the arid weather is really the problem for me.

I use only Method cleaning products in my house, and use Bare Essentuals makeup products. I'm using Reddken Shampoo, but when this all started I was using BWC (Beauty Without Cruelty) shampoo.

Right now, I'm suspicious of Aleve, cats, and Cetaphil face wash!

In the last 6-8 months....
I switched to Aleve from Advil since Aleve is easier on the stomach.
Cats started sleeping on a pillow above my head.  
I started using Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin 2x daily, and Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer 1x daily (though not on my eyelids).

I have noticed that when we went on vacation to more humid places this summer, my issue pretty much went away. Whether that is because we were out of the dry climate, or away from the cats, who knows. I'll do some experimenting to find out!

What I'm going to try next, in this order...
Refresh PM drops on eyelids and kick the cats to the foot of the bed.
No more Aleve, just Advil
Mario Badescu's Control Cream.
Replace Cetaphil products. Perhaps with CeraVe products, or Mario Badescu.

Good luck to us all - what great ideas and I'm glad to hear the success stories. I'll keep the cider vinegar in my back pocket as well, and will post back with my status!

Lin

[soreeyes2104]

I have these exact same issues and I have noticed a few similarities.  I actually switched to an Aleve and am experiencing these issues.  

I also have cats, that I recently found out that I am alergic (allergic) too.

The last thing that I am suspisious of is that it is a hormonal thing.  I feel that it starts around the same time every month.  THAT TIME.  I am going to keep track of this.  Any body notice the same things?

[ItchyRedEyes]

Try the Mario Badescu cream!  

It's worth a try especially if you are at your wits end like I am.  I have only recently in the last 2 weeks been having the symptoms everyone describes here, puffy lids, very itchy in the morning and at night.  When I wake up - I look 100 yrs old!  I have never had allergies and I don't have sensitive or light skin.  Like everyone I suspected the make up too but continued reading and reading.... and reading....

I went to my doctor last week and he immediately thought it was an allergy, gave me eye drops and Loratadine tablets and sent me on my way.  The eye drops gave me small relief but really my condition had not improved.  When I called again today (4-5days later) I was told I should see an eye specialist @ $250 just for the consultation.  Thats when I found this forum.

After spending all day reading this forum and considering my options I rushed out and bought Lamisil and the Mario Badescu Control cream.  The Lamisil seemed to give me a little relief but did not stop swelling.  Its not as itchy during the day.....  

I found a cold flannel on my eyelids helped when it was very itchy and I just wanted to scratch my eyes out.  It has been less than an hour since I rushed out and bought the Mario Badescu control cream and I can feel and see some improvement already.  

I am 44 Female in NZ and we have just come into Spring.

I have taken some before photos and will be back in a few days to update this.  

[Kate49a]

Hi - for quite a few years I suffered with allergic rhinitis, eyes would water , constant sneezing, itchy roof of mouth etc etc. various things sparked it - dust, car exhaust fumes,car air freshners, cut grass and for some reason private collection perfume. I was given neoclarityn , beconase and eye drops. This brought it under control and for the last few years I haven't had that. However about a year ago, whilst visiting a friend, I woke to an itchy eyelid, not much , just a little red patch and itchy. I thought I had been bitten in the night, it didn't amount to anything and cleared up. Several months later, it happened again - I woke to find a slight red patch on my eyelid which on standing up, literally filled up with fluid as I watched and just got bigger for a number of hours! Usually lasts all day and has almost gone down on day 2. This was then happening every few months or so and it could be one eye or the other. Doctors verdict, allergy, just more eye drops, nasal spray and tablets. We were on holidays a fortnight ago with an early morning flight, later that day I could feel almost a stiffness developing in my left eyelid, by the next morning the eye was up! Few days later , same week, we had a bit of a sand storm, thought I'd got a littel sand in my right eye, sure enough next morning right eye was up!
I am home almost 2 weeks now and yesterday got up with the itch, red patch and watched the right eye swell within minutes, actually it got a lot worse when I got in the shower. This morning I have woken up with the left eye up, really bad to the extent that I can hardly see this computer screen! I am now neally paranoid about what I eat and drink, just went to eat a banana and thought  - but I ate one of those yesterday - maybe it's bananas! I also use the aussie shampoo , wondering if its it, had a glass of red wine both nights! Use estee lauder mascara!!!! The list goes on! If anyone has had similair to this and has found something to help please let me know as it it driving me crazy! I can't work when it happens as it is so bad! All the doctors say is they can't do anything about it!

