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Original poster

Eyelid eczema

35 replies

newyorkbreakfast · 02/12/2020 21:02

Is anyone else living with this? I am on pimecrolimus cream but it keeps flaring up. My eye is also stinging and a little bloodshot.
I haven't used eyeshadow all year and am rarely using mascara. In other words, not much is touching the eyelid but it still flares up. Would like to hear from others who have it and how you manage it. I would like to wear eye make up if possible (vanity calls) and am, in any case, not convinced that mascara has aggravated it. Could it be stress? or the make up remover? Thanks

OP posts:
JinglingHellsBells · 02/12/2020 21:53

Could it be stress? or the make up remover?

Could be either. Do you have eczema anywhere else on your face? has the dermatologist prescribed the cream you use?

You don't have to use anything on your skin to make it flare- atopic eczema flares for no reason- it's a type of immune response.

Are you using make up remover with perfume?

Original poster
newyorkbreakfast · 02/12/2020 22:31

Thanks Jingling, no eczema anywhere else apart from a tiny bit on the wrist. And it's only on one eye. I have been using Body Shop camomile make up remover for about 15 years and it's just flaring up now. The GP prescribed the cream with a dermatologist's consent. It gets rid of it but then it all comes back as soon as I stop using it. I'm supposed to be in the 'maintenance phase' now, using cream only a couple of times a week but I am nowhere near containing this thing.

OP posts:
CoconutGrove · 02/12/2020 22:33

I find Childs Farm baby moisturiser good for this. I use it as eye makeup remover and it seems to keep it away. I used to get it each winter. Generally for eczema I use Diprobase, so I'd use that if the CF wasn't working

aliloandabanana · 02/12/2020 22:39

I had this years ago and was given Betnovate cream for it. I remember the GP asking if I wore nail polish, as this could aggravate it, so if you do normally have your nails painted then perhaps try leaving them for a while...

I think it came and went over a few months, and then would threaten to flare up again every now and then over the next couple of years, but I now haven't experienced it for over a decade (not sure what changed to stop it!).

Baldrickneepheid · 02/12/2020 22:42

I have this, it's really bad at moment, IV just got it under control with hydrocortisone cream, funnily enough I also get patches on my wrists!!!

Original poster
newyorkbreakfast · 02/12/2020 22:51

I've had Betnovate but that didn't work, nor can you use it long term apparently. Weird about the nail polish! I rarely get round to nail care so unlikely to be a cause. I wonder if it will just go eventually.

OP posts:
Original poster
newyorkbreakfast · 02/12/2020 22:53

Interesting about the moisturizer, Coconut.

OP posts:
aeiouaeiouaeiou · 02/12/2020 23:01

Hydrocortisone cream 0.05% it the only thing that clear mine up. I do t wear a lot of make up but if I wear eye make up I've found clarins eye make up remover (blue liquid one) the only one that doesn't irritate my eyes.

Satsuma001 · 02/12/2020 23:05

I've developed this over the past few weeks, don't seem to have it anywhere else. I've found sudocream seems to calm it down but doesn't actually get rid of it entirely. I've put it down to stress. Interested to hear any other solutions.

ChrisPriss · 02/12/2020 23:16

I had a mild steroid cream prescribed by the doctor which cleared it up initially, then I kept it at bay with something called "simple eye ointment" from the pharmacy. When they discontinued that, pharmacist recommended Vaseline, which worked a treat.

meep · 02/12/2020 23:24

My eyes cleared up when I changed my shampoo. The SLS in the shampoo was causing flare ups. I changed my shampoo and then it just took time and some mild Hydrocortisone cream to sort it out.

SprinkleOfInsanity · 02/12/2020 23:24

Eumovate from the pharmacy OTC, but don't tell them it's for your face Wink clears my atopic dermatitis around my eyes in a couple of days, it's amazing stuff. Weirdly, I too have a patch on my right wrist!

What I have found is using vegan products has massively improved my skin, because I'm not bombarding it with various things, it's really calmed and healed my skin, so I don't need to use the eumovate more than about once a year now! Try and stay clear of things that might clog the loads of glands in your eyelids with things like Vaseline, that's a sure way of getting blepharitis down the road, and you DON'T want that along with blocked chalazions Angry < not angry, in pain!

Original poster
newyorkbreakfast · 03/12/2020 09:05

Great to have all your ideas. Those who have changed products, do you think products can still provoke the eczema even if you're not directly using that product on the affected area? For example, I don't let shampoo drip down over my eyes- where the eczema is- but is it the fact that the shampoo or soap is somewhere on my skin that causes a flare up in a random location?

