Allergic reaction on eyelids

[BB8sm8]

I’ve been using The Ordinary salacylic acid and niacinamide for about a year & they completely cleared up my hormonal acne but also seemed to eventually make my skin sensitive. Back in August, I reacted a Body Shop SPF around my eyes & tried every cream going to soothe it. Now it even hurts when water contacts the skin, the inflamed area has spread to both eyelids & underneath. The GP said antihistamines for 6 weeks & a hydrocortisone cream for just a week as it was on my eyelids. The cream started to clear it up but as soon as I stopped using it, it came back just as bad. I’m currently trying E45 cream which seems ok-ish but my eyes are still swollen, watering and itchy. I will go back to the GP this week but in the meantime has anyone had anything similar? Any experience of this? I’ve never had an eczema type condition in my life & this is just horrible.

Your GP is right. Your skin is in defense mode. You need to stop putting anything on the skin around them. Just use boiled water and a washcloth to cleanse. Put no creams, no makeup, no washes on them.

You will keep reacting otherwise.

Stop using ALL products. Splash with water as rarely as possible. Your skin needs to find is own balance.

Wow thank you all so much for such helpful responses! Actually I’m quite shocked at how many of us develop reactions like this, makes you wonder what the hell is in these products! Last night I put nothing in my eyes at all & they didn’t tear up or itch but my god it’s uncomfortable cos they’re swollen & the skin feels tight & dry but I’m fighting the urge to slaver any cream on! I also found without an anti-histamine yesterday my face, scalp, even inside my mouth at times, itches unbearably, has anyone else found that? The itching calmed down within half an hour of taking a tablet.

Also bear in mind that reactions can happen away from the point of application - my daughter's nut allergy makes her eyelids swell.

Sounds like a severe allergic reaction to something. I would get back to your GP, but in the mean time it might be an idea to remove nail varnish as it is a common irritant, and just keep up your anti histamines and steroid cream. My GP said it’s not ideal to use hydrocortisone cram around your eyes but it’s better than the damage that having eczema and the associated rubbing/ itching can cause.

I had this two summers ago. It was an allergic reaction to a new cleanser coupled with hayfever. It also flared up worse when I was on my period so something hormonal too. I had months of cleansing with cetaphil, using aqueous cream and steroid cream on and off too. Gradually I was able to go back to my old skincare/make up regime. I still get flare ups from time to time - usually this is the first sign that my period is due. But its bearable and manageable. Hope you get some relief soon OP.

I’ve just been through a similar thing, OP.

Avene thermal water helped to calm my face down a lot and it is all I use now in the morning to cleanse my face with. Any thermal water would be fine.

I also use eye wipes for blepharitis, along with hydrating eye drops.

Good luck.

I had this from a Body Shop eye liner. I had strong antihistamines, cream and drops to clear it up and they were still watering for weeks after. Do you have any emollient cream?