At the end of my tether with under eye issues, not sure what else to use or can be done

[Redruby2020]

So I have posted on here before about this but it was more to do with appearance of eyes. I know that age and lots of stress etc has had an impact.
But since this year, I am not sure if it even started before this year.
Over time this under eye issue has developed/got worse, I have been to the GP, and they then asked me to go to the minor eye clinic, checked all fine, they said it was a skin issue and the GP needed to look in to it further. Went to see a GO again, useless, just basically in a round about way saying you just have to live with it.

So it’s basically the left side, gets swollen on the outer side of under eyelid, red, dry, itchy. Looks almost red/purple ish at times. You can see quite a difference. Almost like you could think I got hit in the face.
Previously I thought it was from possibly getting hairspray in my eye/it falling on that area.
And then different eye creams etc. Which some of the ingredients in these creams will have probably irritated things.

I use the same mascara I have used for years, and the pink Garnier Miceller to remove it.

I have gone back to more basic eye creams. But now only using Epimax eye ointment as it was recommended by a pharmacist. I am now not sure if even that has made it redder.
I now see a bit of it on the right eye, and eyelids just above are getting red and dry.

I think some of this is due to stress if I’m honest. Which has been unavoidable to an extent. Hoping some things will improve now, but still not near the end of the added stressors.

I wonder if my pillow is also worsening things, I changed it this year, not very good. Hoping there is nothing in that causing any allergy, also I do find it uncomfortable, and it may be causing some swelling around the eyes, although I guess this can happen anyway when you wake up in the morning, especially in 40’s, and I’m thinking depending on diet etc too.

I did return to the GP recently and was booked in with a Paramedic of all people, they do this now, instead of booking you with a doctor. They actually seem to be better and do more as I found out before.
And they booked me on the service pathway with Dermatology, which is quicker as you get a video/telephone call so you are not having to wait to be seen, and I guess from there they will assess whether I need to be seen further.

But any advice or similar experiences will be gladly accepted.

What shampoo do you use? If it has sodium laureth sulphate in it that could be your culprit. I have terrible problems with my eyes if I use anything with it in I ended up on strong steroid cream as it was so swollen, itchy and scaly!

I find tubing mascara the best as it doesn’t flake off, boots no7 do a good one. It comes off with a warm face flannel. I use optase eye make up remover as I find most micellar waters too harsh. Also very low ingredient cleansers either cetaphil, balmonds or SVR. Same with moisturisers and eye creams, I only use avene spray water as a toner. I also find spf a real eye irritator at especially chemical ones so stick to mineral based ones. Touch wood my eyes and skin have been ok for over 2 years now it’s no flares.
Sadly the doctors never suggested any of this just kept giving me strong steroids!

You could have a good point there, I think other things too though. As I use CeraVe SA cleanser not daily but used to use it weekly or twice a week. And the suds would get around the eye, even though I was not of course, using it there.
When I wash my hair I am usually doing it over the bath, so I am not sure if this would affect things.

But it sounds like you had a bit of what I’ve got, and the steroid cream might be something I end up, did the doctor give you that.

Agree with all advice re spf, tubing mascara etc - wanted to add, mid 40s on I’ve found peri has really dried out and itched my skin, I’ve had random rashes, eczema like it’s much more reactive than before, it drinks oil, moisturiser etc after a lifetime of being combi. Have you checked the HRT side of things?

Yes I have heard good things about those mascara’s. Where do you get that eye makeup remover from.
Yes I think going forward I will have to be careful with eye creams. Which is annoying as i can’t then use some of the ones I would like to, and for anti aging, darkness etc.
Yes the Avene water is good used to get that from time to time, many years ago now, when it was cheaper.

Glad to hear things have not flared up for a long time, it’s horrible, and affecting my confidence and anxiety etc. As I am conscious people can see it of course.

also optician last time I went in said to use a heated mask on eyes to dissovle stuck glands for something called blepharitis - assume it’s not that?
does heat help?

I've had blepharitis - swollen sore upper eyelids for a few years that would come and go. I now have to keep my eye area really clean- I use a saline solution to wipe my eyes every night and when I feel it flaring up I'll use a cotton bud dipped in saline to clean my waterline. I also feel that eating too much sugar brings it on. Hope this might be of some help.

I can't hardly use anything on my face as it affects my eyes. I wash with a facial bar soap and apply a moisturiser and that's it, no makeup at all. I take 120mg of Fexofenadine each day and eye drops for a flare up.

It might be worth putting some antihistamine eye drops in and checking that your eyelashes aren't growing inwards. They can do this for you at Specsavers. Some eyelashes are so small that you can't actually see them growing inwards.

Make sure you clean your eyelids every day using a blepharitis gel, a warm flannel and then rinsing the gel off. Stop using if it irritates and just use the flannel and water if it does.

I have something similar which flares up on one or both eyes. It is swollen, sore and a bit itchy and is either quite raw or very dry and flakey. I can always tell when I am over stretching myself because it happens when I am tired, stressed or after drinking alcohol.

