Eczema around eyes - can anyone suggest any products I might be able to tolerate

[Flyingsouthwiththeswallows]

Without drip feeding, I have always had sensitive skin, but until a few years ago no real issues. No breakouts as a teenager, never any real need to cover up apart from sun protection, no greasiness etc.

Post menopausaly that all seems to have changed. My skin has become very dry, totally intolerant to make up and increasingly irritated by any of the normal skincare brands.

In the last few years, I have tried Clinique, Dermalogica, and even Chanel. To control irritation I have used Nivea, Aveeno and E45.

For the last nine months I have experienced increasingly bad Eczema around my eyes. This is now causing damage and swelling to the skin and resulting in irritation to the tear ducts on my eyes.

My GP has looked at it a few times and prescribed Hydrocortisone, but I am nervous about using that too much so close to my eyes. The Pharmacist told me last week that I shouldn’t be using it there at all.

Help. Can anyone suggest products that they have successfully used in similar circumstances?

I am going out to a special event with friends next week, and am so distressed at the look of my eyes and the fact that I won’t be able to wear any kind of make up, that I am close to cancelling. Any suggestions for moisurisers and make up products I could try would be very gratefully received.

@Flyingsouthwiththeswallows thank you so much for summarising! I had come back to do so myself. DD now 20 is suffering very badly with eczema on face and scalp which had until now been under control for a long time. We have got some of the products suggested on here and hoping beyond hope for an improvement. Hope your does too

Eyecare do mascara for sensitive eyes/skin - it's the only one I can tolerate (available on Amazon) and the only makeup I can use is BareMinerals. I use Green Keratin precious cacay oil all over my face including around eyes. I avoid anything containing cetearyl alcohol and its various forms - many people are sensitive to it but it's in nearly all eczema emollient products!

I have incredibly sensitive eyes and skin. What I've found is that steroid creams are great for clearing up dermatitis or eczema but what you really need to do is treat the cause otherwise it just comes back. Through yrs of trial and error, I've found I cant use any shimmery eye shadow with bismuth in it (including the urban decay and bare minerals that I loved). I cant use most mascaras, however, I can tolerate dior, ysl and lrp. Maybelline also okay but not as good. Clinique is the absolute work of the devil for me. I use physicians formula liquid eyeliner. Very basic Stila eyeshadows. Neutrogena makeup remover wipes on my eyes are completely fine (pretty much the only thing I can use) and a tiny bit of LRP gel cleanser as a double cleanse. Absolutely NO eye cream - it's rubbish anyway. Sometimes I use a tiny bit of bepanthen if I have a dry patch- usually if I've worn full eye makeup with false lashes.

I had a massive allergic reaction around my eyes a few years ago, the eczema that followed was awful so I feel your pain. I tried everything before getting hydrocortisone from the GP, but honestly that was what cleared it.

Then I used Avene skincare around my eyes, and it was fine and restored the skin to normal.

I avoided mascara for a while and was very sensitive to make up for a while (fine now though). When it was recovering I used no.7 and it was fine. I avoided eyeshadow etc for ages.

Good luck, I know how awful it feels.

Hi there sorry I know this is an old post but can I just ask, how long they said to do this for - four on two off (or two on, one off)? You mention the dermatologist said to do this until it cleared - so for weeks if that’s what it took?