Dry skin around the eyes [TOP 3 products] – what to do with dryness and why eyelids dry

Why does the skin around the eyes need especially careful care?

The area around the eyes is a delicate and delicate area that is naturally prone to dryness. This is due to the fact that the skin around the eyes is very thin and has virtually no subcutaneous fat layer that would support its barrier functions and protect against moisture loss.

As a rule, it is the skin under the eyes that is the first to react to the adverse effects of external factors, deteriorating living conditions (fatigue, lack of sleep, stress), approaching age-related changes... If the skin under the eyes becomes dry and begins to peel, this indicates that it is time to give it special treatment. attention.

What additional measures should be taken when treating blepharitis?

During therapy, you should strictly adhere to certain rules that will speed up the results.

It is important to follow a strict diet, excluding too spicy, salty, fatty, smoked foods, and alcoholic drinks from the diet. You need to consume more foods containing healthy vitamins - retinol, riboflavin, ascorbic acid, zinc, selenium:

retinol - wild garlic, broccoli, garlic, viburnum berries, fish oil;
riboflavin - beef liver, cod liver, quail eggs;
vitamin C - citrus fruits, greens, sour berries;
selenium - nuts, legumes, some cereals, for example, buckwheat;
zinc - seafood (kelp, shrimp), hard cheeses.

By following a diet that includes the consumption of these foods, you can significantly speed up the healing process. It will also be useful to take vitamin complexes for the eyes. The development of any infection in the body is a consequence of weakened immunity, and it needs to be strengthened.

During the treatment period, you need to change bed linen more often, especially pillowcases, and also get a separate towel for the patient. It is better to gently blot the affected eye with a disposable napkin after washing, and do not rub it with your hands. Women should avoid using decorative cosmetics. It can clog the excretory ducts, prevent the release of pus and increase inflammation. In addition, cosmetics during illness cause an allergic reaction in the eyes. A large percentage of success lies in observing simple hygiene rules and following the doctor’s recommendations.

Dry and very dry skin around the eyes: what are the reasons?

As we have already found out, the main reason for dry skin in the eye area is the peculiarities of its structure. However, there are many factors due to which the skin around the eyes can additionally dry out:

Aggressive influence of the external environment: exposure to sunlight, adverse weather conditions (cold, wind, changes in humidity and temperature), high levels of dry indoor air.
Insufficient hydration: not only the area around the eyes, but also the entire body (neglect of the daily fluid intake).
Incorrectly selected care: use of cosmetics that do not match your skin type, makeup not washed off at night, incorrect application of masks.
Age-related changes: decreased production of collagen and elastin, thinning of the inner layer of the skin of the eyelids and the skin framework as a whole.
Allergies and other health problems: we will not consider them in this article; they require mandatory consultation with specialists.

Complications and consequences

The peeling and redness itself will go away quickly if you use ointments prescribed by your doctor. Sometimes the skin on the eyelids cracks due to excessive dryness, an infection sets in and a strong inflammatory reaction begins. This only happens in cases where the patient does not follow the ophthalmologist’s recommendations and continues to neglect ointments that nourish the skin.

You should not delay treatment if bleeding areas appear, eyelashes fall out, eyelids turn red, or a rash is noticeable. You cannot try to cope with the problem on your own. Delay leads to the following complications:

complete loss of eyelashes;
transition of the disease to the skin of the eyelids of the second eye;
anaphylaxis with a severe allergic reaction;
suppuration with blepharitis;
loss of vision;
Quincke's edema;
labored breathing;
convulsions;
the formation of ulcers at the site of the blisters.

Medical assistance is required if unpleasant symptoms persist for 3 days.

Dry skin around the eyes: basic care

Of course, thin, dry skin under the eyes needs daily care. Here are simple instructions to help you understand the intricacies of caring for dry skin around the eyes and choose products that can help with this.

Cleansing the skin around the eyes

Important: you should not skip this stage even if you do not use decorative cosmetics. The use of cleansers allows you to remove not only makeup residues, but also traces of daytime pollution and dead skin cells.

Micellar water is great for these purposes, such as CeraVe Hydrating Cleansing Micellar Water. It not only carefully cleanses the skin under the eyes of makeup residues and traces of daytime pollution, but also promotes hydration, which is so important for it.

