How to Manage & Treat Eczema Around the Eyes Safely

Key Takeaways:

• Prioritise Safety Over Speed: Choose gentle, steroid-free creams for eczema around the eyes. This helps to avoid potential damage caused by harsh treatments.
• Establish a Barrier Routine: Immediately lock in moisture with emollients (within three minutes of cleansing) to support and repair your compromised skin barrier.
• Avoid High-Risk Irritants: Eliminate fragrances, alcohol, and essential oils from your routine, as these are the top culprits that cause immediate and severe flare-ups.

Finding a safe and effective solution to eczema around the eyes isn’t easy. Because the skin is incredibly thin and sensitive, the wrong treatment can actually make your symptoms worse. 

This article provides a gentle and beneficial treatment plan. Read on to discover soothing, barrier-repairing solutions that restore your comfort without the sting.

Why Eczema Around the Eyes Requires Special Care

The skin around your eyes is one of your body’s weak spots. Understanding this fragility is the crucial first step toward safe healing.

• Extremely Delicate Skin: The skin on your eyelids is the thinnest on your body, making it significantly more sensitive and prone to irritation and swelling.
• Vulnerable Barrier: The eyelid area has fewer oil glands (a natural defence), leaving the skin barrier especially vulnerable to moisture loss, dryness, and inflammation.
• Product Reactivity: Many standard skincare and cosmetic products contain ingredients that can worsen symptoms, making non-irritating solutions essential.

5 Key Steps for Treating Eczema Around the Eyes Safely

Stop reacting to flares and start proactively healing. Follow these simple, practical steps detailing exactly how to soothe irritated skin around the eyes, safely and effectively.

Step 1: Avoid Harsh Products

• Go Completely Clean: Using fragrance-free and hypoallergenic products is non-negotiable for the sensitive skin around your eyes.
• Cut the Chemicals: Immediately eliminate harsh ingredients like alcohol-based toners and strong chemical exfoliants like AHAs, which strip the skin and cause further dryness and inflammation.

Step 2: Hydrate and Seal the Skin Barrier

• Lock in Moisture Fast: Apply an emollient-rich cream to the area within three minutes of cleansing while the skin is still slightly damp. This step is crucial for trapping moisture and reducing the risk of a new flare-up.
• Repair with Creams: Use creams that are packed with gentle emollients and lipids. These ingredients actively repair the delicate barrier and provide intense hydration without causing irritation.

Step 3: Use an Eye-Specific Cream or Balm

• Choose Targeted Formulas: Always use creams or balms that are specifically recommended by dermatologists and formulated for eczema around the eyes. These products contain optimised ingredients that address the sensitive skin barrier.
• Steroid-Free Relief: For safe and consistent care, choose a gentle, steroid-free option. We recommend Dermal Therapy Face & Eyelid Eczema Cream as part of your daily routine, providing soothing relief without the risk of skin thinning.

Step 4: Soothe with a Cold Compress

• Calm the Itch: For immediate relief from itchy eyelids or a flare-up of dry red skin, gently apply a cool, damp compress to the area for a few minutes.
• Reduce Swelling: The cold temperature helps to calm inflammation, quickly reducing visible swelling and intense irritation without the need for rubbing.

Step 5: Avoid Scratching or Rubbing the Area

• Break the Cycle: Scratching or rubbing the delicate skin causes micro-tears, worsening inflammation and increasing the risk of secondary bacterial infection.
• Use Alternatives: When you feel an intense urge to scratch, immediately use a technique like gently pressing on the area or applying a cool compress instead of friction.

What to Avoid When Treating Eczema Around the Eyes

Dermatologists agree that avoiding key irritants is just as important as treating the area. Consider eliminating these culprits from your routine when dealing with eczema under and around the eye.

Fragrances and Harsh Chemicals

Always check ingredient lists for hidden fragrance, alcohol-based toners, and harsh preservatives, as these irritants easily penetrate the delicate eye area and cause immediate flare-ups.

Steroid Creams

While topical steroids may offer quick relief, they are generally not safe for long-term use around the eyes. Prolonged application can lead to skin thinning (atrophy) and potential eye issues. Instead, look for gentle, steroid-free creams that safely soothe inflammation and help repair the skin barrier over time.

Makeup with Harsh Chemicals

If you choose to wear makeup, avoid products containing fragrances or harsh preservatives, as these can trigger an instant flare-up. Choose makeup that’s clearly labelled fragrance-free and ophthalmologist-tested to ensure maximum safety for the sensitive eye area.

Further Reading: Need a comprehensive checklist? Dive deeper into the ingredients you need to look for (and eliminate) in our article: Ingredients to Use and Avoid Near the Eyes.

Home Remedies for Eye Eczema: Do They Work?

Many people turn to natural products for relief, and some home remedies can offer initial soothing benefits. Here are a few of the most common natural ingredients used to manage eczema around the eyes.

Natural Oils

Coconut oil can provide moisture. But it’s often too thick and can clog pores in the sensitive eyelid area. You must completely avoid potent essential oils, such as tea tree oil, as they are concentrated irritants that cause severe reactions.

Aloe Vera

Pure Aloe Vera gel is known for its cooling properties, which can help relieve the burning and intense itching of a flare-up. If you choose to use it, ensure it is a pure, organic gel containing absolutely no added fragrances or alcohol, which are major triggers.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is a rich emollient, excellent for intensely moisturising and helping to repair a compromised skin barrier. This can reduce the appearance of dry, red skin under the eyes, but it should only be applied in very small, clean amounts.

It’s tempting to reach for a natural product you already have in the cupboard, but caution is essential, as the wrong home remedy can easily make eczema around the eyes worse. Dermatologists prefer professionally formulated creams because they guarantee the necessary sterility and correct concentration for the delicate eye area.

Safety First with Dermal Therapy Face & Eyelid Eczema Cream

Dermal Therapy Face & Eyelid Eczema Cream offers the solution. It’s uniquely designed for this sensitive area and formulated with 5% Colloidal Oatmeal to soothe irritation and provide steroid-free relief. It’s further boosted with Aloe Vera for cooling comfort and Shea Butter to intensely hydrate the thin, dry skin. The result? Clinically proven rapid effectiveness with an average of “no itching” observed in just 45 minutes.

Ready for safe, steroid-free relief? Shop Dermal Therapy Face & Eyelid Eczema Cream now.

Learn more in our relevant articles:

• The Ultimate Guide to Face & Eye Eczema
• Eyelid Eczema: Causes and Symptoms
• The Role of Emollients in Eczema Management
• What Could Be Causing Your Facial Eczema and Irritated Skin
• Understanding Eczema in Babies and Children: Tips for Parents​
• Eczema and Mental Health