If you are experiencing dry skin around eyes, it can be a sign that you are not drinking enough water or that you are suffering from an underlying medical condition. In such cases, it is for the best that you seek out the advice of a doctor and follow his/her recommendations. For more information on the subject, continue reading this article. You will be able to find out the natural remedies and other methods of treatment for such problems.
Symptoms
Apart from the skin being dry around the eyes, you can also experience the following symptoms:
- Dark circles around the eyes
- Scaly skin
- Inflammation of the eyelids (blepharitis)
- Redness in the area
- Itchiness – as the skin is irritated by different substances
- Swelling can also be present, especially if there is an allergic reaction involved
- Soreness is also a potential symptom, particularly if the skin around the eyes is subjected to repetitive stress (such as excess wiping of makeup).
Causes
These are the most common causes that lead to the appearance of dry skin around eyes:Dermatological conditions
- Prolonged and excessive exposure to sun (sunburn)
- Action – harmful UV rays
- Linked to dry skin around eyes and premature aging
- Blepharitis
- Inflammation around the eyelids
- The skin around the eyes is dry and scaly
- Can be caused by bacterial infections
- Often appears in patients who also suffer from rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis
- Perioral dermatitis
- Main cause – poor hygiene
- Can cause the skin around the eyes to become dry, among other symptoms
- Particular type of skin rash – mainly concentrated around the mouth and nose
- Atopic dermatitis/eczema
- Allergic reaction to skin care products or external factors (airborne irritants, pollution, chemical substances)
- Can cause the skin around the eyes to become dry and scaly
- Facial psoriasis
- Can lead to dry skin around the eyes, among other symptoms
- The skin is not only dry but also flaky
Environmental causes
- Humid or excessively warm climate
- Extreme weather conditions
Bad habits
- Excessive rubbing of the skin around the eyes
- Poor quality make-up – heavy applications
- Dirty makeup brushes (bacterial overgrowth – increased risk of infection as well)
- Apply cosmetics over their expiration date – mascara, eyeliner, concealer
Chemical contact
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
- The skin around the eyes is very thin and thus extremely sensitive to the exposure to harmful substances.
Treatment for Dry skin around eyes
These are the most common methods of treatment for the dry skin around the eyes:Antibiotics
- Recommended in case of bacterial overgrowth
- Most often – topical antibiotic creams
- Oral administration is recommended in more severe infections
Corticosteroids
- These are recommended in case of allergic reactions, meaning in those who are suffering from atopic dermatitis or eczema
- Oral/topical administration
- The topical administration is often preferred, the oral corticosteroids being recommended only for more severe cases
- The treatment cannot be administered for prolonged periods of time, as it can have serious consequences over a person’s health
Antihistamines
- These are recommended in case of allergic reactions, improving the symptoms experienced by the patient
- Topical creams with antihistamines reduce the inflammation and also improve the dryness of the skin
Anti-inflammatory medication
- Recommended for patients suffering from dry skin around the eyes and blepharitis
- Can reduce the inflammation and bring the necessary pain relief
- Topical creams with anti-inflammatory substances improve the discomfort experienced by the patient.
Natural Remedies
These are the most useful natural remedies you can try out for the dry skin around the eyes:
- Epsom salt or sea water spray
- Recommended for the dry skin caused by eczema or atopic dermatitis
- Local applications can moisturize the dry skin, improving the overall aspect
- Organic coconut oil
- Purpose – moisturizing the skin
- Topical applications should be made on a daily basis
- Yoghurt
- Topical application has wonderful effects on the dry skin around the eyes
- Warm compresses
- These can help in case of dry skin caused by blepharitis
- Hydrate the skin and also bring the desired relief from the pain
- Tea tree oil
- Topical application with the purpose of moisturizing the skin
- Castor oil
- Same purpose as above
- Aloe vera
- Hydrates and soothes the dry skin around the eyes in case of sunburn
- Cold compresses
- Recommended for the dry skin in case of sunburn
- The compresses can be dipped in cold water or milk
- You can even try out oatmeal compresses, as these have a powerfully soothing effect
- Cucumber juice
- Application with cotton balls
- Maintain the application for 5-10 minutes, then rinse with warm water
- Dry the skin and apply top quality moisturizer
- Honey
- Topical application
- Duration of the application – 10 minutes
- Rinse it off with warm water
- Olive oil
- Apply olive oil on the skin around the eyes and leave it overnight
- As the olive oil hydrates the skin, it will also act on the fine lines, due to its anti-aging properties
- Tea bags
- Recommended – green tea
- Dip them in cold water and then apply to your eyes
- Hydrating properties but also booster of cell regeneration
- Anti-aging effect
- Raw milk
- Topical application on a daily basis
- Hydrating properties
- Rose water
- Topical application
- Not only does it hydrate the skin around the eyes, but it also prevents the nasty puffiness that everyone hates
- Natural toning effect, reducing the size of the pores
- Face cream
- Choose a cream that is rich in urea or lactic acid, containing only natural ingredients
When to see a doctor?
If the skin around the eyes is still excessively dry after you have tried out all the natural remedies, you will need to visit the doctor. There might be an underlying condition that is causing the problems and you need to get that treated first. The doctor might recommend further investigations for the diagnosis and then also provide a suitable treatment for your problems.
Pictures
