Eczema on eyelid - anyone got experience/knowledge please?

[lannistunut]

Hi, I thought maybe someone here might be able to help - my DH has eczema on his eyelid - at least the doctor says it is eczema. Doctor was unwilling to prescribe anything due to where the eczema is, but the eyelid is very itchy.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what to use as a general barrier/relief - would just vaseline be OK?

Chemist was also unable to advise due to it being near the eye. It may just clear up by itself in time, but it looks pretty angry at the moment.

Thanks @Brandybucks that is interesting about e.g. nickel. I will mention to him and he could have a think.

No problem OP - I would be especially suspicious of an allergen if it is his right eye that is affected and he is right handed. Encourage him not to touch his eyes as much as possible (I know it’s easy to do absentmindedly) and see if it makes a difference!

It is right eye and he is right handed!

Optometrists know far more about eyes than GPs do. They can also treat eye problems on the NHS even if you're not a regular patient.

I have just started getting this too. Mine is worse on my right eyelid but I'm left handed! I do have it much more mildly on the other eyelid too. Could it be sensitivity to a shampoo or facewash coming into contact with his eyelids in the shower? That is what I'd put mine down to because I've never had eczema before but I do have quite sensitive skin to toiletries. I've just been using Epaderm which sorts it then I stop applying it then it comes straight back again.

Neutropenia intensive hand stuff. It's basically Vaseline. I've had eczema all my life. This worked on eye lids

He needs Protopic. Keeping it moisturised will help. Aveeno cream is good.

I've have eczema flare ups on my upper eyelid (between the crease and my eyebrow) and other patches on my face (corners of mouth, nose, temples) and intially the dr prescribed a very weak hydrocortisone cream, which worked well, but not ideal to keep using indefinitely around the eyes and mouth.

Was the prescribed "Zerobase" emollient cream - and absolutely nothing else - to wash and moisturise with, along with a strong steroid cream... I didn't even open the steroid cream, Zerobase worked wonders within 24hrs! I've bought another bottle myself since, £9.99 on Amazon for a massive, 500g pump-bottle! (Note: get ZeroBASE, not ZeroCREAM)
And its not lardy', at all. Dries quickly to quite a 'matt' finish,

I can’t use E45 because of the lanolin, but so many people recommend it for eczema-not mine tho!

I had this for over a year, I was pregnant so reluctant to use steroids so I tried lots of creams etc. this worked for me in a couple of weeks

www.delhiciousbody.com/products/migh-tea-moisture-body-balm

My GP told me to use a tiny amount of 1% hydrocortisone cream - as others have said, chemists won't sell it to you if you say it's for your face, just say it's for insect bites. I just a tiny dab when it flares up and it's usually gone within 24-48 hours.

Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream ..I use to have psoriasis really bad.. this stuff calmed it right down

Yes could absolutely be allergy to something in your toiletries/makeup. Easiest way to find out is to use nothing except plain water on your face for a bit, see if it starts to clear up (it can take a little while even after the allergen is removed). Just go bare minimum on everything like shampoo/conditioner too and try v hard to avoid your face. If it clears then slowly reintroduce things to identify the culprit! I have sadly had to do this many times as I have unusually allergic skin. It’s a right pain but I’ve almost always been able to figure out eventually what’s causing it.

I used a beeswax on mine as I found Vaseline gave me under the skin spots. My eczema around my eyes was very severe so my dr actually prescribed me cream that wouldn't normally be used in that area.

Cetraben also is a good idea.

My husband had what he thought was eye eczema - but after a private dermatologist appointment it turned out to be methylisothiazolinone allergy. A 'common' ingredient but becoming a wider issue as it's been over/mis-used.

My husband required change of laundry powder, special shampoos etc.etc. Nothing hugely pricey - just meticulous checking of labels and ingredients list...

From a medicinal point of view - protopic was prescribed - which a few have mentioned. Although, as also mentioned, it hurts like hell apparently to start with but then gets significantly better. It seems to be kept at bay as long he follows his routine..and avoids contact with the demon ingredient...

The GP gave him hydrocortisone initially but the dermatologist gave him protopic which actually seems to 'heal' rather than 'keep at bay'.

Wishing your husband all the best for long-term relief.

Diluted baby shampoo three times a day . It really does work . Recommend to me by a friend who is a nurse at the eye clinic.

Thanks so much everyone, it is really helpful to have these suggestions. I find with big issues it is easier the get help from GP than with small issues, but small issues can be bloody annoying!

Coconut oil worked wonders for my daughter

I had this years ago for AGES, it started on one eyelid then both were affected, I permanently looked like I'd been crying and it was so sore so I sympathise! You name it I tried it. The ONLY thing that worked was a cream from "the organic pharmacy". I've had a look but I can't remember what it was but it was pricey. However since then I've kept it at bay with a tiny bit of weleda baby weather protection balm daily, which has calendula in it so I suspect the original cream was also a calendula one.
I saw docs and dermatologists and nothing they gave me helped!

DD had this was given protopic- used daily until under control then weekends only for a few months. Now just used if flares up. Also given Dermal cream to use once a day. It’s totally cleared up now and it was bad to start off with- her eye lids looked thickened and scaly at one point.

I'm a lifelong mild to medium-bad eczema sufferer. As a couple of PP have said when it's been really bad on my face, I would use sparing amounts of hydrocortisone on the bad patches. I've done that countless times over the years (although not regularly) - and my face is just fine but you can't tell the pharmacist as they aren't allowed to sell it for that - just say it's for your hands and ask for clotrimazole or low% canesten for thrush it's the same active ingredient but the generic is lower % so better for this). Lansinoh nipple cream overnight is great for helping the skin heal - too thick and greasy for daytime. I use zerobase for that.

This is what I do for me before anyone tells me off for fibbing to the pharmacist, and I have absolutely no medical training just 40 years of dealing with my own eczema and face. I don't see the doctor about it any more, just have eumovate on my repeat to order when it's bad.