[tweeten]

TRY Mario Badescu Control Cream!!!  What do you have to lose besides $15??!!  I bought it, and in 2 days (using it morning and night) my eyes were 100% back to normal.  I now use it only at night before bed.  It is not greasy!  I am so relieved to have found this inexpensive relief. I was ready to spend hundreds at a dermotologist, which I was pre-conviced would not help a bit.  

[devandry]

I wrote a while back about Aleve.  That was my problem.  I see that a couple of you lately have been using Aleve and now have these symptoms.  It is actually the naproxen in Aleve that is causing this and there are other prescriptions that have naproxen in them as well.  Every time I go to the doctor and he wants to prescribe a new medicine, I always ask if it has naproxen in it.  I am so careful now...I do not want to go through the painful red, itchy, burning then peeling eyelids that I had experienced before.  Please be aware of not only what you put on your skin but what you digest as well.  Toxins come out of your body in forms of sweat, tears and saliva and will literally burn your skin.  I have not used Aleve in 4 years and I remain symptom free. The Mario Badescu Control cream helps to relieve the pain and itching but it is only a band aid.  You will keep having this problem until you find out what is causing your allergic reaction. Good luck to all of you.
Sue

[ItchyRedEyes]

It works!  The Mario Badescu control cream has saved me and I am happy to report back to you all, and it has only been one day since I tried it.

You can stop spending money on things like doctors, pharmacies and cosmetics... this is the one thing that worked!  Everyone needs to know about this stuff, it is a little miracle in a jar... and NO I don't work for MB and have never heard of the products before yesterday when I came on here.  I am genuine when I say I want to help anyone that has suffered like I did for the last couple of weeks.  I cant believe people have been living with this condition for years.

If you live in the states it should be easy to find, its from New York.

ingredients:
Deionized water
Carnation Oil
Polyglycerylmethacrylate
Propylene Glycol
Seamollient
Balsam (Myroxylor Pereirae Resin) Peru

TRY it and tell everyone you know!

[yarrow]

If the Badescu product works, then by all means use it.  But please note that it contains Balsam of Peru, a notorious allergic sensitizer.

[ItchyRedEyes]

All I know is Mario Badescu control cream works.

Maybe it is the Balsam of Peru that fixes it!

I wish all the people who have suffered to be rid of this awful condition once and for all.

I tried it out of desperation when my doctor couldn't help me and I had to get back to work.

Peace to all.

[pingu123]

The past three days ive developed red, sore, puffy eyelids as you have described Alex, i also have developed it all around my mouth and on my chin. I woke up today and my eyes and mouth were puffy, it has gone down though as the day has progressed, but both mouth and eyes continue to remain red, and very sensitive.
Any recomendations?

[nbarrio]

Im 16, and I have the same problem! I don't know what it is. One morning my makeup suddenly began to burn like crazy.(Makeup isn't different.i've been buying the same brand for a year) And I quicky took it off with my same ol makeup remover wipes & that also stung. Now my eyelids and lower eyelids are red, itchy, sore,wrinkly and peeling. I don't know what it is anymore. I havnt worn any makeup and it still burns.Please help me!

[litlbeck]

Thank you so much everyone for your suggestions! I have had the same problem over the last week or so - in my case, most likely the result of an allergy. Eczema, serious redness and puffiness around my right eye and the top part of my cheek, plus cracked skin and redness around my mouth a bit. The whole area on my face is so inflamed and hot. The eye itself was uneffected but waking up a couple of days with my eyelid puffed up so much I could barely open the eye. In my case I'm pretty sure its a food allergy - I react this way to dairy.

Anyway in the past I've used hydrocortisone cream, but didn't want to do that around my eye, and this time have used aloe vera and rosehip oil, and cold compresses to reduce swelling. The cold gave some relief, but the lotions/oils weren't helping much, so after reading this forum I tried washing the area with baby shampoo and then got some of the Mario Badescu control cream. That stuff is AMAZING!! I can't recommend it highly enough. In an hour or so, I could already see the effects. Less than a day later, I no longer look like a mutant and the redness/irritation has almost gone (it is at least fairly undetectable unless you get up real close). I cannot tell you how relieved I am to have finally found a resolution to this! Thanks so much to everyone for your help!

