What Are The Types Of Blepharitis
There are 2 types of blepharitis. You may have 1 type of blepharitis, or you may have both types at the same time.
Anterior blepharitis. Anterior blepharitis affects the outside of your eye, where your eyelashes attach to your eyelid. It usually happens because of bacteria on your skin or dandruff from your scalp or eyebrows. Allergies or mites may also cause anterior blepharitis, but this is rare.
Posterior blepharitis. Posterior blepharitis affects the outside of the inner edge of the eyelid the part that touches your eye. This type of blepharitis happens when the oil glands in your eyelids get clogged. Common skin conditions like rosacea and scalp dandruff can cause posterior blepharitis.
What Causes Dry Eyelids
Unfortunately, there are numerous causes of dry eyelids. These reasons can include, but arent limited to, genetic skin conditions, stress, and overall health. But when it comes to the most common concerns, both Dr. Libby and Dr. King agree that dry eyelids often come with seasonal changes like cold temps and dry weather. During the fall and winter months, the weather can cause skin to be stripped of its oils which impairs the skins natural moisture barrier and leads to dry, itchy skin on the body. Its similar to how your lips are hydrated and smooth in the heat of summer, but then transform into chapped and cracked lips come winter time.
Another cause is allergens and irritants which are typical triggers for eczema or inflamed skin. Common culprits may be makeup, perfume droplets, pollen or even nail polish, Dr. Libby mentions. This is why skin experts recommend testing new products on a small area of skin before slathering it all over your face. This will help you understand if your skin has any negative reactions to specific ingredients.
When To See Your Doctor
Dry skin that lasts for many months or years can make your skin less elastic and lead to sagging. The cracks in the skin around your eyes can cause skin infections.
See a Doctor If
- Your eyelids have remained dry for a long time
- You experience other symptoms along with dryness around your eyes
We hope you find comfort in these dermatologist-recommended ways to manage dry skin around your eyes. Also make sure to follow a good skin care routine for healthy, balanced and glowing skin.
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Dry Skin Under The Eyes
Anyone can get dry skin, anywhere on the body. Skin needs water and oils that the body produces naturally to stay healthy and elastic. If this moisture is lacking for some reason, the skin can dry out. This usually results in itchy or scaly skin, feelings of tightness or stinging, or even peeling. It can be uncomfortable, and for some people, even make them self-conscious if the skin takes on a scaly or rough appearance, or if they scratch enough to cause bleeding.
The skin around the eyes is especially thin and sensitive, so when dry skin occurs here, it can be painful or bothersome. If there is a medical condition behind the dry skin, it can even affect the eyes and vision.
Remove Makeup Before Sleeping
The ingredients in your makeup can dry your skin if left overnight. Remove makeup around your eyes before you sleep.
Heres How:
- Apply eye makeup remover to a cotton pad.
- Press the pad on your skin very gently and drag it in an outward motion.
- Repeat this step until your skin is completely off the makeup.
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Identify And Avoid Irritants
If your dry eyelids are the result of an allergic reaction, figuring out what caused that reaction is key to getting relief. “It’s important not just to think about your own products, but also the products used by people around you,” Dr. Weng advises. See if you can pinpoint the source of your irritation.
Moisturising Dry Skin Around Eyes
As the skin around the eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face, it is important to use moisturisers which restore the skins moisture balance but are also gentle enough to be used on the eye area. Moisturisers which contain compounds such as Urea and Lactate bind moisture into the upper layers of the skin , helping to keep the skin hydrated and soft.
For treating mild dry skin, a 5% concentration of Urea in a skin cream or lotion is enough to effectively treat dryness, including around the eye area. For extremely dry skin, a higher concentration of Urea may be needed. The Eucerin UreaRepair Replenishing Face Cream 5% Urea and the Eucerin UreaRepair ORIGINAL 10% Urea Cream can both be used on the face and eye area as part of a regular skincare routine to treat dry and extremely dry skin around the eyes.
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Home Remedies For Dry Skin Around The Eyes
Itchy skin under the eyes isnt usually a cause for medical concern, and you can take positive steps to manage the discomfort at home.
For itching around the eyes
Applying a cold or warm compress to the area can help soothe some of the itchiness around the area.
For moisture
Replacing the lotions in a skincare routine with creams and ointments can help ease symptoms of dry skin around the eyes. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends choosing products that have at least one of the following listed in its ingredients:
- dimethicone
- shea butter
For dry eye
People who regularly experience dry skin and dry eye syndrome at the same time can use dry eye drops to stimulate the tear ducts and lubricate the eyes.
How To Get Rid Of Dry Flaky Skin On Nose
You can get rid of dry skin on your nose using different treatment method. you can use either home remedies or medical treatment. home remedies can work better in the treatment of minor causes of dry skin on nose such an allergic reaction, ringworms, hot shower, and environmental factors.
You can use medical treatment in case the dry skin on your nose is caused by serious skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, and cancer.
