Eczema is a very common skin disease current since 25 million people are affected by this skin condition. Furthermore, it can affect different parts of the body, such as the eyelids for example. Indeed, this area of the skin is thin and particularly sensitive. It reacts particularly easily to allergens and external aggressions. Which can be very disabling for people prone to eyelid eczema.
So what can you do to soothe these irritations? What creams use ?
What is eczema?
Eczema is a inflammatory disease skin. This disease results from a weakening of the hydrolipid film, the skin microbiota is thus unbalanced. As the skin no longer has a protective barrier and is no longer permeable to allergens and irritants, this causes eczema. That is to say an inflammatory reaction of the skin.
What causes eczema? And what are the symptoms?
Eczema may be linked to:
- a genetic predisposition, we then speak of atopic eczema,
- or to environmental factors like pollen, pollution, etc.
When it is atopic, it appears from childhood and is often accompanied by other pathologies such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), or even allergic conjunctivitis. It is also common for people suffering from atopic eyelid eczema to present signs of allergic conjunctivitis simultaneously.
Furthermore, atopic eczema has causes multifactorial. It can be triggered by:
- Environmental factors like heat or too dry air.
- Allergens (pollen, dust mite allergy, animal hair, foods such as cow's milk, etc.).
- Clothing materials (especially wool).
- Irritant products (detergents, alcohol-based products).
- Stress outbreaks and anxiety.
Atopic eczema is the most common form of eczema.
Conversely, it may be a contact eczema. This type of eczema corresponds to an allergic reaction to an irritating or allergenic factor. Here again, allergens can be numerous and varied. It is better to consult a specialist to carry out tests and find the cause of your eczema in order to get rid of it.
Furthermore, eczema can be acute or chronic.
Cases of eczema often appear at birth and in young children before disappearing. However, they can also persist in some cases or appear in adulthood.
The symptoms of eczema are as follows:
- Rash
- Itching
- Peeling of the skin
- Dry, irritated skin
Eczema is punctuated between periods of crisis, or eczema flare-ups, and periods of remission. The main areas affected are the knees, elbow creases, scalp, hands and face.
Despite certain preconceived ideas, eczema is not contagious !
Eczema of the eyes and eyelids: what are the causes of this ophthalmological problem?
Eyelid eczema, or eyelid dermatitis, is a common condition among eczema patients. Furthermore, it is women who are most affected. It generally appears on the upper and lower eyelids as well as around the eyes. This type of eczema is very painful since it is an area where the skin is very thin. Drought caused by eczema can then prevent you from opening your eyes correctly, due to the tightness felt each time you blink. So it’s very disabling.
Eyelid eczema is most often a contact eczema. It may be due to direct or indirect contact with the allergen in question.
Le direct contact perhaps linked to the use of cosmetic products (mascara, eye shadow, false eyelashes, eye cream, etc.). It can also be linked to wearing contact lenses or irritating shampoo.
Le indirect contact, for its part, is done via the hands or the air. Indeed, rubbing your eyes brings bacteria and allergens to the hands, which can trigger eczema. However, we touch our eyes and face a hundred times a day! It can also come from a reaction to nail polish or creams. Furthermore, air is another factor of indirect contact since it carries allergens such as perfumes, pollen, animal hair, etc.
In addition, the eyelids are one of the areas most exposed on a daily basis (dust, residues in the air, etc.), which makes them particularly prone to irritation.
How does atopic dermatitis or contact eczema of the eyelids manifest?
Eyelid eczema manifests itself as irritation.
Its main characteristics and symptoms are :
- Swollen and reddened eyelids
- De severe itching at eye level
- The appearance of red patches
- Peeling directly on the eyelid or around the eyes.
This is accompanied by physical discomfort. In fact, people who suffer from it often feel, in addition to itching, burning sensations and tightness.
Be careful though, scratching aggravates the inflammation and can lead to complications such as the formation of edema. So avoid scratching as much as possible!
Eczema also has a psychological and moral impact on patients. Some people even find themselves wearing sunglasses all day because it bothers them and they feel ashamed of it.
It is therefore essential to go to a doctor to try to determine the cause of your eczema, in order to stop flare-ups by avoiding any further contact with the responsible allergen.
How to naturally treat and relieve eyelid irritation or eczema?
What cream to put on the eyelids? What treatment?
It is quite possible to relieve eczema eyelids thanks to natural treatments.
We recommend in particular the use of our Pso Natura Rich Restructuring Cream. Indeed, the eyelids are a very fragile and sensitive area of our body. It is therefore advisable to use gentle products. For example, our Regenerative Complex Pso Natura, although very effective on eczema of the body and face, however, is not suitable for this very thin and very sensitive part of the face which is the eyelid. In fact, it is a bactericidal treatment, so it should not be in contact with the eyes as it will sting.
