Swollen Eyelids

I have had this eye problem for the past year.. it usually starts with my eyelid itching and getting red, then next morning when I wake up, my eyelids are swollen, sometimes it's only one eye, sometimes it's both eyes. The skin on my eyelid is all bumpy, rough, red, and it itches. I do wear make up, I wear eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner, but I have been using the same makeup for the past 3 years, so I don't know if it is my make up causing irritation. It use to happen very frequently, it would get swollen then go away for a week and come back, but it stopped occurring for a couple of months and thought it was because I threw out my mascara and used a new brand, but today the swollen eyelid has returned along with the bumpy, red skin. When I got the swollen eyelid in the past, my eyeball would be red too, but this time around, my eye isn't red, just my eyelid is irritated. What is going on? How do I stop it?

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear ptong423,

I would recommend that you seek the care of an eyeMD when your eyelid is irritated. It is possible that you are experiencing an allergy or dermatitis.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

[taraoc]

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