What Causes Dry Skin Around Eyes And How To Treat It?

The skin around your eyes is delicate and very sensitive when compared to the skin on other body parts. The skin around the eyes gets easily irritated and loses its ability to retain moisture that makes it dry over time. The dry skin around eyes and eyelids can be very uncomfortable as the skin becomes flaky, itchy with cracks and redness. Read more to know exactly what causes dry skin around eyes, and how to hydrate skin home remedies.

Causes Of Dry Skin Around Eyes

Some common causes of dry skin around your eyes, especially on the eyelids and the area under the eyes are;

1. Climatic Conditions

Extremely hot or cold weather can affect the skin all over the body, including the skin around your eyes.

2. Aging

As you get older, your skin loses its ability to retain moisture, making it dry. Aging also causes loss of fat below the skin around your eyes. The area becomes more fragile and makes it vulnerable to flake and be irritated.

3. Improper Makeup Practices

Can trigger dry skin around the eyes or make it worse.

4. Harsh Skincare Products

Harsh skincare ingredients cause the skin around your eyes to dry out. They include products containing alcohol, dyes, sulfates, parabens, harsh cleansers, and scrubs.

5. Harsh rubbing

Rubbing the area around your eyes while cleansing or scrubbing can cause dryness as the skin under your eyes is very delicate.

6. Use Of Hot Water

Using hot water can deprive your skin of natural oils.

7. Exposure to Irritants

Eye exposure to irritants such as tobacco smoke can cause dry skin around your eyes.

8. Crying

After crying, your eyes may feel dry.

Other Underlying Skin Conditions that can cause dry skin around eyes;

Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis refers to a skin condition that occurs when your skin comes in contact with an irritant. The condition causes dry, red, and flaky skin.

Examples

skincare or hair products, face washes, moisturizers, soap and detergent, sunscreen, dust, and eye makeup.

Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis also known as eczema, affects the skin and causes scaling, redness, and itchy dry skin around the eyes. This condition mostly occurs in children and is found to be a chronic condition.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis refers to inflammation of eyelids. This condition occurs when the tiny oil glands at the base of the eyelashes become clogged. This causes irritation, redness, crustiness, and dryness. Blepharitis is linked to infections, dry eyes, and allergies.

Home Remedies For Dry Skin Around The Eyes

A few home remedies for dry skin around the eyes;

1. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera helps to hydrate and moisturize the skin and is highly beneficial for treating dry skin around eyes. By promoting collagen production, aloe vera stimulates fibroblasts, preventing the formation of wrinkles.

How To Use

• Take 1 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel and massage around your eyes, especially on the dry parts.
• Leave it around your eyes overnight.
• Wash it off the next morning.

2. Almond Oil

Almond oil is excellent for healing dry skin around the eyes.

How To Use

• Take a few drops of almond oil and massage gently on the skin around your eyes.
• You can leave it overnight and wash it off the next morning.

3. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant excellent in boosting collagen production. It has anti-aging effects, reduces dark circles, and helps the skin around your eyes to remain healthy and youthful.

How To Use

• Burst 2 vitamin E capsules and extract the oil.
• Massage the oil on the skin around your eyes and leave it overnight.

4. Glycerin

Glycerin helps to keep your skin hydrated, preventing dryness. Studies show that glycerin-containing creams are effective in the treatment of atopic dry skin.

How To Use

• Dab a few drops of glycerin on 2 cotton pads.
• Place the pads on your eyes and leave them for 5 minutes.
• Remove the pads and leave the glycerin on your skin overnight.
• Wash it off the eyes the next morning.

5. Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly helps in preventing the loss of moisture from your skin and keeps it hydrated.

How To Use

• Take 1/2 teaspoon of any petroleum jelly or Vaseline on your fingertips.
• Gently massage the dry skin around your eyes and leave it overnight.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water the next morning

6. Green Tea Bags

Green tea bags help to rejuvenate drying skin cells. Applying green tea bags on the skin helps prevent puffiness and dryness in the area around the eyes.

How To Use

• Heat a little water and pour into a cup.
• Steep two green tea bags in hot water for a few minutes.
• Remove the tea bags from the cup and let them cool down.
• Place the cool tea bags over your eyelids and leave them for 15-20 minutes (or longer).
• Remove the tea bags and splash cool water on your eyes.

