How to Soothe Irritated Skin Around Eyes? 12 Effective Ways

If you have noticed that the skin around your eyes is becoming red and irritated, and you find yourself rubbing your eyes quite often, then don’t worry you are not alone. Irritated skin around the eyes is quite common.

The skin around our eyes is more delicate and sensitive as compared to the rest of the body. This is why sometimes even the smallest things like cold, dry air, or harsh cosmetics can leave them irritated.

So if you are wondering ‘how to soothe irritated skin around eyes’, then this blog will provide you with the 12 most effective ways to soothe the irritation. 

Other Symptoms Accompanying Irritated Skin Around Eyes

Skin irritation can be caused by a number of factors and the symptoms for each factor may vary. However, some of the most common symptoms that you may notice if you have irritated skin around eyes, are:

• Itchy skin
• Sensitive skin around the eyes
• Redness
• Skin rash
• Small bumps on the skin
• Swollen eyes
• Burning or stinging sensation on skin
• Dry skin
• Gritty feeling in the eyes

These symptoms may vary from person to person depending on their skin type and root cause. People who have lighter skin tones may notice the redness on skin as red or pink while people with darker skin tones may notice it in shades of brown or purple. 

What Causes Skin Irritation Around Eyes?

The list of factors that might cause irritated red skin around eyes is quite long. The skin around the eyes is very delicate and can be irritated by almost anything. However, some of the most common causes of irritation are:

Dry Skin

Dry skin is actually your skin lacking essential natural oils or moisture that keeps it hydrated. This can be caused by various factors from environmental triggers to not moisturizing the skin regularly. 

Dryness can lead to dry and itchy skin around eyes. This can be very frustrating as it can cause an intense urge to scratch, and scratching the skin will only make your condition worse. 

Aging

As we age we start losing the elasticity in the skin and its natural protective barrier becomes weak. This makes it difficult for the skin to retain moisture, keep hydrated, and to protect against outside irritants. 

As a result, you start experiencing dry red itchy skin around eyes quite often. 

Eczema

Eczema or atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition, which means it can flare up from time to time causing intense itching, irritation, redness, and rashes on the skin. Even though it usually affects the face, elbows, and knees, it can appear anywhere on the body. 

Eczema around the eyes is quite common. However, managing it is quite easy. All you have to do is keep your skin clean with the help of an eczema shampoo or cleanser once daily. And moisturize the skin at least twice daily with an eczema cream. 

Eyelid Dermatitis

Eyelid dermatitis is a condition caused when the skin around the eyes comes in contact with a certain allergen or irritant. It is a type of eczema and is commonly known as contact dermatitis. 

The most common factors that can trigger eyelid dermatitis are the fragrances, and harsh chemicals in skincare products or cosmetics. These chemicals can cause an allergic reaction on the skin and lead to skin rashes around eyes. 

Sun Exposure

Prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays can weaken or damage the skin’s natural barrier and lead to sunburns and red burning skin around eyes​. This is more likely to happen if your skin is directly exposed to the sun’s rays and you are not using any sunglasses or sunscreen to protect it. 

Skin Rubbing

We know how relaxing it may feel to rub your eyes, especially when you wake up. However, rubbing the sensitive skin can lead to irritation and skin rash around eyes. It can also damage the protective barrier and make skin prone to infections.

This is why you must never rub your skin instead use cool water to wash your eyes or place a cold compress on it to get relief. 

Allergies

Different types of allergies such as food allergies, seasonal allergies, and conjunctivitis can lead to irritated skin around the eyes. For this reaction, your immune system is to blame. 

When your skin or body comes in contact with a certain allergen such as poison ivy or peanuts your immune system considers it dangerous for your body and tries to protect you by releasing a cascade of molecules. As a result, you may experience a red rash around eyes. 

Skincare Mistakes

Making some skincare mistakes regularly can also irritate the skin and lead to sensitive skin around eyes. Some of the most common mistakes made by most people are:

• Using expired cosmetics.
• Using skincare products with harsh chemicals.
• Using too much product around your eyes
• Using electronic devices before going to sleep.
• Not getting enough sleep.
• Washing the face with hot water. 

These little mistakes can slowly damage the skin around the eyes, making it more sensitive and prone to redness and irritation. 

Other Skin Conditions

Apart from eczema, there are various other skin conditions that can also lead to red, irritated skin around the eyes, such as:

• Blepharitis
• Psoriasis
• Lupus
• Dermatomyositis
• Cellulitis
• Impetigo
• Milia 

If you are constantly having irritated red skin around your eyes, and irritation in your eyes then it is best to contact a dermatologist. They will be able to accurately diagnose your condition and provide you with a treatment plan according to it. 

How to Soothe Irritated Skin Around Eyes?

If you are also wondering ‘how to soothe red irritated skin around eyes’, then here is your answer. The first and most important thing that you must do is pinpoint the root cause of your condition. 

Once you have done that it will be easier for you to soothe the irritated skin around your eyes. If you are unsure about the root cause it is always a good idea to consult a doctor. However, a few common ways that might help you soothe your skin and prevent skin irritation in the future are:

1. Use a Warm Compress

Applying a warm compress to the affected area is the one go-to at-home remedy that you can try yourself. However, this will only provide temporary relief. You can use a soft cloth and dip it in warm water and then place it over your eyes.