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What Can Cause Dry Skin Under The Eyes
The skin under or surrounding the eyes is thinner and more vulnerable than the skin on the rest of the body .
This implies it can’t hold as much moisture and it is more prone to drying out. Identifying what is causing the skin beneath your eyes to become dry can sometimes be the most complicated task. There is a slew of possibilities.
Dry skin under eyes is not only unpleasant, but it is also uncomfortable. That flaky skin can become itchy, inflamed, cracked, reddish, and even discolored in a couple of moments.
The resilience of habitually dry skin is harmed, contributing to premature wrinkles. Even worse, dry skin that breaks can invite invading microorganisms, which can cause illnesses.
How To Get Rid Of Dry Flaky Skin Around Your Eyes
We can make quick interpersonal connections and form first impressions just from looking into each others eyes. Its an important feature we shouldnt overlook . And whether its lashes, lids, irises or that area under the eyes, we want it all to appear alert and refreshed. Part of the challenge we face as we age is how to work against gravity and maintain a look thats as light and full of life as possible. So we augment our lashes and line our eyes and add drops to clear away any redness. But whats the best approach to address that area around our eyes that gets dry and flaky?
Most people have a more moderate form of flakiness around the eyes, which doesnt necessitate a trip to the doctor. Its a dryness thats caused by age or cold weather and doesnt warrant medical attention. Luckily, in those cases, we arent left without options. There are several things we can do to combat dry and listless under-eye skin. Some treatments even address other skin and overall health issues, so its really a win-win.
Below are just a few ideas on how to get rid of dry, flaky skin around your eyes.
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Stop The Itchy And Scratchy
I know it seems like irritated and itchy skin is really looking for a scratch, but what it needs is moisture. However if theres an issue thats ongoing or severe, you may need medication, so be sure to see a dermatologist. For most itches and irritations, though, we can attend to it by changing some habits and adding more moisture.
Many of us have realized as of late how we touch our face all too often, and maybe weve already started to create better habits by not rubbing our eyes and the like. Now the next step is applying moisturizer, especially to the driest areas. That should keep things calm and cool. A cold compress can also help, if you still have a persistent itch. Now slap away that hand that was about to scratch that itch, and go cool off.
Sun Damage On The Nose
Your face can develop a dry skin on nose and other parts as a result of sun damage. Direct and long exposure of your face to sunlight can lead to various skin problems such as dryness, dark spots, freckles, and wrinkles.
Sunlight contains harmful UV light. These rays can damage your skin when you are exposed to it for a long duration. Your nose is a potential part of the face that are usually exposed to sunlight hence it can develop sunburns and dry skin.
You can treat dry skin on your nose caused by sun damage by applying skin moisturizers such as Aloe Vera, coconut oil, and Olive oil. For the case of chronic sun damage and dryness on your nose, visit your doctor to help in the diagnosis and treatment.
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Smoking And Use Alcohol
Smoking and excessive drinking of alcohol is a risk factor that may encourage dryness of your nose. During the process of smoking, your nose is the main outlet that allows smoke to come out of your body as a chimney and this may cause a dry skin to appear on your nose.
Similar to smoking, the use of alcohol interfere with the antidiuretic hormone in your body. This increases the rate of dehydration of the body. From your experience, you might notice that after taking an alcoholic drink, the rate of urinating increases than normal.
You can prevent dry skin on your nose and other parts of your body by avoiding smoking and drinking excess alcohol. If you already have dry skin on your nose due to smoking and drinking alcohol, apply suitable skin moisturizer as a treatment.
Massage With Essential Oils
Massaging improves blood circulation in the skin around your eyes. You can choose from flaxseed oil, chamomile oil, lavender oil, rose oil or lemon oil. Dab a few drops of the oil around your eye and gently massage in circular movements.
Word Of Caution:
Be careful and do not get any oil into the eye. Do not rub the oil in a way that you pull out the delicate skin accidentally.
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Itchy Dry Skin Around Eyes
The itchy dry skin around your eyes can either be mild or severe. Usually, mild itchy flaky or dry skin could be symptoms of harmless skin condition that can go away without treatment. Severe or intense itchy flaky skin around the eyes might be an indication of a more serious skin condition that needs you to seek the help from the dermatologist.
The common skin conditions that can lead to the itchy dry skin on face around the eyes include contact dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, ringworms and skin cancer.
How To Treat Contact Dermatitis
Most of the time, contact dermatitis resolves on its own once the irritant is no longer in contact with the skin. But in severe cases, a dermatologist may prescribe topical steroids to treat its symptoms. Moisturizing creams or ointments can also be used to alleviate dryness and itching.
For allergic contact dermatitis, patch testing performed by a dermatologist may be required to rule out or identify potential allergens.
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How To Prevent Dry Skin Around The Eyes
Like most symptoms, prevention is better than a cure. Follow these tips to prevent yourself from experiencing dry skin under the eyes.