7. Avocado

Avocado oil is very effective in nourishing dry and damaged skin. Animal studies have shown avocado to increase collagen synthesis and promote faster wound healing.

[Also Read: Tips to use avocado seed]

How To Use

Avocado oil

• Apply avocado oil and gently massage the skin around your eyes
• Leave it on the skin overnight and wash it off the next morning.

Avocado pulp (mashed)

• Take 1 tablespoon of mashed avocado pulp
• Apply the pulp around the eyes and leave it for 15-20 minutes.
• Using wet tissue, remove the pulp gently.
• Wash it off with lukewarm water.

8. Honey

Honey is known for its healing properties and treatment of skin conditions. Honey contains excellent hydrating properties, hence is an effective moisturizer. By preventing water loss, honey keeps your skin healthy.

How To Use

• Take 1 teaspoon of organic honey and apply it as a very thin layer on the skin around your eyes; leave it for 15-20 minutes.
• Wash it off the eyes with lukewarm water and then use a hydrating eye cream.

9. Cucumber

Cucumber has amazing cooling and soothing effects on the skin. When applied to the area around the eyes, cucumber helps hydrate the skin, reduces dark circles, and decreases inflammation.

How To Use

• Take 4-5 tablespoons of cucumber juice (grate a cucumber and extract the juice) and refrigerate for half an hour.
• Soak 2 cotton pads in the juice.
• Place the cotton pads on your eyes and leave them for 15-20 minutes.
• Remove the cotton pads and rinse the juice off the eyes with cold water.

10. Milk

Milk has a cooling effect and helps your skin by keeping it hydrated and nourished. The lactic acid present in milk improves skin texture and makes it smooth.

How To Use

• Take 2 cotton pads and dip them in raw milk.
• Place these cotton pads on your eyes and leave them for 20 minutes.
• Remove the cotton pads and wash your eyes using cold water.
• Repeat this remedy once every day.

11. Shea Butter

Shea butter has hydrating, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is commonly used in several moisturizers and skincare products. Hence, shea butter can help in healing the skin around your eyes.

How To Use

• Mix 1 teaspoon raw shea butter with Vitamin E oil (obtained by squeezing and extracting the oil from a vitamin E capsule)
• Rub a little mixture between your fingers.
• Apply and massage gently on the skin around your eyes and leave overnight.
• Wash it off the next morning.

12. Olive Oil

Olive oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce oxidative damage and heals the skin. Olive oil is also known to promote dermal reconstruction.

How To Use

• Take a few drops of cold-pressed olive oil, apply on the skin around your eyes, and gently massage
• Leave it on the skin overnight
• Wash it off with cold water the next morning

13. Yogurt

Yogurt has moisturizing benefits and brightens your skin. It is commonly used in facial masks or applied directly.

How To Use

• Take 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt or curd and apply it around your eyes.
• Leave it on the skin for 10-15 minutes.
• Wash it off the eyes with cool water.

14. Milk Cream

Milk cream is an effective home remedy that is used to moisturize the skin. It also helps keep the skin soft and smooth.

How To Use

• Take 1 teaspoon milk cream, apply, and gently massage it into the skin around your eyes and leave it for 15-20 minutes.
• Wipe the cream off your eyes using a soft tissue.

15. Rose Water

Rosewater has rejuvenating properties on your skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce inflammation, redness, puffiness on the skin. It does not prevent dryness but helps to keep the skin rejuvenated and calm.

Rosewater can be prepared at home and is found to be more beneficial than commercial ones.

How To Use

• Take 2 cotton pads and soak them in 2 tablespoons of rose water
• Place the cotton pads on your eyes; leave them for 15-20 minutes and relax.
• Remove the pads

All the above home remedies must be repeated every day at night.

When To See A Doctor?

Dry skin can be a chronic condition that can last for many months or years. This can make your skin lose its elasticity and causes sagging. The cracks that occur in the skin around your eyes can also cause skin infections.

You must See a doctor if you experience;

• Dry skin around your eyes that is getting worse
• You have eyelid dryness for a long period
• You have other symptoms accompanied by dryness around your eyes

Dry skin around the eyes can be very uncomfortable, but the simple home remedies hydrate and nourish the skin, and help you deal with the condition.