Itchy red rash on face, swollen eyelids and under eyes on and off for month

Dr. Phil, II · Newbie Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I too am suffering from eyelid issues. Swollen, sometimes red, sometimes itchy, sometimes inflamed, sometimes crusty, my eyelids have become a constant problem.

I have had blepharitis, a crustiness around the eyelashes, but it went away with dietary changes.

My world-renowned dermatologist immediately identified a redness to my inner, lower eyelids as an allergy. Perhaps the result of moving to an area with more pollen. Perhaps the result of an occupation that now has me more exposed to people's pets (I spend a lot of time in people's homes).

I find it interesting that Traditional Chinese Medicine and the art of face-reading relates the health of the eyelids to the kidneys and adrenal glands, suggesting that what we drink and what we secrete might be factors. Perhaps drinking more water might not be such a bad idea after all.

There is no question that our eyelids are sensitive tissues, perhaps the most sensitive skin on our bodies...well, maybe second most sensitive. But I would suggest that we take more care to manage what our eyelids are exposed to, both environmentally and from within.

Strangely, on a recent vacation to Club Med in the Dominican Republic where both my environment and diet were altered dramatically, I had no problems whatsoever. Maybe we should all just move to Club Med?

Either way, best of luck, and remain diligent. A healthy life is a longer life, and maybe our eyelids are telling us that we are a little off course.

Dr. Phil, II · Newbie Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

I too am suffering from eyelid issues. Swollen, sometimes red, sometimes itchy, sometimes inflamed, sometimes crusty, my eyelids have become a constant problem.

I have had blepharitis, a crustiness around the eyelashes, but it went away with dietary changes.

My world-renowned dermatologist immediately identified a redness to my inner, lower eyelids as an allergy. Perhaps the result of moving to an area with more pollen. Perhaps the result of an occupation that now has me more exposed to people's pets (I spend a lot of time in people's homes).

I find it interesting that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the art of face-reading relates the health of the eyelids to the kidneys and adrenal glands, suggesting that what we drink and what we secrete might be factors. Perhaps drinking more water might not be such a bad idea after all.

Here is an interesting quote from a TCM website: “If you’ve been overworking, worrying, not sleeping, drinking too much coffee and trying to juggle too many commitments, look at your kidney/liver area which is the half moon-shaped area under the eye. If the area is puffy and blue, you are working too hard, depleting your adrenals, eating too much rich food and causing an imbalance in the fluid balance of the body.” (dhyansanjivani.org/chin_face_read.asp)

There is no question that our eyelids are sensitive tissues, perhaps the most sensitive skin on our bodies...well, maybe second most sensitive. But I would suggest that we take more care to manage what our eyelids are exposed to, both environmentally and from within.

Strangely, on a recent vacation to Club Med in the Dominican Republic where both my environment and diet were altered dramatically, I had no problems whatsoever. Maybe we should all just move to Club Med?

Either way, best of luck, and remain diligent. A healthy life is a longer life, and maybe our eyelids are telling us that we are a little off course.

Guest · Guest

I am having the almost same symthoms as all these post.Red swollen itchy eyelids,rash on my arms and back of hands,by my ears and forehead,on my legs,around my waist and on my gents.Today was the worst it ever been.I think what may have caused it was exposure to polyurthane product clear coat or paint thinner and epoxy paints.The first time I was spray painting on a offshore drillship.Few years later it happen again I working on another ship in the paint locker.This time I was cleaning with thinner and using some clear coat.The physician put me on oral steroids for a week.So hope it helps.Think it is an alergetic reaction to those paints,thinners,solvents merchant seaman are always exposed to.
I had thought it may been laundry detergent with only itchy rash on my legs and waist but think I found the real reason now.Hope this helps someone.I'll have to limit my exposure to those chemicals.

Guest · Guest

I HAVE FOUND A CURE ! Maybe it will help you too,
I have had it all. The red puffy face, swollen eyes and lips, sore red
skin behind the ears, peeling sore facial skin etc.
I looked like a monster.
After 18 months of visiting a homeopathic practitioner, dermatologist,
doctor etc, nobody could tell me what was causing the awful sore face
that was ruining my life.
I threw out my carpets, matress, pillows and everything else that
could be causing the problem, but nothing worked.
I have finally solved my case, and really hope that it will help
others.
I was eating a lot of crisps (potato chips if you are American) and
have discovered that I am severely allergic to the SUNFLOWER OIL that
they are now cooked in. Since I stopped eating the crisps, my skin is
normal again, and I have got my life back. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP
OTHERS TOO, as I can't be the only person affected. Good luck to you
all.
Janet.

kk123 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

It helps so much to know that there are other people dealing with these symptoms. Nobody truly understands how it feels or what affect it has on our lives, not even my doctor I believe.

A year ago I was dealing with scaly, puffy, red, burning eyes/eyelids. The doctor I saw said that it was blepharitis and prescribed me eye drops and cortisone creme (too high of a % might I add) I've had mild cases of Exzema on my hands before so I've dealt with cortizone creme and I'm very reluctant to apply it to my face as it thins out your skin! Non of it seemed to help and my skin was sooo dry but face lotions only burned my skin, even non perfume base lotions. Make up was a no no which at my age was devastating and caused stress stress and more stress. It finally cleared up but because of what actions I have no idea.

