Eczema eye area

[overheardin]

Wasn't sure whether to post in here or health!
DP has eczema around his eyes. It's usually just on his lids and a little flakey, manageable with regular Aveeno. I don't think it's blepharitis as no other symptoms- gritty feeling etc.
But in the last few months it's got worse- very red/sore looking, feels tight and has spread across most of the top half of his face. It's worse in the morning. He's quite good at applying the Aveeno twice daily but it isn't touching it.

The GP has been pretty useless, the steroid cream prescribed didn't work and he's wary of using it too much/often due to the area. For various reasons I can't imagine him getting to a dermatologist anytime soon.
I was hoping for some recommendations of alternatives to the Aveeno he could try if anyone can help? Any advice much appreciated!

I wondered about CeraVe Eye Repair Cream or maybe the Hydrosil Dry Eye Gel if anyone has experience of either?

I’ve used burts bee lip balm around my eyes, very gentle but has been effective for me - but I don’t have it as severely as your husband.

I have this on my eyelids and I use child’s farm moisturiser from Tesco - it works a million times better than any of the steroids from the drs (also cut out as much sugar as you can)

Eucerin Ato-control have a cream for the face and also one specific for eczema that has worked reasonably well for DH when his eyes have flared up.

Does he have eczema anywhere else or just around the eyes / lips?

I had terrible eczema / dry skin around my eyes for a while but nowhere else and eventually I was able to find the cause (a allergy to a certain type of mould) and I was able to sort it - has he tried eliminating everything and slowly adding things back in to see what triggers it / is he keeping a diary of flare ups?

No creams helped really apart from the steroid cream which I was also told not to use too much.

For itchiness I found chamomile lotion really soothing.

If it's worse in the morning what is he washing his pillows with / how often are they washed. Dose he have hypoallergenic pillows?

I hope it gets better for him soon, its really not nice.

I use the epaderm ointment on mine, it's like a wax but gentle in the eye area. Not the cream, you need the ointment.

I’ve found a layer of Vaseline over whatever cream I use at night really helps to lock the moisture in and help it do its work over night. Might be worth a try.
I’ve also found cleaning my eyes with cooled boiled water (on a cotton wool pad) helps to keep them clean and stops the eczema from getting worse, my GP suggested that and it does seem to help. Clean with cooled boiled water, followed by a thin layer of cream and a layer of Vaseline over the top. That should hopefully do the job.

I've tried hydrosil eye gel omg made my skin very red and stung. Currently using Aveeno skin relief (blue print on tube). And also tried Childs Farm but Aveeno seems to be the best.

Do you have any reed diffusers in the house? That did it to me.

I got cortisone cream from the doctor but it didn't help until I got rid of the diffuser.

I have what sounds very similar to this, sebhorric dermatitis. It’s actually caused by an overgrowth of yeast if it’s the same as me. So although it feels super dry, the dryness isn’t what you need to treat. I have to use nizoral shampoo and I get pro topic for my face to keep it under control!

I found jojoba or coconut oil helped with the dryness and it doesn’t sting. I initially
used it to help with eczema round my eyes but I found it so good for my skin I now use it to remove makeup and as a moisturiser all
the time.

I found avene eye cream cleared eczema around my eye, but really it was triggered by stress. I also found it useful to wipe the area with damp cotton wool pads when I got in from anywhere then apply the cream.

I also started using sanex 0 shower gel and a very gentle face wash. I turned the temperature down on my shower.

Hope you find what's triggering it, it's so unpleasant.

You could try avoiding anything with paraffin in it. My skin doesn't like it very much, and it's in a lot of products, especially cheaper ones.

The fact that it's worse in the morning suggest that he either has dust mite allergy, or his own sweat is making things worse.

If it's aggravated by sweat, could try a teeny-tiny test patch of Sudocrem. Check with the chemist first though as it's probably too harsh for the eye area. Urtekram Zinc Cream is an alternative, might be more sensitive, just not quite as effective for me.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B078JKLK6S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I would be happy putting Sukin soothing lotion around my own eyes, but again, it says on back to avoid the eye area -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sukin-Sensitive-Soothing-Lotion-500ml/dp/B00MBIKEE6

The allergen is linalool. It's in tons of fragrances, shampoos, etc.