To return to our Rich Restructuring Cream, It is very suitable for eyelid eczema. It allows, in fact, to intensely and gently hydrate and nourish skin suffering from irritation. The presence of Carapa Procera oil in this natural treatment also helps the skin to heal. Eyelid eczema will therefore be soothed to give way to nourished, smoother skin free of scales. In addition, it has the particularity of calming itching. Finally, its non-greasy and non-sticky formula makes it very pleasant to use.
However, in some cases of eyelid eczema, natural treatments may not be enough. It is then recommended to combine natural care with medicinal treatment, such as cortisone creams for example. Do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
What are some tips for avoiding red patches, dry skin and other allergies?
As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure.” So take precautions to avoid any further flare-ups of eyelid eczema.
To do this, a few simple reflexes should be adopted in our daily lives.
Hygiene
This seems obvious but it is always worth remembering. Wash your hands well is essential to avoid the transfer of bacteria likely to trigger eczema. In fact, we touch our face and eyes time and time again throughout the day. It is therefore better to wash your hands regularly to avoid the proliferation of bacteria and thus the occurrence of eczema flare-ups.
Also, be careful with long nails. On the one hand, it is less hygienic because more bacteria can lodge underneath. On the other hand, if scratched, they can damage and irritate the skin and thus promote an outbreak of eczema.
The ideal is obviously to avoid touching your face and eyes.
Makeup
When an outbreak of eyelid eczema occurs, it is strongly recommended not to use makeup as this would only make the situation worse.
Apart from breakouts, it is entirely possible to wear makeup. However, choose suitable cosmetics (without alcohol, without perfumes and without preservatives) and recommended for sensitive skin. Waterproof mascara and very glittery eyeshadow should, for example, be banned because they are too irritating.
Nail polish
Nail polish can also be a vector of allergies. This is why it is necessary to check their composition in order to avoid those containing allergenic substances. Indeed, for some people, touching their eyes while wearing nail polish can immediately trigger irritation and contact eczema.
For example, the Kure Bazaar brand offers a wide choice of natural nail polishes.
Cleaning and makeup removal
Crucial step in your beauty routine, makeup removal should not be neglected. THE cleaning facial is also essential and must be daily. In fact, it helps eliminate all residues and impurities that may have lodged on the face and in the folds of the eyelids during the day. Choose your cleanser and makeup remover formulated to be gentle and suitable for sensitive skin. They should not be drying. On the contrary, favor hydrating, soothing and protective formulas, capable of strengthening the hydrolipidic film.
The Cerave brand Moisturizing Cleanser is a good option.
Caution: when removing makeup, avoid rubbing too much so as not to irritate your eyes.
Facial care and creams
Just like with cleanser and makeup remover, it is necessary to be careful about what we apply to our face. Treatments formulated with perfume or alcohol, or containing preservatives should be banned. Likewise, favor care for sensitive skin. See 5 Moisturizers and Balms for Eczema.
The SVR brand has a wide range of care products for sensitive skin and dry skin, for example.
Furthermore, it may be preferable, when purchasing a new cream, to test it on a small part of the body to see how our skin reacts. This is to avoid any risk of allergy.
Soothe the eyes
To purify and soothe the eyelid area you can apply, by dabbing, compresses of thermal water, physiological serum or cornflower water to the eye area.
Rest your eyes as much as possible as well. Avoid spending too much time in front of a screen and try to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
Contact lenses
Wearing contact lenses makes you more vulnerable to eye and eyelid irritation. In fact, they dry out the eyes and, if poorly maintained, they can cause conjunctivitis, for example. It is therefore important to clean them thoroughly each time you remove them and before putting them back.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses can help hide eyelid eczema. But beyond that, they also have other advantages. On the one hand, sunglasses are essential when exposed to the sun to avoid irritation linked to photosensitization. On the other hand, they help protect the eyes from external aggressions: dust which can fly away at the slightest gust of wind for example.
Conclusion:
Eyelid eczema causes very disturbing symptoms that disrupt daily life but also the sleep of those affected. For eczema to go away as quickly as possible, it is better not to succumb to the itching. It is then necessary to apply rich and soothing creams. Furthermore, daily habits can limit irritation and therefore flare-ups.
sources:
Eye eczema – French Eczema Association (associationeczema.fr)
Eczema of the eyes and eyelids: causes and treatments | Santé Magazine (santemagazine.fr)
