What do you do when you come down with swollen eyelids?
Swollen itchy eyelid is a very common occurrence. Besides the discomfort associated with it, there is the fear of losing visual acuity and other complications arising from it. A swollen eyelid is a condition of the inflammation of the connective tissues surrounding the eye. This article has been put together to address the causes, treatment and home remedies for red swollen itchy eyelids.
Different people will react slightly differently depending on their immune system. The symptoms include
- Inflammation of the eyelid
- Dry eye or scaly skin on the affected eyelids.
- Loss of eyelashes.
- Dry, irritated, itchy eyelids.
- Rash on the eyelids and around the eyes.
- Dark circles around the eyelids as part of the Itchy eyelids symptoms.
- Some patients may experience blurry vision.
Causes
Red swollen itchy eyelids has a plethora of causes, a few of these have been carefully examined here:
Blepharitis: this is an inflammation of the eyelids causing it to become red, irritated and itchy, with dandruff-like scales formed on the eyelashes. It is a disorder which could be caused by bacteria or skin condition such as dandruff of the scalp or acne rosacea. It either occurs outside the front edge of the eyelid where you have the eyelashes or on the inner edge of the eyelid that touches the eyeball.
The symptoms may include burning sensation in the eye, excessive tearing, itchy, red and swollen eyelids, dry eye, etc. However, there could be other severe symptoms such as blurring of vision, misdirected eyelashes, loss of eyelashes and inflammation of the eye tissue
Allergy: eye allergy also known as allergic conjunctivitis is often associated with other allergic conditions like hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and atopic eczema. Just like other allergic reactions, eye allergies are caused by the overreaction of the body’s immune system to some foreign substances known as allergens.
Eye allergies occur when the eye releases chemical mediators such as histamine, to protect the eye from allergens to which the eye is sensitive. This results in the inflammation of the blood vessels. The causes of these allergies could be common sources like pollens from grass or weed, which are the causes of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Dust and other indoor sources of allergens, cause allergies all year round hence allergies from these sources are called chronic allergies.
Fungal Infection: One of the most common ways to come down with a fungal eye infection is through injury to the eyes, especially injury from plants materials such as a stick or thorn. This is because some fungi that cause eye infections such as Fusarium are common in the environment. It becomes easy to get into wounds on the skins as these fungi are usually associated with plants. Some fungi however are introduced into the eye through contaminated medical products like contact lenses.
Pregnancy Related: during pregnancy, a lot of hormonal changes happen in the body. Some of these result in swollen eyes, itch and heavy eyes. Some could be as a result of sleep deprivation but in most cases, they are as a result of allergic reactions and in some other cases, the swelling and painful discomfort appear all of a sudden and you might need to see a doctor.
Eye Fatigue: Staring at the computer or smart phones for a prolonged period can lead to stress of the eye. This could be referred to as digital eye strain. This is a growing trend today as more and more people continue to have access to smart phones and other hand held devices. Irritated eyes, dry eye, blurred vision are some of the symptoms of eye fatigue.
Cosmetics and Makeup: cosmetics and makeup are applied to enhance facial beauty. However, sometimes they can become the source of pain and discomfort when you start having rash, red and itchy skin as a result of using make up. Although the presenting symptoms might be similar to those of eye infections and allergies, often times people do not look in the direction of the real culprit; some ingredients in your make up are known to cause eye inflammation and irritation to sensitive skins especially skins with history of eczema, rosacea or dermatitis. These ingredients include bismuth oxychloride and mica. Other ingredients to watch out for in your cosmetics are:
Nickel found in some cosmetics which is a pigment contaminant.
Lanolin and propylene which are emollient used as ingredients in cosmetics are known to have side effects like rash, itching and swelling.
Allergic reactions have been reported as a result of use of colophony as ingredient in cosmetics.
It is also established that some antioxidants like butylated hydroxytoluene, a lipophilic organic compound used in the production of cosmetics also cause serious irritation.
Styes: medically known as hordeolum, stye is a bacterial infection that causes the inflammation of the Meibomian gland. It causes these oil producing glands to be blocked thereby inflaming the eyelid in the process. Often, a stye goes away within few days or weeks without any particular treatment. However, complications can occur in rare cases, where a stye progresses into Chalazion which causes cosmetic deformity and cornea irritation. The symptoms of styes include redness, tenderness, blurred vision, mucous discharge from the eye.
