Itchy eyelids and dry under eyes

[ASighMadeOfStone]

I've suddenly developed a really dry, sandpapery area under each eye, and itchy eyelids which I guess is connected.
I haven't changed any skincare or makeup, don't take any actives near my eyes, am using the same sunscreen as usual.
I rarely use an eye cream but I'm wondering if I need a soothing hydrating one as opposed to one that promises to remove my wrinkles and take 10 years off. Or could I be suddenly allergic to something? It's weird.

Any recommendations or suggestions welcome, thank you!

Hayfever? My eyes are dry crusty and sore, nothing works, even had eye drops and tablets from my gp. The only thing that kind of helps is opticrom eye drops.

It could be eczema. Get it checked out by your GP. Tacrolimus is a non-steroid ointment for use on the face.

I had this once and turned out to be an allergy to strawberries, quite common actually. I had started eating some every day with cereal. Stopped eating them and itchy eyelids went away, dryness under eyes eased when I used Weleda Skin Food - the thick cream. I worked it with my fingers first before gently applying and it is amazing. I find eating the same fruit for a while has the same effect. Ok if I vary the types of fruit, so something to try. Good luck.

I had this last week. It coincided with a terrible cold and staying out in the sun too long. I was using sun cream for the first time in ages. So there are 3 possible culprits,

I guess they could have changed the formula of the suncream? I am going to try a special facial one rather than Aldi's cheap one.

I get this a lot caused by hayfever. I take fexofenadine but nothing works totally. Just have to wait the season out. Hydrocortisone cream helps the itch. I also get red dry spots on my neck.

I got this suddenly this spring. Seems to be pollen allergy. Taking anti-hayfever tablet every day has helped, along with a fatty face cream. Also eye drops.

It sounds like blepharitis.
It's an allergic reaction that can often arrive this time of year. Blephasol eye cleanser can help or cleaning the eye margins with a cotton bud with cooled boiled water with a drop of baby shampoo in.

Agree with this. Wipe with boiled water.

I’ve had these symptoms for over a year and have suffered immensely. Following several GP appointments and lots of frustration I have this kind of under control for now - private dermatologist referral in a few weeks to hopefully resolve once and for all 🤞

1. This is unlikely to be resolved by one thing. Mine gets much worse in spring so I was advised to use Optrex hay fever eye drops x 4 a day plus fexofenadine hydrochloride 120mg hayfever pills at night and loratadine 10mg in the morning.
2. Belphagel is good for cleaning/soothing eyelids am and pm.
3. Hydrocortisone 1% ointment (which was prescribed but is available OTC) is the only thing that made the immense itching, red, weeping skin clear up. Apply very very sparingly and you should see vast improvement in a few days.
4. As soon as it improves, switch to E45 Dermatitis Cream (around £20 but a tube lasts a really long time). Apply am and pm.

If you’re the same as me, you’ll need to do steps 1,2 and 3 then 4 at the same time to have an impact. Good luck, it’s worth blasting it to get it under control.

Blephasol has been a godsend for me: my contact lens practitioner recommended it for my dry, slightly crusty eyes. I probably use it every third day or so. I hold a cotton bud over a cotton make up remover pad and drop a few drops of blephasol on top of it. I use the wet end of the bud to wipe the margins and corners of one eye, then repeat with the other end of the cotton bud to do the other eye. The pad is nice and wet by this time, and I use it to give my whole eyelid area a wipe, including my eyebrows. It keeps the skin around my eyelid area nice and soft and healthy. Not especially cheap at around £11, but a bottle lasts me quite a long time and I wouldn't be without it now.

Thank you so much everyone, lots to investigate.
I'd foolishly thought it was just maybe harsh weather, as I've never had hay fever or allergies of any kind but as it's not gone away I did start to wonder about other things and blepharitis seems to tick a lot of boxes.
I'll go and get myself looked at by the pharmacist initially I guess.

I do wear contact lenses as well.

Thank you again! ❤️

Do you use micellar water? You can develop an allergy to that.

Epaderm ointment should clear this up (not the lotion). I use it on itchy eye skin and patches of eczema