Crepey dry skin around eyes

[Parapapampam]

I've always had very sensitive dry skin, it is also very thin, the skin on my hands splits and blisters very easily for example.

I'm 49 but look a fair bit older, mainly due to my skin. I don't particularly mind looking older, but I would love a solution to the flakey, dry, crepey skin mainly around my eyes, but very dry on my forehead too. I look particularly bad in the morning when the skin under my eyes stays creased in whatever position I've been lying, even with a silk pillowcase.

I've tried expensive moisturisers and eye creams, currently using Charlotte Tilbury magic cream with vaseline on top. I've tried creams especially for dry skin, eczema or psoriasis, I've tried using nothing (as my skin reacts to so many things).

Just to make things even better I'm also suffering from perimenopausal acne 😫

Can anyone with sensitive skin recommend anything that they've found helps?

I was not used to using any skincare and ended up in the same boat last year at 53. I started using a basic Pai skincare routine (they are formulated for sensitive skin and based in London. They do lovely no-pressure online consultations if you don’t know where to start) and a few months on my my skin is generally much better.

Paula’s Choice 2% salicylic acid liquid sorted out the menopausal acne quickly and easily, I was stunned.

My eyes were dry and sore, and the skin around them looked very scaly. When they were at their worst I used Avene Cicalfate cream at night and they are now much smoother and not painful. I now just use the Pai stuff as close to my eyes as I dare and I’m seeing what happens as I’ve decided to see a private derm when I can find one. They’re a bit thin on the ground in Northern Scotland!

A lot of people will tell you to get on retinol and tretinoin but I’m not familiar with all that and it is perhaps not for everyone so I’ll leave it to them!

Thank you @OooScotland, off to Google Pai skincare!

Currently sat with a huge pimple throbbing in the middle of my forehead, I wasn't this spotty as a teenager!

I get you @Parapapampam. I got wild cystic acne on my chin at 52 after never having had it before, even as a teen. The salicylic acid toner has been a lifesaver. Go slowly if you try it, its pretty powerful stuff.

Pai is quite a rabbit hole. Read the owner’s (Sarah Brown) story and if you want to try it go to their own website to buy as they offer 15% off the first order and no quibble returns on all the products so if they don’t suit you’re not out a lot of money. The consultations are a nice long conversation about your skin, what you want to achieve etc and then they email you product suggestions, no sales pitch.

I have no connection to Pai, by the way, I’m just a happy customer!

good luck!

I’ve had really dry scaly skin on my eyelid for about 4 months, maybe longer - also at the side of my eye towards my nose. I’ve tried everything, I have a lot of skincare products & nothing has worked. I’ve come on holiday with DD who swears by Sudocreme and told me to try it, After 3 nights of sleeping with it on the area my dry skin had complete gone, I’m quite gobsmacked!

Very dry sensitive skin, 52.

Medik 8 is the brand I've been using for a few years, not cheap but really good, UK based.

Sudocrem is good for the odd rash but Boots Dermacare ointment is great, in theory you probably shouldn't use it on your face but I do occasionally

I have this and it was terrible in the mornings. Started using Epimax eyelid ointment and it’s been a game-changer.

I have tried sudocrem, it helps a little but not completely. Lots of suggestions I haven’t tried yet here though, thank you all.

What is your diet like, @Parapapampam? Could it be a nutritional issue?

I’m rather older and acutely aware of how much what I regularly eat affects my skin. If I’m away from home and not consuming an entire veg box, including fresh herbs and spices, wholefoods, as much olive oil, fish, nuts and seeds as I can manage every week - it only takes a couple of weeks to notice sagging skin and deep lines and dry patches I didn’t have before. So It’s something I actively focus on. Plus avoiding ultra processed food where possible. Of course it may be that you do all this already, but if not it might be worth getting your vitamin, mineral and whatever else levels checked.

The other influencing factor might be environmental. Are you getting enough sunlight? (We’re very anti-sunshine in the UK - I’m not sure that’s a good thing.) Do you encounter a lot of air pollution - traffic, industrial emissions, etc? What about your workplace if elsewhere? Do you swim? What’s the water like? What sort of laundry and cleaning fluids do you use at home? (I know a few people whose hands became dreadfully sore during lockdowns with increased exposure to cleaning and disinfectant liquids.) Any harsh chemicals / sprays to maintain your garden or car? Dry cleaned clothes? Presumably you’re already careful about shower gels, facial cleansers, shampoo and hairspray? Any or all of these can have deleterious effects on skin, especially if used over years.

Stress is another thing. You don’t sound particularly stressed generally but it can make things much worse. I’ve only ever had eczema in times of acute stress. (Recently months of worry and sleeplessness resulted in a stripe of dry skin at the back of my neck.)

And of course beyond all that you may have inherited the problem. Do / did either of your parents have similar skin?

Essentially - topical application of beauty products might alleviate the issue, but it would be better to find and address the cause.

I find sometimes eating certain fruits make the area around my eyes dry and sometimes itchy - in particular strawberries and blueberries. I can eat them once or twice a week but every day, with porridge etc for breakfast, makes the undereye and eyelid area very very dry/irritated, nowhere else. I now use Kiehls advocado eye cream and the tube of thick Weleda skin food cream have been amazing for the dry skin under my eyes. Skin food quite thick so I massage it a bit on my ring fingers before patting on.

@StrangeNew and @Peaceloveandhappiness , admittedly I have considered it could be diet related, but pushed it to the back of my mind because it involves a bit of effort 😬. My diet isn't awful, but I am aware I am quite sensitive to certain foods, especially dairy and sugar, which I continue to eat for the sake of ease (three DC with busy schedule, so tend to make quick meals I know everyone will eat). I also eat far too much chocolate, I tell myself it's my only vice, but really do need to cut down.

Environment and stress not such a factor. I don't live in an area with high pollution, get plenty of time outdoors and take a daily vitamin D supplement, only use cleaning products etc. for sensitive skin.

I have had blood tests which showed signs of autoimmune disease, so it could be worth looking into that further.

CeraVe eye cream is good, was given Clinique in the orange tube too which is fantastic but a bit spendy.

https://www.boots.com/ole-henriksen-banana-bright-eye-creme-15ml-10317235. This is simply amazing.

I had the Magic Cream and found it useless. I can't imagine how heavy your skin must be with that and vaseline on top! I think this might be a case for less is more.