I swear, the more this affliction called eczema progresses, the stranger and yuckier the symptoms become. Every new symptom or new flare prompts new concern: “What the heck is causing this?” Then, just when you think there might be a successful treatment because it calms down a bit, symptoms start again.

Maybe you’ve just discovered new dry skin flakes forming around your eyes and eyelids, and now you're dealing with the dryness, cracking, swelling, and itching. Don’t scratch! It will thicken your tender eyelids! I press a hot or cold washcloth over my eyelids and follow up with moisturizer.

Then you might notice green, stringy, crusty pus also forming in your eyes. Down South, we call these eye boogers. Infection is a constant danger for anyone who must scratch itches in discreet places and then accidentally touches their eyes. This can become problematic, so talk with your doctor at the first sign of your eyes being attacked. Be sure to ask about macular degeneration, and don’t wait for it to go away on its own because it won’t.

For the infection in my eyes, my doctor prescribed nonsteroid antibiotic eye drops that are clearing things up just fine. I was worried that I might have had an infestation of blepharitis mites in my eyelids from all the dead skin flakes. The best way to get rid of those is to apply a warm compress to your eyelids at least twice a day, and I was already doing that.

Macular degeneration may have some of the same symptoms as eczema, so if you haven’t been to an eye doctor in a while, make an appointment. Macular degeneration is terrible but can be stopped and sometimes even reversed if you catch it early.

Eczema sufferers must keep general maintenance and checkups up to date because this hideous affliction makes us more susceptible to small events becoming major problems. People who suffer from other chronic conditions, like diabetes, have to pay special attention to circulatory and eye health as well as everything else that comes along with their condition. It seems autoimmune diseases can be debilitating too. And if having a particular condition means you could wind up losing your sight or your toes or your heart, you might want to expand your educational sources of information: “Knowing is half the battle.” (Thanks, GI Joe!)

We didn’t always have a wide-open and professional clearinghouse for health info like MyEczemaTeam, and it was not fun! What’s almost fun is learning something — anything — that helps me deal with a disease that’s increasingly difficult to deal with. For example, after reading a MyEczemaTeam article on the debate about using Neosporin with eczema, I decided against applying that product around my eyes. So far, the best research I’ve done has been in the company of my fellow afflicted, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

On MyEczemaTeam, members discuss eczema from a specific point of view. Would you like to share your personal story to help others living with eczema? You can learn more about this paid writing opportunity from MyEczemaTeam here.

Members’ articles don’t reflect the opinions of MyEczemaTeam staff, medical experts, partners, advertisers, or sponsors. Content on MyEczemaTeam isn’t intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.