This will help soothe the swelling and help improve blood circulation in the area. 

2. Use Antioxidants

The most common stressors that irritate the skin around your eyes are pollution and UV rays. These can cause oxidative stress and damage the skin around eyes. So you can use eye creams that contain antioxidants to protect your skin.

These creams help maintain the overall health of the skin. However, you should not skip the use of sunscreen if you are using one of these.

3. Cleansing the Skin

Keeping your skin clean is essential to prevent any dirt, bacteria, or oil buildup on the skin. This buildup can clog the skin pores and lead to complications like acne and further damage the skin.

This is why it is important that you cleanse your skin once daily with a mild daily cleanser. You can also use a face wash for sensitive skin to wash your face once in the morning and once before going to bed. 

However always make sure that the cleanser or face wash you are using is free from skin irritating chemicals such as fragrances, parabens, and sulfates. 

4. Moisturize the Skin

Moisturizing the skin is an important step in any skincare routine that all of us should follow. Whether you have dry skin or not it is always crucial to moisturize the skin. Moisturizing not only helps keep the skin soft but also protects it from outside irritants, and strengthens the protective barrier. 

Use a hypoallergenic moisturizing cream twice daily to keep the skin moisturized. If you suspect your skin is becoming dry more often especially if you have eczema then you can use it more than twice daily to soothe the skin. 

5. Using the Right Products

As we discussed before harsh chemicals in skincare products are the most common factors that trigger contact dermatitis and red, dry skin around eyes. But what chemicals are considered harsh for the skin?

• Fragrances
• Paraben
• Sulfate
• Phthalates
• Lanolin
• Dimethicone
• Formaldehyde
• Artificial dyes

These are some of the most widely used chemicals in skincare products that are actually harmful to your skin. 

So next time when you go shopping, closely examine the ingredients mentioned on the skincare products and look for the ones that contain skin-soothing natural ingredients like oatmeal extract, aloe vera extract, and apple fruit extract. 

6. Avoiding the Irirtants

When you are dealing with skin irritation around the eyes it is important to avoid potential irritants that can further worsen your condition. 

7. Sun Protection

Sun protection is essential to prevent your skin from becoming irritated. Use sunglasses to cover your eyes, and always apply sunscreen before going out. If you are spending more time in the outdoors then reapply the sunscreen after every two hours.

Use a sunscreen with more than 30 SPF and make sure that it is safe to be used on sensitive skin. 

8. Treating the Root Cause

If a skin condition is causing the itchy skin around the eyes, redness, and irritation then it is essential that you first treat the root cause. Treating the skin condition itself can help provide relief to your eyes. 

For eczema and contact dermatitis, you can soothe your skin by avoiding the triggers,  keeping it clean with an eczema cleanser followed by moisturizing it with a moisturizing cream for eczema. However, for psoriasis, impetigo, and lupus you will have to consult a doctor who may prescribe the use of certain prescription medications or OTC eye creams. 

9. Topical Medications

If the irritation is severe and is not getting better with a proper skincare routine then it is advised to consult a doctor. Sometimes you may require stronger oral medications to soothe the skin. Some of the common ones prescribed by doctors to soothe the irritated skin around the eyes are prescription topical non-steroids, topical prescription steroids, oral antibiotics, and Immunomodulatory drugs. 

These medications must only be taken when advised by the doctor as they can also lead to side effects in some people. 

10. Use a humidifier

If you notice that the skin around your eyes becomes more irritated during winter then you can use a humidifier in your room, house, or office to add moisture to the air. This can help prevent your skin from becoming dry more often.

A humidifier is often used by people who experience flare-ups due to cold, dry air. 

11. Stay Hydrated

Moisturizing the skin is essential to keep it hydrated, however hydrating the body on the inside is also equally important. A dehydrated body can often lead to dry skin and weakened skin barrier making your skin more prone to irritation. 

Drink around 8 glasses of water every day to keep your body hydrated. During summers you can increase the intake of water as more water is lost from the body through sweating. 

12. Dont Rub the Skin

It can be tempting to rub your skin, but as we discussed before it can damage your skin and lead to various complications. This is why it’s important that you don’t rub or scratch your skin vigorously. 

Make sure not to rub your skin even when applying any kind of skincare product. Gently use your fingertips to apply the product in a back-and-forth motion on your skin. 

Conclusion

The skin around our eyes is very sensitive and can be easily irritated by anything. Various factors can trigger itchy, red, irritated skin around the eyes from skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and eyelid dermatitis to common culprits like aging, dry skin, excessive rubbing, and sun exposure. 

However, the first thing that you might think about after getting the irritation is how to soothe irritated skin around eyes. If the irritation is caused by a certain condition then treating the condition itself is essential to get relief. 

Some other ways in which you can soothe irritated skin and prevent it in the future are by protecting it from the sun, keeping it clean and moisturized, avoiding potential irritants, staying hydrated, and using the right products. 

If you have sensitive, eczema-prone skin around your eyes that easily gets irritated then you can try using Happy Cappy’s Eczema Skincare Routine. These products are free from skin-irritating chemicals and contain skin-soothing natural ingredients like licorice root extract and apple fruit extract. 

FAQs