Dry patches on eyelids: Causes and treatments

Dry skin on your eyelids can be irritating, causing itchiness and redness. It can also make it uncomfortable to blink. 

The skin on your eyelids is one of the more sensitive areas of skin on your body. It’s more likely to dry out and crack in response to environmental irritants, maturing skin, and other skin conditions like eczema.

In some cases, you may need prescription-strength treatments to moisturize the skin.

Learning more about the different causes and possible treatments can help you find relief from your symptoms.

Causes

Dry skin develops on the eyelid when your skin can’t stay as moisturized as it should be. This causes redness, itching, and sometimes pain. This can have many different possible causes.

Eczema

Dry eyelids are often the result of eczema, or atopic dermatitis. Eczema is a skin condition that causes dry, itchy patches on your skin. In severe cases, it may cause thickening or cracking of the skin.

Eczema is more likely to affect people who have asthma and other allergies, such as a food allergy.

It has different causes, depending on the type of eczema you have. For example, contact dermatitis occurs when you touch a substance that you are allergic to. This can affect your eyelids if you use certain skin care products or cleansers on your face.

Other symptoms of eczema include:

• oozing sores
• itchy skin
• dry and scaly skin
• thickening of the skin

Blepharitis

Blepharitis happens due to the excessive growth of a type of bacteria that feeds on dead skin cells and other cellular debris.

It causes inflammation of the eyelids, which can cause burning sensations along with crusty and stiff patches of skin.

Environment

Different environmental factors can cause dry skin on your eyelids. For example, weather can influence your skin’s moisture. Dry climates, cold weather, and strong winds can all lead to dry skin.

Exposure to smoke can act as an irritant, causing dry skin on your eyelids. Additionally, some people claim that spending long periods on the computer looking at a screen can cause dry facial skin.

Also, using certain harsh soaps on your face can strip your eyelid skin of naturally occurring oils and fats. Together with hot showers, this can cause your skin to dry out.

Age

As you age, your skin barrier changes in structure. Your skin barrier is the part of the skin responsible for retaining moisture.

With age, your skin loses oil glands. This means it produces less sebum. Sebum is responsible for keeping your skin soft.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, by the time you reach the age of 40 years, the amount of sebum your skin produces drops dramatically.

What does it feel like?

Dry skin can feel more noticeable or even more painful than usual when it occurs on your eyelids. This is due to the amount of regular movement that the eyelids must do while you blink, particularly if you have loose skin or scaly patches.

On pale skin, dry eyelid skin can look red. However, on dark skin, it may just look like patches of skin with slightly darker pigmentation or gray or purple tones.

Symptoms of dry skin can include:

• rough or scaly patches
• irritation
• peeling
• painful burning sensations
• itching
• cracks
• new wrinkles
• rawness

These can be mild or severe. Some people may just notice that the appearance of their eyelids looks different, while others may experience intense itching and sores. In some cases, the eyelids may even swell in size.

Treatments

The best way to manage dry eyelids depends on what is causing the problem. For example, if you have a skin condition like atopic dermatitis, a doctor may recommend corticosteroids like hydrocortisone cream.

These are not suitable as long–term treatments. Over time, they can thin the skin. But a 1- to 2-week dosage is typically enough.

Topical calcineurin inhibitors are an alternative for mild to moderate dermatitis. These work by altering your immune system to prevent flaring dermatitis. They are a good choice for children or people who cannot tolerate corticosteroids, and they do not cause thinning of the skin.

Examples include tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel).

Another medication option is a topical JAK inhibitor called ruxolitinib (Opzelura).

If you have contact dermatitis, the best way to manage dry eyelids is to avoid triggers such as harsh face creams and soap.

It may be a good idea to keep track of what you are doing during a flare-up of dry eyelids. There may be a trigger you are unaware of. Visiting an allergist for a patch test may help you find out any triggers quickly.

————-

If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.

At-home treatments

It is important to try and keep the sore skin on your eyelids moisturized. This can prevent itching and encourage healing of the irritated skin. You can achieve this with over-the-counter moisturizers, but not all moisturizers are suitable to use on your eyelids.

The following ingredients are safe and effective at soothing the skin on your eyelids:

• Olive oil: The omega-3 fatty acids in olive oil reduce inflammation over time and encourage skin regeneration.
• Glycerin: This substance is a humectant, a type of chemical that draws water into your skin. This helps to encourage consistent moisture in the skin without feeling oily.
• Shea butter or squalene: These are two substances rich in lipids, the molecules that make up your skin barrier. These ingredients can help support your skin barrier during irritation.
• Bee products: Propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen are all anti-inflammatory substances that can encourage wound healing and support skin regeneration.

It is a good idea to avoid touching your eyelids if they are dry and sore, except to apply treatments. This can help prevent further irritation, especially if you have contact dermatitis.

Summary

Dry and sore eyelids can occur for different reasons. Types of eczema, natural aging, and environmental triggers can all cause a loss of moisture and irritation.

At-home treatments are typically very effective, with a variety of ingredients available over the counter to help soothe your skin.

If your symptoms worsen or spread from your eyelids, you should consider speaking with a doctor. They may prescribe medicated creams to help manage your skin condition.

—————

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.