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What should I do about the dry, flaking skin on my eyelid (and underneath my eye)?
Hello, I'm a 16 year old girl who generally does not have many, if any at all, skin problems. Somehow I'm not acne ridden and my never seems to have any problems, even though I'm probably one of the least hygienic people ever. I don't regularly wash my face nor wear heavy makeup (again, if any at all). I leave my skin alone for the most part except for the occasional eye rub.
Over a year ago (in November 2015) I was going through some nasty break up and, naturally, I cried a LOT. So this caused me to rub my eyes continuously with tissues and shirts, irritating my skin. I first noticed it flaking a little underneath around early-mid December 2015. Idiotically, I did nothing. It wasn't until February of 2016 that I saw someone.
My family doesn't entirely have to money to go to a dermatologist or ophthalmologist first so we went to a clinic. The clinic prescribed me Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1% and instructed me to apply a small amount 3 times a day (morning, around 5pm-ish and then before bed), wiping the area clean in between applications, for at minimum a week and at maximum two weeks. Then, if that didn't help, I was supposed to come back. I only used the cream for a week and didn't revisit the topic at all. The flaking patch under my right eye didn't really go away, but instead moved? I tried again with the cream towards the middle of the year with no evident success or failure. Now the flaking is underneath (towards the inner corner of my eye) and also on top (towards the inner corner as well). I will admit, I do frequently pick at it when the skin becomes noticeably loose and, well, flakey. I know that I shouldn't, but I don't know what good it would do to leave it.
Today I decided I would give the cream another try, going the full two weeks, almost a year after being prescribed the topical. However, I was researching a bit earlier and read that I could overdose on the cream and now feel that my only hope is to see an ophthalmologist. I'm kind of at a loss when it comes to what I can do WITHOUT seeing only- my biggest hope would be that I could safely try the cream again and possibly be successful. This has been annoying me for over a year now and I just don't know what my solution would be.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my question. I hope to hear a response back!
Over a year ago (in November 2015) I was going through some nasty break up and, naturally, I cried a LOT. So this caused me to rub my eyes continuously with tissues and shirts, irritating my skin. I first noticed it flaking a little underneath around early-mid December 2015. Idiotically, I did nothing. It wasn't until February of 2016 that I saw someone.
My family doesn't entirely have to money to go to a dermatologist or ophthalmologist first so we went to a clinic. The clinic prescribed me Triamcinolone Acetonide 0.1% and instructed me to apply a small amount 3 times a day (morning, around 5pm-ish and then before bed), wiping the area clean in between applications, for at minimum a week and at maximum two weeks. Then, if that didn't help, I was supposed to come back. I only used the cream for a week and didn't revisit the topic at all. The flaking patch under my right eye didn't really go away, but instead moved? I tried again with the cream towards the middle of the year with no evident success or failure. Now the flaking is underneath (towards the inner corner of my eye) and also on top (towards the inner corner as well). I will admit, I do frequently pick at it when the skin becomes noticeably loose and, well, flakey. I know that I shouldn't, but I don't know what good it would do to leave it.
Today I decided I would give the cream another try, going the full two weeks, almost a year after being prescribed the topical. However, I was researching a bit earlier and read that I could overdose on the cream and now feel that my only hope is to see an ophthalmologist. I'm kind of at a loss when it comes to what I can do WITHOUT seeing only- my biggest hope would be that I could safely try the cream again and possibly be successful. This has been annoying me for over a year now and I just don't know what my solution would be.
Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read my question. I hope to hear a response back!
THe medication is a steroid and is for inflammation. You can use it for 2 weeks or so without problem. Its not for long term us. Use the search feature and archives there is a long discussion about this problem you may find useful. After 2-3 weeks try using a mild skin moisturizer
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