Why Are My Eyelids Dry? Understanding Causes, Symptoms, and Relief

Dry eyelids are a common concern, characterized by discomfort and often visible skin changes. While the skin on our eyelids is naturally well-hydrated due to rich blood flow and protective oils, its thin and delicate nature makes it susceptible to dryness. Factors ranging from decreased oil production with age to environmental irritants and underlying health conditions can contribute to this issue.

If you’re experiencing dry eyelids, you might notice symptoms like redness, itching, flakiness, and even pain in some cases. The good news is that there are numerous effective strategies for both treating and preventing dry skin around your eyes.

Common Causes of Dry Eyelids

Anyone can experience dry eyelids at any point in their life. However, aging is a significant factor in the development of dry skin, including the sensitive skin around the eyes. As we age, particularly from around age 40 onwards, our skin’s natural oil production decreases substantially. These natural oils are crucial for maintaining skin hydration by creating a moisture barrier, so a reduction in their production can readily lead to eyelid dryness.

Beyond aging, scaly eyelids can also be a symptom of an underlying medical condition, exposure to irritants, or certain lifestyle choices.

Underlying Medical Conditions

When eyelids become dry and flaky, it can sometimes signal an underlying health issue. Dermatological conditions are often the first possibilities that healthcare professionals will investigate.

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema): This chronic condition is characterized by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Eczema often starts in childhood and can persist or recur throughout life. It commonly affects the face, neck, and areas around the eyes, including the eyelids, as well as skin folds like those at the knees and elbows. While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, a combination of genetic predisposition, immune system function, and environmental triggers is believed to play a role.

LEARN MORE: Eyelid Eczema: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Seborrheic Dermatitis: This is another form of eczema, triggered by an inflammatory reaction to an overgrowth of a specific type of yeast on the skin’s surface. When it affects the face, seborrheic dermatitis can impact the scalp and the skin around the eyes, including the eyelids.
Blepharitis: This common condition involves inflammation of the eyelids. Blepharitis is often triggered by the normal bacteria and microbes that reside on the eyelids. It can be associated with conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne rosacea, but it can also occur independently.
Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease. It leads to the formation of thick, red, scaly patches known as “plaques” on various areas of the skin, including the skin around the eyes and eyelids.

Eyelid psoriasis can cause dry, flaky patches on the eyelids and may increase the risk of developing blepharitis. While the exact link is still being researched, experts believe that the accelerated skin cell turnover rate in psoriasis can lead to blockages in the meibomian glands located along the eyelash line.
Acne Rosacea: Rosacea is a skin condition thought to be caused by a combination of factors, including ultraviolet (UV) light exposure and an overabundance of Demodex mites on the face. These microscopic mites colonize the oil glands of the face, causing a rash and redness on the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and eyelids. Ocular rosacea specifically affects the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes, resulting in small flakes, known as collarettes, around the eyelash bases.
Other Underlying Conditions: Dry, scaly eyelids can also be associated with other systemic health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, anorexia, and HIV. Additionally, flaky skin can sometimes be a side effect of cancer treatments, both current and past.

Environmental Exposure

Exposure to certain irritants and environmental conditions can strip the skin of moisture, leading to dryness, redness, and scaling. This type of reaction is known as contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis develops when the skin becomes inflamed in response to an external substance. Eyelid dermatitis can be categorized as either allergic dermatitis (caused by an allergen) or irritant dermatitis (caused by an irritant).

Allergic Dermatitis: This type of contact dermatitis typically appears one to two days after exposure to the allergen. Common allergens responsible for eyelid dermatitis include poison oak or ivy, nickel, and certain fragrances or preservatives found in skincare or cosmetic products. Preservatives in contact lens solutions can also trigger allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis: Irritant contact dermatitis develops more rapidly, usually appearing immediately after exposure to an irritating substance. It’s the more common form of contact dermatitis, accounting for about 80% of cases. It occurs when irritating substances damage skin cells. Common culprits include harsh detergents, soaps, bleach, and specific eye makeup products or dyes, such as those used in eyelash or eyebrow tinting.

Environmental factors also play a significant role. Living in low-humidity environments, such as desert climates or during winter months when indoor heating systems are in use, can dehydrate the eyelids. Prolonged exposure to sun and wind can also contribute to moisture loss. Protecting your skin and eyes with SPF and UV400 sunglasses when outdoors is crucial for shielding against harmful ultraviolet rays.

Lifestyle Factors

Our lifestyle choices also significantly impact eyelid hydration. Dehydration, inadequate nutrition, and the use of tobacco and alcohol can all contribute to dry skin around the eyes.

Other habits that can exacerbate dry eyelids include frequent swimming in chlorinated pools, taking excessively hot and long showers, and using harsh soaps. These habits can strip the skin of its natural protective oils, leading to dryness.

Age, geographic location, and occupation can also indirectly contribute to facial dryness. As mentioned earlier, certain climates are inherently drier than others. Furthermore, specific professions may involve exposure to chemical fumes or other workplace irritants that can dehydrate and irritate facial skin.

While some causes of dry eyelids are unavoidable, understanding the contributing factors and proactively addressing them through proper hydration – both internal and external – can significantly alleviate dry, itchy eyelids.

SEE RELATED: Can I use face oil around my eyes?

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms

Dry eyelids can manifest differently from person to person, and even vary in appearance each time you experience them. Dry skin around the eyes, whether under the eyes, on the eyelids themselves, or near the eyebrows, may appear red, rough, or flaky.