For the vital statistics part - I'm a 38 year old female, no children, live in Australia, have had a dairy allergy and misc other food sensitivities since I was a teenager. I've had hayfever all my life - mainly seasonal but pet hair, pollen etc can set me off any time. I use antihistimine tablets to minimise that, and when I spoke to a pharmacist she suggested that for the eye problem too (and did not recommend using hydrocortisone, btw). I barely use any makeup, and the moisturisers I use are mild, natural where possible and always for sensitive skin. I use Jurlique products where possible - they're great for sensitive skin. Mainly my skin is good except when an allergy flare up happens - which as I said I'm fairly sure is the culprit in this case.

I hope you all find solutions - definitely give the Mario Badescu cream a whirl - its worth a try! (PS if you're in Australia, Kit Cosmetics stock it and also sell it online.)

[Sawoodlady]

As most of you who suffer with this "horrible affiction" I was so relieved to find this stream. We are not crazy. Whatever this is, it is debilitating and humiliating..... not to mention painful. We have all received validation, support and recognition through this website and that is a very important first step. I have tried some of the suggestions and I am impatiently waiting for the Mario Badescu creams that everyone has had such great success with. I know we will probably never know the cause..... but who cares as long as we find a "cure"... or at least a way to live with it.    Eyes not so bad this morning.... as I am less stressed about them!!! I see a light at the end of the tunnel. There is help. Thanks to all and Good luck to all of us!!

[jessie751]

I have had this problem for about 4 years, it seems to come and go in every month at around the same time, but its been much worse around the eye area at present.
It seems to be a mixture of all of these problems, i already suffered from eczema, but i suffered from that when i was younger, i am 19 and female and currently studying so i think it came back through stress when i started university last year. I have patches of it in the elbow area and small patches on my leg, these seem to clear up when i put a bit of moisturizer on i use aveeno as well as the body wash. (And de-stress) But as soon as i am stressed or ill it comes straight back.

My eyelids however are in a terrible state, they are red swollen and itchy, they also seem to run all the time, also i have now started to get a new 'flap' on my eyelids, this gets much worse when they are sore and flared up, but seems to go when they are better. I think it is because i have had the condition for a long time and also my doctor never told me that i could not use too much steroid cream on my eyes, so guess what, i used it every day to keep it at bay - im paying for that now. I have also experienced like others loss of sight, which is terribly scary! i cried and cried and it eventually came back into focus, but as everyone seems to experience crying BURNS!

When i first think back to when i got this condition it started on my leg in a round patch, the skin would itch and itch, then harden and flake, i had this for a bout a year, i did not treat it with anything other than some moisturizers, ( can not remember which but something bog standard) and eventually it just went away, however i still have a dark brownish patch of skin left that will not go away, i am so worried that the skin around my eyes may be left with a permanent ring around them.

i really can not believe that doctors do not really know what this is, and to be honest all the doctors i have seen have been very arrogant i think i have used nearly every treatment under the sun for this from the doctors, i recently chucked the huge bags of creams away that i had used ( i wish i had kept them so that i could post what they where!)
One doctor told me to bathe in wallpaper past for the anti fungal properties,as you can imagine it was disgusting and did nothing!

i believe this problem is both eyelid eczema, i think this because if i put hydrocortisone on my eyelids (never doing that again after reading this post) the dry itchiness spreads down onto my cheek which tells me that its eczema. But i also believe it is bacterial fungal type thing as the sore patches have spread to areas like my arm pits when it is really bad. One of you mentioned you also had this.

I seem to also have another skin condition, but im not sure there is a link and so i do not want to scare anyone. It occurs on my vagina lips and my nipples, it seem similar, the skin get unbelievable itchy, worse so than my eyes! The skin can blister and bleed and has a sheen to it where the skin seems to get so thin.I do not want to make this post really long and get into it too much as i am hoping they are separate conditions. But i have had no luck from the doctors, instead they have actually been insulting, telling me not to come back to them and go to the sexual health clinic!! it is not a sexual health problem me and my partner are both completely clear of everything.

So as you can all imagine my whole body is going through hell, going to try that Mario Badescu cream, i use cetaphil at the moment which i can not live without but only gives me some relief form the itching. I am going to a dermatologist soon so i am hoping they will have some answers, but form what i have read they may not!

In the meantime going to try what ItchyandRed posted on the 22nd of aug as i think this will help people suffering from bletharitis and eyelid eczema as well as anything fungal. Its about breaking the cycle!
Thank you for your help!
i will let you know how it goes with the dermatologist.

[yarrow]

My gosh, this certainly sounds like a job for a dermatologist, and I'm glad you are finally seeing one!  The presence of these spots on your elbows and the fact that they are rather hard is interesting.  Has anyone ever discussed psoriasis with you?

http://www.medicinenet.com/psoriasis/article.htm#look