The shampoo could still be running into your face washing over the bath though less likely I use faith in nature fragrance free shampoo and conditioner and it’s the only one I’ve been able to rebuy continuously without a reaction I wash in the shower so it runs over my face and eyes and no reaction.
Ive just looked up the cleanser you’re using and it has salicylic acid in it which won’t help if you’re eyes are already flaring up.
When my skin and eyes were really bad even plain water hurt so I kept it very basic. SVR sensifine cleanser and make up remover, SVR sensifine moisturiser and optase eye moisturiser.
The makeup artist who did my wedding makeup also suggested BYBI strawberry oil and while you don’t put it on your eyelids only face I did find it helped my eyelids.
Also clean face cloth every morning and wash them using non bio gentle washing products I use fairy and no fabric softener. When having a reaction I use those muslin cloths as they’re gentler.
I wouldn’t recommend steroid cream long term as it thins the skin and tbh it cleared it up but a week later the puffy itchy ness was back again as I was using the same products.
I also find I need to religiously wash my face at the end of the day or my eyes can flare up I guess from pollution, products or even a change in the weather!! I often joke that my skin would react in a sterile phone box!!

Also I stick religiously to the throw away so many months after opening. Especially with the eye products. Mascaras go after 3 months, and eye creams and eye make up remover it’s either 6 months or 12 moths max!!

‘Paramedic of all people’ wow!! Just wow!! That’s how you speak about the health care professional that’s got you on the dermatology pathway.

Do you have anything on your nails?

Acrylate allergies frequently show up on the eyes because of cross contamination after having nails done whether with gel polish or acrylics etc.

How old is all your make up? Might be time to chuck it all and start afresh. Including brushes.

Washing your hair over the bath could result in suds on your face for longer than in a shower.

The Cerave SA wash is deliberately made with lots of acids - that's extremely harsh to use on profoundly damaged skin. Switch to a less aggressive option for your face.

I’m sure I got the eye make up remover from Boots in the eye care section with the eye drops and eye washes but Amazon do it too. Optase is an eye product company they do drops and eye lid wipes so I trust them more than cosmetic companies.
I find while the eye creams aren’t I use aren’t anti aging I do find they help with dark circles and lines as they’re helping my eyelids and under eye stay hydrated and not irritated. I’ve got to the point now if I have to scroll to read ingredients I don’t buy. A lot of the anti aging creams have lots of ingredients so it’s hard to know what causing the reaction. Fragrance is another ingredient I avoid as that seems to irritate!

Ooo yes nail varnish is another thing I react to 🙄 Have to use ones that are 5 free.

Tbh I agree with OP - paramedics are not the right people to be dealing with a LOT of the issues taking people to a GP surgery.

The surgery-based physiotherapist made a referral to a orthopaedic consultant for my hip problems without me ever seeing a doctor for it in a year.

I'm not grateful, because it should have been done months before that because I was fobbed off with exercise for what turns out to be hip dysplasia, arthritis and trochanteric bursitis, none of which was suspected by the physio and the referral only submitted because I wanted to see a doctor.

Do you have gel nails? It took me 8 months and 5 different doctors to figure out I had an allergy to BIAB which caused my eyes to flare.

Unfortunately, it didn’t clear up completely overnight once I had the polish removed, I was so fed up I paid to see a private dermatologist because the NHS pathway would take at least a year. They prescribed Protopic which is non-steroid, which has helped a lot but basically, once the allergy surfaces you can become sensitive to other things you may have previously had a tolerance to. It will cost ££££ to do a complete allergy panel so at the moment I’m slowly reintroducing products.

Also keep an eye out for products containing phenoxyethanol, it can make eczema worse and it’s in a lot of make up.

I feel for you, it is awful

It does sound like blepharitis. Look along the lash line for little white spots that show clogged follicles. With me it's my top lashes and I get a gritty sensation in my eyes, and then the skin around it gets sorted of crinkly and makes me look years older. Keeping you eye area clean is the best bet. No make up or product at all when you're flaring. Ive had good result from hydrochloric acid spray for eye irritation generally (hayfever symptoms as well as dry eyes etc ) . I've heard some recommendations for cleaning the lash line regularly with baby shampooo. Have you tried stopping with the eye cream altogether?

‘Ruby was a pretty girl, but Ruby is no more
For what she thought was H2O was H2SO4’

I think (hope) you meant hyaluronic acid……🙏🏻

Hi, thankyou for your comment, yes I am wondering what part of it is to with 40’s and anything peri menopausal wise.
When you ask that though, in what particular way do you mean. I am still waiting for help with this from the GP, they just fobbed me off.

I don’t think it is, when I have had it checked no one thought it was. I will be having my routine eye test soon, so I will mention everything then.
I’m not sure if heat helps to be honest. I haven’t really tried anything. What kind of mask did you use.

Sugar could certainly be making a difference as that is my downfall. I’m not sure about using the saline doesn’t that have salt in? I’m having to be careful because things are stinging and burning that I put around my eyes.

Text does not help how you want to say things. I meant it as in of all the people, meaning a GP could not do this, and that the Paramedic did a better job! Yes and very greatful!

🤣

Is this for top and bottom lids? I don’t think I would be able to use the gel, perhaps if it does not sting it will be okay, where do you get yours from. Also which facial bar are you using.