As you know, our eyes are delicate, and the skin of the eyes is too sensitive and readily gets hurt. If you feel something inside your eyes, it is very frustrating and painful at the same time. If your eyes turn red, dry, itchy, and puffy, it could be due to eyelid irritation. Here we are to solve your queries through this article on how to soothe irritated skin around the eyes.

The skin around your eyes is sensitive and thin compared to the body a face because eye skin does not contain too many oil glands.

Delicate skin is more likely to sense constant irritation. Therefore, it must be gently treated to avoid irritation.

When you are suffering from irritated skin around your eyes, then the first step you need to check what is the reason behind its causes and what steps you can take to soothe eyelid irritation.

1. Causes of Eyelid Irritation?

When you find red, dry, and itchy skin around your eyes, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

1.1 Contact Dermatitis

Contact Dermatitis is one of the most common forms of eye dermatitis. It happens when the skin near your eyes comes in touch with an irritant that irritates the skin.

1.1.1. What Do You Mean by Contact Dermatitis?

Contact Dermatitis is a skin problem that develops rashes and itchy skin. Contact dermatitis is a kind of skin problem not suitable for delicate skin.

It is caused when your delicate skin comes in direct contact with any substance or allergic reaction that causes eye irritation.

1.1.2. Causes of Contact Dermatitis?

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Contact Dermatitis is caused due to makeup, soaps, or chlorine. If you are suffering from contact dermatitis will see red, flaky, and inflamed skin around your eyes.

You will develop swollen eyelids, flaky skin, and even dry eyelids.

Contact dermatitis can also be caused due to cosmetics, moisturizers, eye creams, topical antibiotics, false eyelashes, dust mites, contact lens solutions, jewelry of nickel, hair products, hair dye, etc.

1.1.3. Symptoms of Contact Dermatitis?

Symptoms are as follows:

• Red dehydrated patches
• Rashes
• itchy skin
• dry, cracked, and scaly skin
• oozing
• swelling
• burning of the skin

1.1.4. How Contact Dermatitis Develops?

Contact dermatitis can develop at any stage in your life. There is no exact age to have contact dermatitis.

Women who wear a lot of jewelry made of nickel and use fragrances are more likely to develop it.

Contact dermatitis can develop an allergic reaction when you use a lot of cosmetics and fragrances or wear jewelry made of nickel.

1.1.5. How to Treat Contact Dermatitis?

You can contact your dermatologist to treat contact dermatitis if you have sensitive skin.

You face a lot of trouble, such as skin irritation.

Skin irritation is very frustrating, so treat it as soon as possible.

To treat skin irritation, consult your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe steroid creams, antibiotics, and another eye cream.

Eye cream helps to treat the rashes around the delicate skin.

Antibiotics help prevent bacterial infection.

1.2. Atopic Dermatitis

A skin condition that usually develops at five years of age and causes rashes, redness, and itchiness that come and go.

 1.2.1. What is Atopic Dermatitis?

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a skin disease caused due to infections around the eyes. It is a chronic disorder that causes rashes and inflammation.

It is primarily seen in children. Atopic dermatitis develops at an early age, especially in children.

It affects the skin on your eyelids and causes eyelid irritation. The skin becomes too scratchy due to itching.

So you should avoid scratching too much to get rid of irritated skin.

1.2.2. Causes of Atopic Dermatitis?

Atopic Dermatitis is caused by environmental factors, such as

• extreme cold
• dry weather
• dust mites
• stress

Some other causes are a family history of it may develop it, problems with the immune system, or environmental conditions.

1.2.3. Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis?

The Symptoms of Atopic Dermatitis are as follows:

• rashes on the skin
• dry patches of skin
• weep clear fluid
• bleeding, thickening, and hardening of the skin.

1.2.4. How Atopic Dermatitis Develops?

It is a genetic issue we get from our parents and often occurs in people with a family history.

Kids are more likely to develop it.

A person who has an immune system problem also develops it.

1.2.5. How to Treat Atopic Dermatitis?

To treat this dermatitis, first of all, focus on the treatment of symptoms and preventing flare-ups.