Other common symptoms associated with dry eyelids include:

Itchiness: An irritating sensation prompting the urge to scratch.
Tightness: A feeling of the skin being constricted or lacking elasticity.
Increased visibility of fine lines: Dryness can accentuate the appearance of wrinkles.
Rough or thickened texture: The skin may feel uneven, hardened, or leathery.
Skin cracks: Small fissures or breaks in the skin surface.
Stinging or burning: A painful or uncomfortable sensation.
Loose or saggy skin: Reduced skin elasticity due to dryness.
Peeling, crusting, or flaking: Visible shedding of dry skin cells.
Raw or irritated skin: A sensitive, inflamed feeling.

These symptoms can be transient, appearing briefly and resolving on their own, or they can be persistent, flaring up frequently and lasting for extended periods.

Home Remedies and Medical Treatment Options for Dry Eyelids

The appropriate treatment for dry eyelids depends largely on the underlying cause of the symptoms. For example, conditions like psoriasis are often managed with topical steroid creams to reduce inflammation.

Medical treatments that your doctor might prescribe include oral medications, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy (a type of phototherapy using specific wavelengths of light), and wet wrap therapy. Wet wrap therapy, a newer approach for severe eczema, helps to intensely hydrate and maintain skin moisture.

It’s crucial to differentiate wet wrap therapy from hot compresses. Hot compresses can actually worsen eczema and exacerbate dry eyelids. Wet wrap therapy involves applying body-temperature compresses to the eyes for several hours, while hot compresses are applied for shorter durations (5-10 minutes) and are warmer than body temperature.

Consult with your primary care physician or eye doctor to determine the most effective treatment approach for your specific situation.

For milder cases of dry eyelids, several home remedies can provide significant relief. To minimize instances of dry skin around the eyes, consider these self-care measures:

Regularly use a fragrance-free moisturizer: Apply moisturizer frequently, especially after showering or bathing. Opt for moisturizers containing active ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, lactic acid, and urea, which are known to aid skin healing. Ensure the moisturizer is specifically formulated to be gentle enough for use around the delicate eye area.
Limit showers and baths: Take no more than one shower or bath daily, keep showers to under five minutes, and use lukewarm water instead of hot water, particularly when washing your face.
Pat skin dry: After washing, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel rather than rubbing vigorously. Pay special attention to drying areas where skin folds and touches skin, such as under the arms and between the legs.
Use mild, fragrance-free products: Choose mild, fragrance-free soaps and laundry detergents to minimize skin irritation.
Protect your eyes from sun and harsh weather: Shield your eyes from prolonged sun exposure and harsh weather conditions like extreme cold, dryness, or wind.
Use a humidifier: Increase the moisture level in your indoor air, especially during dry seasons or in dry climates, by using a humidifier.
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain overall hydration, which benefits skin health.

When trying to heal dry skin around the eyes, it’s equally important to know what to avoid. To support the healing process, you should avoid:

Irritating substances: Avoid using hot water, fragrant soaps, perfumes, and makeup that can worsen symptoms.
Touching, scratching, or rubbing: Refrain from touching, scratching, or rubbing your eyes, as this can further irritate the delicate skin.
Sun exposure and tanning beds: Limit time spent in direct sunlight and avoid tanning beds, which can dehydrate and damage the skin.
Excessive sweating: Try to keep your environment comfortably cool (not cold) and manage stress levels to minimize sweating, which can exacerbate dryness.
Harsh exfoliation: Avoid scrubbing or aggressively exfoliating the skin around your eyes.

SEE RELATED: Eyelid Wipes and Cleaning

Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies

While occasional facial dryness is a common experience, certain factors can increase your risk of developing persistent or severe dry eyelids. Risk factors include:

Age 40 or older: Natural oil production decreases with age, making older individuals more prone to dry skin.
Pre-existing skin conditions: Having conditions like psoriasis or eczema significantly increases the risk of dry eyelids.
Living in a harsh climate: Exposure to dry, cold, or windy climates can dehydrate the skin.
Family history of dry skin: A genetic predisposition to dry skin can increase your susceptibility.
Poor diet: A diet lacking in healthy fats can negatively impact skin hydration.
Underlying medical conditions: Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid or kidney disease, and vitamin A deficiency can contribute to dry skin.

While some risk factors, like age and genetics, are beyond your control, you can take proactive steps to lower your risk of developing dry patches on your eyelids. Incorporate these preventative practices into your daily routine:

Moisturize regularly: Make moisturizing a consistent part of your skincare routine, especially after cleansing.
Use warm water for bathing: Opt for warm, not hot, water when showering or bathing.
Choose soft washcloths: Avoid washing and drying your face with washcloths made from harsh or synthetic fabrics; instead, use soft, gentle materials.
Hydrate internally: Drink adequate water daily to support hydration from the inside out.
Use a humidifier in dry environments: Combat dry indoor air with a humidifier, particularly during winter or in dry climates.
Avoid triggers: If you have a pre-existing skin condition, identify and avoid known triggers such as stress, allergens, irritants, and fragrances.

When to Seek Professional Eye Care

If you are experiencing dry eyelids, consulting an eye doctor can help determine the underlying cause and ensure you receive appropriate medical treatment if needed.

It’s advisable to schedule an eye exam if your symptoms worsen, such as if the flaky patches start to blister or if you develop eyelid swelling.

An eye doctor can also provide valuable guidance if home remedies haven’t effectively relieved your symptoms. Furthermore, seek medical attention promptly if you notice any changes in your vision or if your eyes become directly affected. This might manifest as excessively watery eyes, blurred vision, or increased light sensitivity.

Maintaining eye health is integral to your overall well-being, so it’s always prudent to consult with an eye doctor if you experience any changes in your vision or the health of your eyes.

READ MORE about other causes of eyelid inflammation