CeraVe Hydrating Micellar Cleansing Water contains:

ceramides, which help strengthen the skin's protective barrier;
glycerin, which is responsible for its hydration;
niacinamide, which helps soothe the skin and relieve discomfort.

Washing

Although dry eyelids and the under-eye area do not require a separate cleansing routine, it is important to consider the skin in this area when choosing a “general” facial cleanser. A good option, also suitable for use in the area around the eyes, is the CeraVe moisturizing cream-foam cleanser.

Restoring and strengthening the skin around the eyes

This stage is the main one in caring for thin and dry skin around the eyes. It is important to select specially developed products, the composition of which is aimed directly at maintaining the skin in a delicate and delicate area.

These products include, in particular, the CeraVe restorative eye contour cream. It not only moisturizes the area around the eyes for a long time, but also reduces the visibility of bags under the eyes and helps remove dark circles under the eyes. The action of the cream is also aimed at restoring and strengthening the natural protective barrier of the delicate and thin skin around the eyes.

CeraVe Eye Contour Revitalizing Cream contains the following ingredients:

ceramides - the basis of the skin's hydrolipid barrier - for protection;
hyaluronic acid and glycerin - to maintain the hydration of the upper layer of skin for a long time;
tocopherol (vitamin E) – for antioxidant protection and reducing the negative impact of environmental factors.

Signs of blepharitis

This ocular inflammation is characterized by the following clinical manifestations:

fatigue even with little eye strain;
thickening and redness of the edges of the eyelids;
noticeable itching and irritation of the organs of vision;
increased sensitivity to light;
sticky discharge or pus that sticks to eyelashes;
the appearance of scales and crusts on the upper and lower eyelids;
eyelash loss.

These symptoms apply to many types of blepharitis. If they appear, you should immediately contact a specialist - he will establish a diagnosis and prescribe competent therapy. For a speedy recovery, you must strictly adhere to medical recommendations, observe personal hygiene and the prescribed treatment regimen.

Preventing dry skin around the eyes: practical tips

Of course, in addition to specialized care, it is important to follow general rules for maintaining good skin condition in the delicate area around the eyes. Here is a list of simple tips to help you care for this delicate area.

Evaluate your diet and drinking regime. It is recommended to drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day and include foods rich in fatty polyunsaturated Omega acids in your diet.
Try to ensure a sufficient level of humidity (40-60%) in those rooms where you spend the most time. At home you can use a floor-standing household humidifier, and in the office - a portable device powered by a bottle.
Don't forget about the basic rules for caring for the skin under your eyes: try to apply and remove makeup carefully, do not rub the thin skin with your hands or a towel, and do not stretch it during self-massage. It is recommended to perform all manipulations by gently blotting or gently patting with your fingertips.
Try to choose cosmetics for your basic care rituals that are labeled “suitable for use in the eye area,” and make sure that products that do not have such a label do not get into this delicate area.

We hope that we have provided you with complete information about why the skin around the eyes can become very dry, how you can relieve this dryness and moisturize the delicate area under the eyes, and what products may be suitable for solving this important problem.

Physiotherapy for the treatment of blepharitis

If the disease changes from chronic to acute or the prescribed medications have a slow effect, additional physiotherapeutic procedures may be prescribed. Treatment with devices will help eliminate inflammation and redness of the upper and lower eyelids, improve metabolic processes, and accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissues. For this use:

UHF therapy;
darsonvalization - exposure to high-frequency pulsed current;
electrophoresis;
magnetic therapy and other methods.

Washing the conjunctival cavity and applying anti-inflammatory compresses to the eyelids also have a good result. The list of necessary procedures is determined by the ophthalmologist, and he also regulates their duration and period of implementation.

What are the consequences of untimely treatment?

Blepharitis, if there is a delay in starting treatment or improper therapy, can go from chronic to acute, and then it will be much more difficult to cure it. If you have symptoms that may indicate blepharitis, you should not waste time and consult a doctor. He will find out the etiology of the disease and prescribe effective medications.

There is no need to search for a diagnosis on your own and use drops and ointments based on information from the Internet. The symptoms of different blepharitis may be similar, but they may require different medications. When carrying out treatment, the patient must responsibly follow all instructions - only careful adherence to them guarantees a successful result.