Irritation around the eyes caused due to this dermatitis can be treated using a hypoallergenic cleanser.

Avoid those products which cause irritants and allergies to your eyes.

First, know the causes behind every product you use by doing a patch test on your hand.

1.3. Eyelid Dermatitis

When the skin above and below the eyes comes in contact with an irritant or a substance that physically triggers the eyelid, it causes eyelid dermatitis.

1.3.1. What is Eyelid Dermatitis?

Eyelid Dermatitis (eyelid eczema) is a contact dermatitis or skin condition that causes eyelids irritation when eyelids come into contact with any substance you are allergic to.

1.3.2. Causes of Eyelid Dermatitis?

The causes of eyelid dermatitis are when your eyelid comes into contact with a substance you are allergic to.

The skin turns red and scaly and becomes thicker and swell.

1.3.3. Symptoms of Eyelid Dermatitis?

The common symptoms of eyelid contact dermatitis are swelling, burning, itching, stinging, scaly, redness, and other symptoms.

1.3.4. Who is More Likely to Develop Eyelid Dermatitis?

Eyelid dermatitis can occur in those who have delicate skin, have asthma, have a history of hay fever, etc.

1.3.5. Types of Eyelid Dermatitis?

There are two kinds of Eyelid Dermatitis:

• The first one is irritant contact dermatitis
• The second one is allergic contact dermatitis

Irritant contact dermatitis is an eyelid problem generated due to contact with any material or an irritant.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis is an eyelid dermatitis that irritates the eyes by applying cosmetics, cleansers, moisturizers, sunblock, etc.

1.3.6. How to Prevent Eyelid Irritation?

To prevent eyelid irritation, you have to make sure that you know about eyelid dermatitis.

Firstly, you should understand the different reasons for eyelid dermatitis and how to prevent it.

• You should use particular products made for irritated skin.
• Protect your eyes from extreme hotness by wearing sunglasses.
• Avoid scratching your eyelids.
• Always touch your eyelids by washing your hands.
• Wash your eyelids with clean water.

1.3.7. Is Eyelid Dermatitis Contagious?

No, eyelid dermatitis is not contagious and cannot be transmitted. It is not an infectious disease that transmits.

2. Various Steps to be Taken to Soothe Irritated Skin Around Your Eyes

Here are some steps that help you reduce redness and flaky skin around your eyes.

2.1. How to Soothe Irritated Skin Around the Eyes? Some Home Remedies

Home remedies are a natural source of remedies available at your house, natural ingredients that help in soothing eye irritation.

Natural ingredients work well on our skin and make our skin flawless

2.1.1. Essential Oils

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Essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial properties that fight against bacteria causing infection. Lavender oil helps improve blood circulation and soothes the irritation of itchy eyes. Castor oil and coconut oil decrease rashes and remove swelling in the affected region.

• Apply 1-2 drops of lavender oil and mix it with 2 to 3 drops of coconut or castor oil.
• Massage gently over the eyes.
• Apply twice a day for better recovery of your dry skin.

2.1.2. Cucumber Slices

Photo by Benzoix/ Unlimphotos

People use cucumber slices on the eyes to calm down the puffiness and reduce darkness around the eyes.

Puffiness and dark circles give the appearance of fatigue and darkness around your eye area that looks bad.

When you have dry skin around your eyes, cucumbers can offer a moisturizing effect by reducing dryness and redness.

Cucumber has hydrating properties that hydrate your skin and reduce swelling around your eyes.

• Cut slices of cucumber.
• Apply cucumber slices for 10 to 15 minutes under your eyes.
• Then remove them until and unless it gets warm.

It has soothing properties and also helps in removing darkness around your eyes.

2.1.3. Aloe Vera Gel

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Aloe Vera gel can be used as a medicine for the skin because it has healing properties. It soothes irritated skin around your eyes.

Aloe Vera gel has antibacterial properties that fight back bacterial infection.

It also contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Aloe vera gel helps soothe skin irritation, sunburns, dry skin, and cosmetics irritants.