Eczema: also referred to as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a form of inflammation that causes itchy, red, swollen and painful skin. Eczema can be caused by several conditions such as irritants like wool, dry skin, low humidity, heat and allergens like dust mites, pollens, etc. Eczema usually makes the skin to be waxy, itchy with scaly rash. This condition gets worse during cold weather being one of the causes of severe itchy eyelid in winter.
Treatment
The treatment available for red swollen itchy eyelids depends on the root cause. Your optometrist may prescribe over-the-counter medication to fix the problem.
There are basically two types of over-the-counter eye drops available to you; the antihistamine eye drops which have allergy fighting properties in them or the lubricating eye drops which helps to produce artificial tears to flush the eye of any external bodies. Whichever you get to use will depend on the actual cause of the problem.
Antibiotics: the use of antibiotics is effective in the treatment of bacterial infections. This can help shorten the course of infection from a week to a few days. However, viral infections will run their full course as antibiotics will not be effective.
Resting your eye can also be an effective treatment. Recognizing the source of stress to the eye which causes eye fatigue and taking a rest from such sources can be very helpful.
Blepharoplasty: in some extreme cases where the eye becomes disfigured, wrinkled or with eye bags, eyelid surgery may be an option. This is suited for correcting deformities and disfigurations of the eyelids. It could also be adopted to restore the correct functioning of the affected eyelids. The target is usually the upper and lower eyelids and the surrounding tissues of the brow.
Home Remedies
Several home remedies are available for soothing red swollen itchy eyelids. The good news also is the fact that a lot of these home remedies are very common and effective. Some of them are presented below.
Cold compress
Cold compresses around the affected eye area are great ways to get instant relief. Soak a piece of cloth in ice cold water or simply put ice cubes in cotton clothes and place it over your eyes. Repeat this three to four times a day for fifteen minutes each. This helps to constrict the blood bearing vessels to the eye and reduce the swelling.
Black Tea Bags
Tea bags contain bioflavonoids that help to combat viral and bacterial infections. Tannin which is also found in the tea bags is proven to help reduce swelling and itch. Tea bags are useful for fixing conjunctivitis, styes and cold sore. Just by putting a moist teabag in the affected area for 3-5 minutes can help a great deal to soothe the pain and relieve the swelling. Using Chamomile tea bags as cold compresses can work more excellently because it has better anti-inflammatory properties.
Cucumber
Cucumber helps to instantly hydrate the dry eyes and reduce the inflammation. Cucumber is a rich source of nutrients that help to nourish the skin and help to remove the dark circles under the eyes. Cut a cucumber into slices and place them in the refrigerator to make them cool. Place a slice on each eye and leave for about fifteen minutes. The cooling effect of the cucumber helps to narrow the blood vessels around the affected eyes thereby reducing the inflammation. The vitamin c in cucumber helps to reduce skin irritation as well.
Aloe Vera:
Aloe Vera with its famed healing properties is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. It also has soothing and moisturizing properties. Applying Aloe Vera helps to relieve your red inflamed and hurting eyelids.
Extract a teaspoon of aloe Vera in a clean container. Mix it with a teaspoon of castor oil to form a paste. Wash the eyelids and face clean with warm clean water. Apply the paste gently on the affected areas with a cotton bud. Leave for 20 – 30 minutes. Wash off with clean water and dry your face.
Salt Wash
Salt has been used by different cultures over the ages as natural anti-bacteria. Applying salt wash will help take care of the bacterial infections on the eye. Salt also has an amazing anti-inflammatory property that helps to reduce the swelling.
A warm salt water solution is an effective home remedy. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of clean water. Put it over heat sources until it becomes warm. Wash your face with the solution to wash or rinse. Repeat this until condition improves.
Vaseline
Vaseline is an effective solution for the scaly and dry skin on the eyelids. It helps to keep the affected area moisturized on sunny days. Typically, Vaseline is a generally adopted as a moisturizing brand that can be safely applied on the eyelid after cleaning or taking a shower. Simply take a bath and wash the affected area, then gently apply Vaseline after drying with towel.
Conclusion
Swollen itchy eyelids can be nasty to handle sometimes but on some other occasions, they are quite easy to manage. Getting the right diagnosis and commencing treatment early enough can go a long way in helping to get a positive result. Following the tips we have listed in this post can provide you the help that you need. However, if your signs and symptoms do not go away in a few days, then you need to see the doctor.