Now a year later I've been dealing with a worse case of skin irritation. for 3 weeks I've had the red scaly patches below my eyebrows, the exzema looking dryness on my eyelids and below my eyes, and NOW a new symptom.. bumpy rash feeling skin on my forhead and mainly my chin and above my lip. My lips also look as though there is exzema on them and it is all SOOOOO very ITCHY!!! I've switched all my cleansing and lotion products and I've tried everything from lotioning to not lotioning the areas and applying and not appling cortizone creme. The kicker of it all is that different things work for different areas. The cortizone creme and moisturizers work for the area around my eyes but they aggravate the bumpy rash like areas. So i'm almost wondering if I am dealing with two different skin conditions.

The only thing that I HAVE figured out is that when my body over heats or I sweat alot,from working out or being in the hot weather, my skin gets worse and very itchy. So tempurature is definatly a factor.
But I also believe sun exposure has helped me. I spent a long weekend at the lake and my skin cleared up. As soon as i returned to work the symptoms returned.

I have no answers but am going to see my doctor next week. I have little faith that she will have any answers for me, but I will request to see a dermatologist again. I would suggest to any of you that when you go see a doctor make sure you stress how much this is affecting you because until people have this themselves they just do not understand what a toll it really takes!

Here's hoping someone finds something helpful!!

Mama Mia I am looking forward to hearing about your visit to the new dermatologist!

Guest · Guest

I had an awful rash on and off for years...letter i determined it was a reaction to mango. I would have a piece every now and then but never drew a connection as the rash developed the next day. It could be environmental exposure or food allergies. I would do a three day apple fast. apple pectin helps rid the body of toxins. Do a search on it. See if your symptoms don't improve. check out a website www.knowthecause.com might offer some helpful tips. I'd also suggest a suppliment beta glucan http://www.nsc24.com/reports.htm

best of luck!

BamaEskie · Newbie Joined: 29 May 2008 Posts: 4

Hello! Me again!!! Okay, I'm still taking my Singulair and Pepcid AC daily; however, for the last few days, that allergic reaction has been coming back. My face has been itching, and I can tell my eyes are starting to swell just a tad. I can see the extra wrinkles around my eyes because of this. I also noticed that my forehead sure was breaking out with acne.

With my forehead breaking out so badly, I immediately wondered about the hairspray I use. I've been using this brand for years! However, since I'm a teacher, I haven't been using any hairspray for weeks since I've been out of school and hanging around the house. I did use this hairspray a few days ago though.

I looked at the hairspray ingredient list tonight. Do you know that the third ingredient listed was acetone!?!!?!! ACETONE!!! I reached under my cabinet and grabbed my emergency bottle of this brand of hairspray. It was an older bottle and acetone was not on this bottle's ingredient list at all.

I'm really thinking this could be the problem. I mean, acetone is used to take off fingernail polish!!! That can't be good for spraying around your face. Check your hair products and see if acetone is on the list. I'll keep you posted what I find out.

Guest · Guest

Hi

I've been reading these posts for about a month. My girlfriend had all the same symptoms you did and we did not know why. After a month of searching we found that it was an ointment she had made which is fairly common. Vitamin E and Vasiline.

It turns out Vitamin E is a very toxic substance if used too much.
See if you have any vitamin E that could be causing the problem
Anyways good luck in your fight Smile

mrsmissyv · Newbie Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 1

hi WoW !!! You would think that if there are as many of us on here, with all the same symptoms, something should really be done about this.
After reading all msg's, I noticed one thing was not mentioned.
Has anyone been using steroid creams? Could any of you be suffering from steroid induced roeacea? Has anyone tried using tacrolimus? I also have done a lot of research and found that any sterioid use, causes adrenal problems, ie. the msg about the adrenal treatment.
If you are using and steroid or cortizone as a topical, you need to stop now! It only makes the symptoms worse. Stopping treatment will cause you to flare up for a couple months, but with tacrolimus and tetricycline, you should start to clear up after 7-10 days. After which, all this should go away " For-ever " as long as you dont go back to steroids.
Look up " steroid induced rosacea " on the web
Good Luck to us all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guest · Guest

hi! i developed this same eye condition when i was extremely upset and stressed. it happened in the end of march, so i thought it was just allergies and that it would go away. 4 months, many doc visits and antihistimines later i have come to the conclusion that it has more to do with my LIVER (i am not a drinker, but our livers must process everything) than anything. i was diagnosed with a gallbladder polyp and have concluded that it has to do with my eyes. i believe my gallbladder is making my liver sluggish and therefore my liver is unable to handle it's usual load and it is identifying things as allergens that it never has in the past. i also think that all of the drugs i have taken to relieve this condition have only contributed to the problem. Additionally i too believe there is a CANDIDA and CAFFINE overload connection and i have just cut out caffine, cigarettes, sugar, yeast and also dairy, soy, wheat, corn. I have also just started an herbal cleanse which will lead up to a liver/gallbladder flush in a few more weeks.
my guess is that the only real relief will come through lifestyle and diet changes and that the meds will only cover up the symptoms, but it will never go away.
i will let you know what type of results i get. after 12 days mys still itch like hell, but for the first time in four months they are the same color as the rest of my skin (!)

Itchy red rash on face, swollen eyelids and under eyes on and off for month

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