eczema on my eyelids- help

[KWL51]

no where else but really dry itchy eyelids.
I've not changed anythign and no more stressed than normal. I have no idea what to do about it or how to soothe it.
I have now gone without makeup for three days to see if that helps, but no improvemewnt and i look awful.
Help please.

I haven't read through all the comments but have had this for years. Normal 1% hydrocortisone doesn't work for me, I have tried mixing it with other creams but you really need 0.5%. Used sparingly it is brilliant but rather bizarrely only available on prescription.

I use a combination of this and epaderm to keep mine under control.

For me, very tragically, alcohol is definitely a trigger. And I think if you don't keep on top of it it can make your skin very wrinkly, though of course have no idea how wrinkly I'd be if I hadn't had it. Good luck!

I get eczema on my eyelids when I'm overly tired and rub my eyes too much.. When it gets really bad, I use 2.5% hydrocortisone sparingly over a few days. I also use Epaderm as a moisturiser and that usually helps in between the hydrocortisone.

If it gets really bad, ask your GP to refer you to a dermatologist. I went to see one and they prescribed me Protopic which he said can be used around the eyes, and works different from steroid creams. Might want to Google it. He said initially there's a burning sensation, but as you use it more, it stops. I couldn't get past the initial stage as I applied it once and it felt really sensitive over quite a number of days. So I went back to using hydrocortisone.

I never had a burning sensation with pro topic. Suppose everyone's different.

DD who is 7 has this problem - thankfully only in the winter, fine in the summer. The GP prescribes hydrocortisone and once she is over the worst of an outbreak, then I use E45.

Jennypicolo - Protopic is not a steroid cream, that is what makes it different. It is an immunosuppressant drug, you ought to have been told all about it when you were prescribed it. You really ought to read up on how it works as well :-)

I had this- it was Blepharitis, even though there was no inflammation and/or visible gunk.

What worked for me (on doc's recommendation) was bathing my eyelids twice a day with warm water and baby shampoo.

Although I second changing eye make up, just in case. Would avoid steroids unless other treatments have not worked.

Have you changed your shampoo or conditioner?

I have eczema anyway but the times I have really bad eczema on my eyelids, it has usually been because I have changed shampoo.

If it is eczema/dermatitis, then hydrocortisone will clear it up very quickly. I have been using it on and off for over 20 years on my eyes and do not have wrinkly eyelids. I use it very sparingly when necessary and moisturise with Diprobase.

My husband was driven mad by this for several months. He tried all the above until someone suggested that it might be caused by dandrfuff. He used Polytar shampoo which cleared it up instantly. Good luck.

I get this if I use nail varnish
can't use it any more

definitely look at your shampoo and conditioner (think about how much runs down your face in the shower). I have eliminated SLS from mine (and even my toothpaste - had a patch under my bottom lip)) and my eyelids are so much better. What is working for me (although it certainly isn't cheap) is Aveeda hair and skin products. There is a sensitive skin moisturiser which is just lovely on my eyes. Think I may go bankrupt though.

I started to get this all of a sudden a few years ago. It was so bad and would take months to disappear. Itchy, then bright red, then flaky, then wrinkly. Spent a fortune in various creams and 'miracle cures' until I was in hospital when pregnant with DD and the consultant prescribed 1% hydrocortisone. Apply sparingly.

I swear it worked almost instantly and has done every time subsequently. Hardly ever happens now although I would love to discover what had caused it as never had any sensitive skin problems before. Quite the opposite.

Hope that helps.

I used to get this all the time. I started eliminating the obvious products (touch éclat etc) and that got it down to just the occasional flare up, say one a month.

Then I eliminated other products 1 at a time so I now know it was definitely my eye make up remover (not the make up itself).

I was using Clarins but switching brands didn't seem to make it any better.

I then started using Eve Lom cleanser which does face and eye make up, and skipping eye make up remover altogether. It worked - 3 years since last flare up and it shifts my heavy duty mascara etc too, just not waterproof ones. It's expensive but lasts for ages.

I had the same thing last year, I worked out it was the face wipes I was using.I tried hydrocotisone but that didn't work. I bought simple eye make up remover pads and simple eye cream and they worked a treat.

A friend of mine was really suffering with eczma on her face recently and bought this from Boots. It cleared it up really quickly, is natural and steriod and paraben free. Apparently it smells very nice too!

Hope's Relief cream is fabulous

Hello, I thought I'd add my experience to this thread.

Last summer I had some mild eczema on my eyelids and neck, it cleared up after I used zinc & castor oil cream.

A few weeks ago it re appeared again fairly mild, I used zinc & castor oil cream as well as earthbound chickweed & calendula cream.
The eczema came and went until, last night it became suddenly much worse, I spent a very uncomfortable & sleepless night:(
Thismorning I got some of the1% hydro cortisone cream which has improved it some what..I've applied it twice so far.

I'm hoping it clears up soon, it's extremely unpleasant when it flares up!

After first posting on this thread I decided to try and clear mine up without the steroids, I ditched make-up for 6 days and was applying doublebase gel to my eyelids. It stung at first but after a day or two stopped, and now I can't believe it's actually cleared up. My eyes were red and itchy for a few days but I carried on applying the doublebase and now they are back to normal. I've even had make up on and they are still eczema free. I'm a happy bunny :)

Glad to hear you've got it sorted out Flip! :)
I think I'll be steering clear of make up, although it seemed to be chopping and frying onions that made mine flare up.
Guess I'll be steering clear of those too

I've decided to try to aviod Sodium Lauryl Sulfate SLS for a while, see what happens - it's surprisingly difficult to find products which aviod it, couldn't find anything in our local Boots - finally found some in Waitrose.

Even Aqueous Cream & E45 contains this stuff -

Aqueous cream 'aggravates eczema'

'I get this if I use nail varnish

can't use it any more'
hmm, I'm beginning to suspect nail varnish may have been a trigger for me!

Never use steroids like hydrocortisone on your eyelids. Steroid use thins the skin. the eye area is thin anyway and would add to your problem. But I 100% recommend Cerave which you can buy from amazon.co.uk. They do a cream, am and pm lotion, cleanser. Read up on Ceramides, hyaluronic acid and cholestorol for the skin. The reviews are impressive on amazon.com and loads of reviews about how brilliant it is for eczema skin aswell. Readup on their products via www.cerave.com

For all those saying don't put it on your face and eyes, sometimes putting the steroid cream on which actually works and gets rid of the eczema is a lot better than not and spending a fortune on creams that claim they will. Yes steroid creams are not advisable on the face and eyes but if they are the only things that work then you have no choice. I suffered for years until I thought Sod it I'm doing it and guess what it cleared up.

I've hit on two things that really help. origins drink up intensive mask really helps the dryness and doesn't sting and oddly enough kiehls lip balm #1 also v healing.

I find that Boots Vitamin E eye cream helps to prevent it. I have to use mild hydrocortisone provided by my GP when it flared up, but the eye cream does seen to keel it at bay a little.