Forums » Smalltalk » Itchy eyes. Any advice?

I suffer from eczema, and ever since I had my big breakout in the winter of 2014, my eyelids have been super itchy. I almost constantly have the urge to scratch my eyes out of my head, so that's super annoying. I don't wear any eye make-up, since it was likely my mascara that started it to begin with, and I use a thick lotion 2 times a day combined with a dry-spot creme for when I can't keep my fingers from scratching. Both are tested by the hospital in charge of my treatment, but they're just not enough!
Now, I have tried to ask the doctors for help, but they're more set on terminating my treatment and get me out of the door. The whole "you just have to live with it"-thing.

SO! I was wondering if anyone in here had some advice for sensitive, itching eyelids that they might share? It doesn't have to be eczema-related, as long as it's completely free from perfume, colorants and parabens.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

I have psoriasis from my diabetes, and it seems very focused on my face. I have angry red, flaky patches on my eyelids often (like now) which seems to get worse with changes in weather and stress. It can be incredibly itchy like yours at time, which drives me mad. I avoid makeup when I have flareups, but I can wear it otherwise.

I don't really bother trying to 'cure' it because it's auto-immune related and I pretty much have to live with it because it's part of my chronic illness, but I do know that natural oils are very good. Steroid creams can work for a short while, but they're short-term solutions and don't fix the long-term problem. It's also bad for you because it ends up thinning your skin when you use it for more than a few weeks at a time.

Coconut oil is something that is really useful with this. I recommend using a cleanser/toner that's suitable for sensitive skin and the eyelids before applying the oil. Removing the flaking dry patches gently with a cotton pad that way has helped me a lot before. (Best done right after a shower when the skin is very soft.)

Keep in mind that treatment for eczema can vary from person to person, so what works for me might not work for you. (For example, I shower daily - lots of people say you shouldn't, but if I don't I end up scratching myself relentlessly, especially on my scalp. Daily showers and plenty of lotion on problem areas is what works for me.)

Thank you! I haven't had flakes lately(thank God!), but my eyelids become very red. I wasn't thinking about curing it, I just want it to not drive me mad, and I'd like to be able to wear a hint of mascara once in a while! Like you, I also shower each day, because otherwise I'll scratch myself to death.

About the coconut oil - is it pure oil, or some cosmetics with coconut oil added? And how do you apply it to the eyelid?

A bit of advice for you: if you feel like your (black) mascara is annoying your eyes, you can opt for a brown instead. The black pigments in the mascara tends to be harsher on eyes/skin than the brown. Also, when I have bad breakouts, I sleep with cotton gloves on to prevent scratching in sleep. It helps more than you think!

It's just regular coconut oil you can find in the supermarket/Asian supermarket. It's literally just 100% coconut oil, the same stuff that you can use in your cooking can be used for your skin. It's a semi-solid substance and is found in glass jars, and recommended for people with psoriasis, eczema etc. Heck, you can use it in your hair too! Its shelf life is about 2 years per jar and I don't think you need a whole lot of it. Use a clean spoon to take the oil out of the jar to keep it sanitary and it should last the whole two years.

Thankfully no outside influences other than the weather (quick temperature and humidity changes) affect my condition, so I can wear makeup without problems. It's when I have a flareup that I don't wear it because you can very, very clearly see the dry patches and it doesn't look very neat (plus lots of makeup dries out the skin, so it aggravates the existing flareup). I can wear eyeliner and mascara whenever usually, it's just eyeshadow I avoid. I think that's a really good tip for people who struggle with makeup and eczema though!