OP posts:
Greenvalleysightseeker · 03/12/2020 09:29

I had this for years, mine was triggered by an ingredient in my Maybelline waterproof mascara - the GP sent me for some skin tests at the hospital and they tested all my products, the only one that I reacted to was the mascara.
I've since read on here that micellar water has caused eczema around the eye for lots of people, and I can't tolerate it either. My GP also mentioned nail polish when we were looking for the cause.
I think once you've got it, its very difficult to completely get rid of it. You can stay on top of it by knowing your triggers and avoiding them, and using a cream (I use hydrocortisone) when it starts to make an appearance but I'm not sure I'll ever be completely free of it unfortunately.
I did remove all SLS from my shampoo and shower gel etc (and my toothpaste actually as it was causing mouth ulcers) so that might be worth considering, especially if your make up remover has SLS in it.
I'm at the point now where I can use mascara occasionally if I completely remove it at the end of the day. I found these make-up remover cloths in B&M which remove even waterproof make-up without using any chemicals, they are amazing and I'm sure they've helped me to stay on top of it. I would definitely reccommend those if you can get them.

Original poster
newyorkbreakfast · 03/12/2020 10:08

sprinkleofinsanity were you saying that Vaseline can block the glands or that it can prevent other stuff from blocking them?

OP posts:
Original poster
newyorkbreakfast · 03/12/2020 10:11

Thanks greenvalley. Interesting about your test results. Wondering if Lancôme Hypnose mascara is causing it. I just switched this year and had used Max Factor up until now with no issue.

OP posts:
Hawtain86 · 03/12/2020 10:15

I have had this issue with my sons eyes and we used hemp ointment off Amazon. That really helped keep it at bay and didn’t sting.

Turns out he had a gluten allergy and a cat allergy after I cut that out his eye redness went away. So could be an allergy to something?

ABCDay · 03/12/2020 10:17

Does it improve if you don't use the mascara for a few weeks? I once had horrible stuff going on on my eyelids and it was because my mascara was rather old Envy. The change in your mascara could well be to blame.

sofiaaaaaa · 03/12/2020 17:34

I used to get this. It had nothing to do with makeup/nails or rubbing eyelids for me - just seasonal/environmental changes. For the past few years I would get it every autumn/spring as the seasons shift and the weather significantly changes. I don’t suffer from eczema or have any other health issues.

In past I used to just moisturise and let it pass. This year I treated it by using 0.5% hydrocortisone cream for a few days, then switching to a normal moisturiser. Worked great - the steroid cream made the episode last a couple of days rather than weeks! Wish I discovered it earlier.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 03/12/2020 17:39

Ask your GP for protopic ointment- my dds allergy consultant prescribed this for her eye eczema and it's fab. Use it daily and then wean off it so every other day for the second week; third day for the third week. Don't just stop because then it comes back. It may sting a little on first application. It's safe for use in the face which betnovate and eumovate are not.

sofiaaaaaa · 03/12/2020 17:43

Yep, don’t use eumovate etc on your eyelids as you’re more susceptible to side effects such as skin thinning.

Many GPs are hesitant to prescribe protopic in my experience, it’s something they leave for consultants. But the 0.5% hydrocortisone I was given possibly works faster than protopic as my skin was clear after 2-3 days.

readingismycardio · 03/12/2020 17:54

As a pp said this happened to me because of a stupid mascara from maybelline (seems to be a pattern with maybelline). Cleared out and came back and cleared out again with kanamicin (kantrex UK name) and eventually never came back.

CorianderQueen · 03/12/2020 17:55

Has your doctor given you Eumovate and tacrolimus? I'm under the severe eczema team and one of my eyelid flares - this combo always gets rid of it within a week and a half (Eumo to get it down Tac to keep it down).

CorianderQueen · 03/12/2020 17:56

If the issue is that it keeps coming back.. sadly that's what eczema does

CorianderQueen · 03/12/2020 17:57

@sofiaaaaaa

Yep, don’t use eumovate etc on your eyelids as you’re more susceptible to side effects such as skin thinning.

Many GPs are hesitant to prescribe protopic in my experience, it’s something they leave for consultants. But the 0.5% hydrocortisone I was given possibly works faster than protopic as my skin was clear after 2-3 days.

My eumovate was prescribed specifically for my eye
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