Eyelid eczema-help please!

[SameToo]

I have had what the dr diagnosed as eczema on my eyelid since Xmas. It is red and itchy and has made my eyelid swell 😭 I’ve used the steroid cream prescribed for the 10 days allowed and it’s done nothing!

Has anyone successfully gotten rid of this and how? Or is it here forever!!

Thank you all. I’ve had a look on the eczema boards and people have said good things about Lush dream cream so I’m trying this. The Vaseline wasn’t helping and it was getting worse so will see how this goes. Feels much less sore from one application 🤞🏻

@SameToo

Hope you having some success. For me Bobbi Brown extra eye cream is better than anything else. It’s bloody £££, but there are others as you’ve seen. Vaseline is just a barrier cream, it hardly sinks in, so while it’s good as a protector while swimming or showering or in the wind, it’s crap as an actual moisturiser.

If you continue to struggle and can afford a private derm appt I would do that. If you PM I can recommend if helpful.

@Luredbyapomegranate thank you for this. I’ve just come to the realisation today that the Vaseline isn’t good for moisturising but does help stop it drying out over night. I’m going to try this lush one for a bit longer and if it doesn’t work I’ll try the Bobbi Brown one. I’m past caring about cost as it’s really getting me down. The swelling has started to go down now which is great but it’s very itchy!

I’ve had this, was prescribed protopic by the dermatologist and that sorted it out.

I had this and for several years walked around looking like I’d been punched in the eye. It makes me sad when I look back at pictures of me from that time. The only thing that sorted it was hydrocortisone cream, which although not recommended for the eyes, gave me my life back.

I’ve got this. Tried steroid cream for a while and it gets rid of it but it kept returning. I also used Vaseline!
I happened to have an eye test a couple of weeks ago and mentioned it to the optician, who said it sounded like blepharitis. I now bathe my eyes daily in warm water to unblock the ducts and use Avena baby moisturiser on my face. I also have drops for dry eye which the optician gave me. My eyes feel much better. The optician said not to use Baseline as it blocks the pores and will eventually make it worse. I also take an antihistamine daily as I feel like I’m becoming more sensitive to the environment.

I suffered for 3 years, left eye. Tried GP creams and more creams (must have clocked up 25 visits)nothing worked. Eye specialist said blepharitis as it was so dry and red. I was sent to the specialist as one gp thought it could be a blocked tear duct. People were constantly asking if I had a stye. When eye wept it stung. It itched etc. One day in 2015 a friend suggested euomovate. U can buy it over the counter but they won't sell to u if they think u r putting on eye. I only used it sparingly around 5 times and it cleared and has not come back since.

@Bonzoman why won’t they sell it? I had to convince the pharmacist that the dr had actually told them to give me the steroid cream they gave me. It didn’t work 😞 I used it for the prescribed 10 days but not helped. I have been washing my eye too as I looked at blepheritis and although I don’t think it matches as my eye it’s self isn’t red and my eyelids aren’t sticking together, there are some flakes and my eyelid is swollen. Just fed up and sore.

Try putting the Vaseline on too of the moisturiser overnight. Something that also might be useful is a humidifier if you have the central heating on a lot. Check the eczema society for the best ones.

At previous it might be you need a stronger steroid for a brief blast, but often GPS prefer derms to prescribe them. See how you go and kick off back to GP if you need to.

Think it has something to do with it thinning the skin and the eye being a sensitive area. however I used very sparingly.

sounds an over reaction to skin care.

treatment is basically keeping it clean and only using very light moisturiser without irritating ingredients.

peri orbital dermatitis

go back to gp and ask for a referral to dermatology. (or go private if you have 300£ spare)

My son has this. We put hydrocortisone on first, then after it has sunk in fully, put Aveeno cream on.

@Soontobe60 I think you were right! I’ve started washing my eyes twice daily and it’s made a massive difference!! Thank you!