- Add moisture to your environment. Places with low humidity can dry out your skin. Consider installing a humidifier inside your home, particularly in your bedroom for when you sleep, to help add back moisture to the air and alleviate your skin dryness.
- Use lukewarm water. Hot water from showers or face washing is not recommended and aggravates dry skin. Using water that is lukewarm – not too cold, yet not too hot – is the most ideal for cleansing. It is gentle enough to still preserve your skins hydrating oils, while also being just the right temperature to activate the ingredients in your cleanser.
- Avoid touching your eyes. Your hands touch a lot of things that can irritate the skin around your eyes. Try not to rub or scratch the delicate skin to avoid eye infections that may lead to chronic dryness, itchiness, and irritation.
- Protect your eyes from the environment. Take extra measures when going out by wearing sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats or visors to keep your skin shielded and protected from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
- Always remove your eye makeup. If you apply makeup around your eyes, remember to properly remove it every night before bed. If not necessary, try to use less makeup around the eyes to avoid irritating your skin.
Dry Under Eye Treatments
To prevent waking up to parched skin, here are some dry under-eye treatments you can easily add to your daily skin care routine.
1. Moisturize regularly. While your usual moisturizer may be great at keeping your face plump and nourished, it may not be enough for the extra-dry skin under your eyes. Use a moisturizer that is specially formulated for the eye area, and opt for ingredients that boost hydration, lock in moisture, improve circulation and brighten your peepers. You can never go wrong with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, ceramides and caffeine.
2. Use a gentle cleanser. Washing your face until its dry or irritated isnt a sign that its getting cleaner. In fact, using the wrong face cleanser and over-washing can cause more damage to your skin. Make sure to use a gentle face wash thats specially formulated for dry, sensitive or irritated skin, and avoid soaps, fragrance and other harsh chemicals that can trigger certain skin conditions to flare up.
3. Never go without sunscreen. Another important ingredient that you should never miss out on? SPFbut not just any SPF. Opt for a gentle formula that wont sting, leave a greasy residue or irritate the sensitive skin under your eyes. Better yet, choose a moisturizing eye cream with SPF thats specially formulated to nourish delicate skin while protecting your under-eye area from damaging UV rays and preventing degradation of other active ingredients.
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Take Your Time Dew It Right
One seemingly obvious way to combat dryness is with water. However, simply splashing water on your face and hoping that dry skin disappears will leave you rather disappointed. Unless combined with other ingredients, it will evaporate and probably take some natural oils and moisturizers along with it. So one work around is to add moisture to your environment. You can do this with a humidifier, or by moving somewhere that has high humidity. One of those options is just slightly more affordable, right?
If you live in a dry or arid climate a humidifier will release a much-needed amount of moisture in the air. In addition to helping with particularly dry areas on your skin, humidifiers can help alleviate symptoms caused by the common cold or flu. They may also make breathing easier for people with asthma and allergies, though its especially critical to clean it often so theres no growth of bacteria or other allergens.
And just to underscore the importance of cleaning your humidifier, heres a video of one guy having way too much fun telling you how to do it:
Common Risk Factors Of Dry Skin Around The Eyes
Some factors make it more likely that people will experience under-eye dryness and skin symptoms around the eyes, including:
- being over 40 years of age
- skin that is black, brown, or fair rather than a medium tone like olive skin
- deficiency of zinc, iron, niacin, or vitamins A and D
- tobacco smoking
- kidney disease and dialysis treatment
- thyroid problems
- receiving chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy to treat cancers
- carrying HIV, even for folks receiving antiretroviral treatment
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#askallure: The Quick Way To Treat Dry Under
We recently got an email from Teresa, one of our readers, who wanted to know the best way to treat undereye dryness. Turns out she’s not alone. “It’s a common problem,” says Michele Green, a dermatologist in New York City and one of the consulting experts behind SkinBetter, our free skin-analysis tool.“The skin under the eyes is extremely sensitive because it’s so thin.” Dry skin in general is a pain, but when it hits your under-eyes, it emphasizes signs of aging.
Because the skin under your eyes is so thin, it’s one of the most common spots for eczema, Green says. “Most people don’t even realize that they have it,” she says. If you’re noticing flakes, redness, and itchiness regularly, head to a dermatologist for treatment. But if what you’ve got is more seasonal, the fix is a pretty easy one:
Go easy on the tough stuff. Take a break from any alcohol-based products in your skin-care routine . Avoid retinol, too. “Some skin types can handle a minor amount of these ingredients, but they can be very drying for others,” Green says.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.“It’s so obvious, but you need to use a really rich formula,” Green says. “Vaseline works well. Apply it at night right after you wash your face, when your skin is still damp, so that the ingredients really absorb.” It may feel thick and heavy, but that’s the point: Skin-softening petrolatum locks in moisture, and by morning, it will be fully absorbed. Bonus points if you turn on a humidifier while you sleep.