Do you have eczema around your eyes? If so, you’ve probably wondered, “Is there a cure for eyelid eczema?” While there’s no cure for eczema around the eyes, an emollient or cream can be an essential part of treatment. But what makes a good emollient for eczema around the eyes?

Eczema symptoms around the eyes can vary from person to person, with atopic dermatitis as the most common type. As a member of MyEczemaTeam said, “The inflammation inside of my left lower eyelid is so heavy that it hangs very slightly away from my eye.” Another member shared, “I’ve noticed some red, dry, patchy spots on my eyebrows and the corner of my eyes.”

The right treatment for eczema around your eyes will depend on your specific symptoms and their severity. Eyelid eczema may be particularly difficult to treat because the skin around the eyes is thinner and more sensitive than the skin in other parts of the body.

Here’s what you need to know to find the best eye cream for eczema on your eyelids.

Ingredients To Look for in an Eye Cream for Eczema

There’s no single best eye cream for eczema on eyelids or eyelid dermatitis. You may want to start by looking for an eye cream for sensitive skin. Search for one with ingredients that are known to be safe for skin with eczema. You can also ask your health care provider or dermatologist for recommendations. They can advise you on what might work best for your specific skin type.

1. Ceramides

When you have eczema, your skin has difficulty creating an effective skin barrier: your skin barrier has trouble holding onto moisture, and it may also allow irritants and other chemicals inside the body, where they don’t belong.

Ceramides help support that skin barrier so that it works more effectively. Choose an eye cream with hydrating ceramides to help the skin around your eyelids hold moisture better.

2. Hyaluronic Acid

Have you heard of this ingredient and wondered, “Is hyaluronic acid good for eyelid eczema?” Hyaluronic acid is another chemical that helps your skin hold onto moisture. If the skin around your eyes is particularly dry, look for this ingredient in eye creams.

3. Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is derived from oats — the same oatmeal that you eat. However, it’s been shown to improve the symptoms of eczema and other skin conditions. Colloidal oatmeal can help protect your skin barrier, reduce inflammation and itchiness, and soothe and moisturize your skin. An eczema cream for your eyes with colloidal oatmeal should help your eyelids stay moisturized and avoid dryness if you’re dealing with eyelid eczema.

4. Glycerin

Glycerin is a natural moisturizer, so it will help prevent dry skin around your eyes. It also helps repair the skin barrier so it can function properly. Glycerin also works by drawing water to the outer layers of your skin, so your eyelids are less likely to get irritated and flaky. If glycerin works for you, it could help you care for eyelids with eczema no matter how bad your flares get.

5. Petrolatum

This is the active ingredient in petroleum jelly. It can help your skin hold on to moisture. Some people may apply petroleum jelly directly to their eyelids, while others might want to see if they can find a different eye cream that has petrolatum as one of its ingredients. Either way, it might help your eyelid eczema feel better.

6. Natural Moisturizers

Some people find that natural moisturizers, like coconut oil or sunflower seed oil, help their eczema. It may be harder to find these in eye creams than in other skin care products, but it’s worth a try if you know they work well for you.

Ingredients To Avoid for Eczema on the Eyelids

In addition to looking for ingredients you want in an eye cream for eczema, there are also ingredients you want to avoid. Dermatologists generally recommend avoiding the following ingredients when it comes to skin care for eczema:

• Essential oils — These can irritate your eyes and may also cause allergic reactions.
• Lanolin — This product is made from sheep’s wool and can cause allergies or eczema flares in some people. While it works well as an emollient, it’s also been shown to worsen some people’s eczema.
• Fragrances — Choose fragrance-free as these can be allergens or cause other reactions, especially on sensitive skin.
• Propylene glycol — This keeps ingredients from separating but can cause allergies and flares in people sensitive to it. It’s a common ingredient in creams and moisturizers.
• Retinoids/Retinol — These products can work well for skin conditions like acne in some people, but can bring on eczema flares in others.
• Urea — Unless the product is specially formulated for people with eczema, this ingredient may cause more damage to the skin barrier in eczema-prone people.
• Ethanol — This form of alcohol is an ingredient in some hair gels. It can dry out your skin and cause stinging and burning.
• Cocamidopropyl betaine — This ingredient is common in tear-free products like shampoos, but it can cause irritation in people with eczema.

If you’re unsure or have questions about certain ingredients, talk to your dermatologist before you buy any new products. They will tell you exactly what to look for on the label and what to avoid to prevent eczema flares.

How To Use Eye Cream if You Have Eczema on the Eyelids

While managing eczema on your eyelids can be difficult, there are ways you can apply eye cream safely. Your health care provider may also recommend you use other topical products, like hydrocortisone (a steroid), around your eyes.

One MyEczemaTeam member who successfully used products around their eyes said, “I've used both Aveeno baby balm and Aquaphor on my eyelids and all around my eyes. Both are soothing and so far neither has caused any irritation.”

Start With a Patch Test

Start by testing any new product on a small patch of skin before applying it to a larger area. You may want to patch test the same area twice a day for seven to 10 days before deciding if a product is safe for you.

Follow the Product’s or Your Health Care Provider’s Instructions

After your bath, be sure to apply prescription treatments for your eyelids first, before you apply any nonprescription eye creams. Then, try to apply your moisturizing eye cream within three minutes of your shower. This helps keep moisture in your skin. Use something clean to remove the product from the jar, and leave any excess on your skin to get absorbed over time.

Apply Products Gently

When you apply a skin care product to your eye area, do so gently. Don’t try to rub it in or do a lot of up-and-down or round stroke motions. All of this could irritate your skin even more. Instead, put it on with as little touching as possible, then let it sit until it’s all absorbed. This helps the skin around your eyes get all the moisture they need.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyEczemaTeam is the social network for people with eczema and their loved ones. On MyEczemaTeam, more than 53,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with eczema.

Do you have an eye cream that helps with eczema on your eyelids? What have you found helps your eye eczema? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.