Eyelid Dermatitis: Inflammation of the Eyelid Skin and What You Need to Know

Eyelid dermatitis develops when the delicate folds of skin above and below your eyes come into contact with an allergen or an irritating substance. It is a form of contact dermatitis. The symptoms can be very uncomfortable, but they usually should not interfere significantly with your daily life.

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What Is Eyelid Dermatitis?

Eyelid dermatitis (also known as eyelid eczema, periorbital dermatitis, or periorbital eczema/dermatitis) is a type of contact dermatitis. As the name suggests, it is a skin condition triggered when your eyelids come into contact with something — a substance or physical trigger — that your skin is allergic to or irritated by. In response, your eyelids may become red and scaly, and they may swell and thicken. Stinging, burning, and itching are common symptoms of eyelid contact dermatitis.

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What Are the Types of Eyelid Dermatitis?

Eyelid dermatitis is generally divided into two types: irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. These terms refer to what is causing the swelling, flaking, and itching — either an allergic reaction or exposure to an irritating substance. Irritant contact dermatitis accounts for about 80% of all contact dermatitis cases.

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How Long Does Eyelid Dermatitis Last?

With appropriate treatment, symptoms of irritant contact dermatitis may start to improve within one to two days. If you have allergic contact dermatitis, it may take about two to three days of treatment before you notice clear improvement.

How Common Is Eyelid Dermatitis?

Contact dermatitis is a very common skin condition. Around 15% to 20% of people will experience it at some point in their lives. However, it is not entirely clear what percentage of these cases specifically involve the eyelids.

How Does Eyelid Dermatitis Start?

Eyelid dermatitis may develop gradually or appear quite suddenly. It usually begins with red, itchy skin on the eyelids. Anyone can develop eyelid dermatitis, but your risk is higher if you have any of the following:

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Physical Triggers That Can Cause Eyelid Dermatitis

The main triggers include:

Allergic contact dermatitis is your immune system’s reaction to an allergen. You might use a cosmetic product for a long time without any issues, then suddenly develop eyelid dermatitis, typically a day or two after applying the product. Cosmetics are a very common cause of allergic contact dermatitis on the eyelids, but other substances can also trigger it, including:

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What Are the Symptoms of Eyelid Dermatitis?

Whether your eyelid dermatitis is caused by an irritant or an allergen, the symptoms on your eyelids are essentially the same. They may include:

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Whatever the underlying corneal problem may be, this delicate structure of the eye requires careful evaluation and timely, appropriate treatment by a skilled ophthalmologist using effective medical tools to achieve the best possible outcome. Whatever eye condition you are dealing with, you can book an appointment at Batal Specialized Medical Complex for a thorough eye examination and to begin addressing your eye problems, whatever they may be.

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