Coconut can dry out skin for some people. It's very bizarre and don't know why, but it's happened to me. Leave it more irritated and feeling drier than it was!

I've looked at the ingredient list for CeraVe Eye Repair Cream and it looks ok to me, just very expensive.

I had a patch of eczema on one of my eyelids that wouldn't clear up. A smidge of hydrocortisone helped but it kept coming back.

For other reasons I gave up refined carbs and decided to limit bread to one slice of wholemeal per week and pasta to one small portion every 10/14 days. I also cut out refined sugar and all processed food.

Every little patch of eczema was gone after about 7-10 days. I'm pretty sure it was the wheat.

I had this, and it didn't get sorted until I saw a dermatologist who recommended the right cream to use.
Can't he ask the GP for a referral?
It does need sorting, because the flaking can turn into cuts after a while, and you don't want that on your eyelids.
In the meantime get him to use neutral, non-allergic soaps and shampoos with no perfume or colouring for washing his face and hair.
Does he wear glasses? I used to wear the metal-rimmed type, and I suspect they may have been at least partly to blame.

Oh wow lots of replies, thanks everyone!
To answer a few questions/clarify a bit further:
He's not keen on putting anything on it that isn't specifically for the eye area;
I'm disinclined to think it's something environmental, because he's basically never in the same environment! He's split between home, at mine or works away in different locations.
I will look at the ointment thank you @notsuchafrugalkitty and the eucerin @TheBeeb
The GP told him similar re the cooled boiled water @Binfire along with the steroid cream but it's made no difference!
We've looked at pictures/read up on that @Twiggywinkle13 but the symptoms don't quite fit.
@winterwarmer8274 no eczema anywhere else, and I wondered about a diary also but it's been so bad for so long now there wouldn't be any changes to report to try and spot a pattern!
@EarthSight I suppose an allergy would make sense but he'd have to be allergic to himself because that's the only consistent thing throughout the week. Also it's sort of at the sides of his eyes now and the bridge of his nose- not typically "sweaty" places but a dab of sudocrem shouldn't do any harm?!

Thanks @EarthSight I thought it was quite steep but relatively happy to throw money at the problem if it came on good authority! The Hydrosil had better reviews though and in particular there's a before and after of a chap who's eyes look v similar to DP's (although DP's has spread much more) and it seems to have worked well for him.
@RosesAndHellebores I've wondered before if it was diet-related or even some sort of underlying health issue. He had some blood tests that came back normal and he's not quite as tenacious with the GP as I am! I think if we try a cream or two with no impact it might urge him back to the GP to push for a referral.
@LordBuckley no glasses no, and is already quite careful about what products he uses e.g. I offered him some of my LRP Toleraine and he didn't want to use it because 'different/fragrances/not for eyes' etc.
Really appreciate you all taking the time to respond!

Steroid creams are not recommended for eczema around the eyes. If it isn’t shifting, the usual treatment is oral steroids. However, there is a new treatment for eczema that can be used on the face and eyes, and it is very effective. This is a type of topical calcineurin inhibitor called Tacrolimus. Older GP may not be that familiar with it or comfortable prescribing it but it can be researched on the National Eczema Society website.

Any chance you might have changed your soap powder/fabric conditioner. It could be a sensitivity to pillowcases/towels?

Persil non bio and no fabric conditioner/scented sheets for the tumble dryer. Also, check if you have introduced any scented tissues and soaps/hand-wash. Which he might use to was his hands and then touch his face. We only use unscented.

I’ve got this at the moment (it’s so irritating!!) I’ve found LRP Dermallergo soothing eye cream is helping. Like a PP, I’m using this then at night topping with some Vaseline (I use the little tin, a swipe over each eyelid, not too greasy that way) to seal any extra moisture in, and it does seem to be helping.

My flare up has happened alongside a general eczema flare up, neither of which I’ve had in years, but I’m a little stressed and also very run down after a bout of Covid, so it’s probably just my immune system having a go. Hope your DP’s clears up soon!!

Is there anything he touches regularly and then touches his face/rubs his eyes? For example, do you have a pet cat/dog he will touch? Or hand soap with perfume?

I think you should take a second look at environmental causes.

Eczema is an allergic reaction so taking an antihistamine might help.