• Apply aloe vera gel on the area that is irritated.
• With the support of your fingertip, gently massage the affected region to provide a calming effect.
• Leave for 10-15 minutes after applying the gel.
• With lukewarm water, wash your face.

2.1.4. Green Tea Bags

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Apply Green tea bags under your eye to soothe irritation because it has skin-soothing properties and helps in skin renewal.

• Place a green tea bag inside the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes.
• And apply it over your irritated skin around the eyes for a soothing effect.

2.2. Cold Compress

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Cold compresses keep away the redness and inflammation on the skin.

A cold compress helps reduce swelling, redness, and irritation caused due to some irritating substance.

1. Damp the towel in chilled water.
2. Put the towel into a sealable bag made of plastic.
3. Freeze the sealable plastic bag for 15 minutes.
4. Apply it on your skin.
5. Place that cold compressor on your skin for 20 minutes.

Wet towels are more comfortable when used as a cold compressor for sensitive areas, such as the eyes and nose.

Ice pack also plays a good role as a cold compress when applied over the affected area to calm the irritation.

2.3. Warm Compress

A warm Compress helps with eyelid irritation by improving blood circulation and reducing eye irritation.

Warm compresses can also help unclog clogged pores or oil glands that may cause other skin conditions.

Eyelids are more prone to skin conditions.

You can also use a warm or wet compress if you still feel irritation.

2.4. Natural Skincare Product

Skincare products contain harsh chemicals that are too harsh on your skin.

Buy skin care products with natural ingredients because it helps to soothe the skin around your eyes.

Products with harmful ingredients, such as alcohol and retinol, may hurt your skin.

Switch to natural products that are beneficial for your skin.

2.5. Remove Eye Makeup

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Use a makeup remover to remove your makeup so that no makeup is left over on your skin while sleeping.

Makeup contains a lot of chemicals that are not good for your skin.

Before applying any new makeup or skincare, do a patch test using it on your hand.

2.5.1. How to Remove Makeup?

Remove your makeup before going to bed because the ingredients in your makeup products can dry your skin if you left overnight over your skin.

1. Remove eye makeup by using an eye makeup remover on a cotton pad.
2. Now remove it by pressing the pad gently on your skin by dragging it upward and downward.
3. Repeat this step until your makeup is removed.

2.6. Humidifier

Devices that increase the moisture outside by releasing steam or vapor are known as humidifiers. 

When you face problems with red skin around your eyes, apply a humidifier while sleeping to ensure your skin does not dry out.

It hydrates your dry skin and has calming effects.

Dry skin causes skin irritation, such as redness and itchy eye, so keep your skin hydrated by applying a humidifier.

2.7.Rosewater

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Rose water soothes rashes as it has soothing properties and works as a toner when we apply it to our skin. Rose petals have anti-inflammatory properties.

Take a Cotton Ball. Dip the cotton ball in the rose water and use it. You can also try rose toners for soothing effects.

2.8. Potato Juice

Potato Juice has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps soothe irritation and reduce pain.

Take a potato, grind it, and squeeze out the potato juice in a bowl.

Take a cotton ball, dip it inside the potato juice apply it on your face.

Apply potato juice for 10 minutes and cleanse it with water.

2.9. Enough Rest

Enough rest is necessary for getting healthy skin and also helps reduce the risk of irritation and inflammation that is caused due to irritants.

Take 7-9 hours of sleep and maintain a regular timetable.

When you face problems while sleeping, start doing meditation and relaxation techniques.

Enough sleep helps to remove the darkness from your eyes and is better for maintaining a good schedule for healthy skin.

3. Bottom Line

Irritated eyes can be frustrating and painful. You should follow all the steps mentioned above in this article which contains all the necessary points regarding irritated skin and various preventive measures that has to be taken to soothe irritated skin around your eyes.

When you see that all these points are not working for you, you can consult your healthcare provider and get diagnosed, who will recommend better options to soothe irritated skin around your eyes. So now, wrapping things up, I hope you get an idea of how to soothe irritated skin around the eyes to get clear skin.

Last Updated on July 1, 2023 by Himani Rawat