@purplesequins

Is periorbital dermatitis the same thing as eyelid eczema? I am pretty sure I have the former - the skin (and only the skin) around my eyes (and only my eyes) is itchy, red and swollen - but I’ve never otherwise had eczema in my life (I’m 54). I was seeing an ophthalmologist for something else a couple of weeks ago and she prescribed me Maxitrol ointment (which has dexamethasone in it). I used it for two weeks and my eye calmed down beautifully. Now it’s back and I don’t know why.

I don’t know whether it’s even worth trying a GP - it would take a couple of weeks just to get an appointment and it would only be by phone - but is it better to get this sorted back at the ophthalmologist or a dermatologist? I don’t have insurance but I’m happy to try to go private. If a dermatologist how do I find one?

I had this and it turned out I was allergic to a chemical in nail varnish - which I wore all the time. Id been fine with it for the previous 40 years or so. I had tests privately.

@Mosaic123 Do you know what the chemical was or what kind of nail varnish it was in? How did you have it treated -through a dermatologist? How did you find one?

Yes. It's called Touenesulfona Formaldehyde Resin, found n nail varnish mainly. It's also called Santolite. You can buy nail varnish without it but it's rubbish!

Sorry. TOLUENESULFONAMIDE

I found a dermatologist via by my GP who recommended one at my local private hospital.

I had allergy tests. Apparently it's very common. I was in my late 50s and had worn nail varnish for many years without problems.

Thanks @Mosaic123. I’ve been using Essie Gel Couture and I’m not seeing that ingredient in the list on the website. But I may just try my GP to get a dermatologist recommendation. I put more Maxitrol in and again everything has beautifully calmed down but this isn’t sustainable.

The pharmacist will have been reluctant to give the steroid cream because it can affect your eyesight if it gets into your eyes (I don’t think it’s instantaneous or anything but when I had eyelid eczema I was given strict instructions to avoid getting the hydrocortisone in my eyes by the pharmacist)

I had something similar when I had to start taking DHEA. I can’t use steroids on my face as I had a history or perioral and periorbital dermatitis and the antihistamines the GP prescribed did nothing. I used Child’s Farm Moisturiser as I saw it recommended on numerous eczema sites and it was cleared within a week.

I have it sometimes, doctor said it’s “blepharitis”. I use a gel called Blephaclean and it helps. It gets worse if I use nail polish so it’s triggered by allergies.

[quote Mommybunny]@purplesequins

Is periorbital dermatitis the same thing as eyelid eczema? I am pretty sure I have the former - the skin (and only the skin) around my eyes (and only my eyes) is itchy, red and swollen - but I’ve never otherwise had eczema in my life (I’m 54). I was seeing an ophthalmologist for something else a couple of weeks ago and she prescribed me Maxitrol ointment (which has dexamethasone in it). I used it for two weeks and my eye calmed down beautifully. Now it’s back and I don’t know why.

I don’t know whether it’s even worth trying a GP - it would take a couple of weeks just to get an appointment and it would only be by phone - but is it better to get this sorted back at the ophthalmologist or a dermatologist? I don’t have insurance but I’m happy to try to go private. If a dermatologist how do I find one?[/quote]
They are not the same thing. Periorbital dermatitis can be caused by steroid use and will not be cleared by them either - if it does clear the rash it will only return and often will be worse. My rash just fed off the steroid I was prescribed and got even worse.

I’ve had eczema on my eye and used Childs Farm baby moisturiser with great success. I also have blepharitis along my lash lines and find Optase tea tree oil cleansing gel fantastic for keeping it in check, no more itching or flaking.

If I were you I’d see a dermatologist, I’m not sure how it works in the U.K. but in Ireland you can self refer to a lot of them as you’ll be paying privately or your GP can refer you so if it were me I’d just look for one you can contact directly.

Hi can I ask all of you if your eczema on your eyelids causes your eyes to water or stream? My DD has excessive streaming from eyes- initially treated by ophthalmology who thought it was dry eyes and they have now said it’s eczema and referred to dermatologist. We haven’t been seen by dermatologist yet but just wondered if the eye watering/streaming is a symptom of eczema on the eyelids or if we are being fobbed off. Her eyes get sore and red due to the excessive tears being produced.