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General health

my eyes are so sore and I am so fed up.

27 replies

steppemum · 23/01/2013 21:19

In november I started to get red itchy skin around my eyes. Pretty sure it is exzema. I don't get exzema now but did as a child, so recognise it.

My eyes get itchy, red inflamed and puffy. Then the irritation dies down and the skin is sore, cracked and painful. it is the skin round the eyes, inside the eyes are fine.

I cannot put anything on them. All moisturizers sting and make it worse. The only thing that helps is vaseline, which I am putting on 5, 6, 7 times a day because they are so dry and sore.

I went to the gp and she said exzema is just dry skin Hmm and so I should moisturize them thoroughly for 2-3 months and the skin will regenerate and then it will be fine.
I nearly cried, it was probably the most useless gp consultation I have ever had. I am quite assertive and asked her about hydrocortisone creams and how no moisturizers worked and how exzema is not just dry skin, it is really itchy etc. She was adamant. She prescribed double base cream to be applied several times a day. She said th estinging was just because the skin was sore and ai should continue to apply so the skin can repair.
I forked out £7 for the prescription and used it and it stung like hell. I decided to do as she said (just in case I was wrong) so I applied it 4 times that day. By bedtime my eyes had puffed up and in the morning I couldn't open them.

So it is back to vaseline. I have an appointment with the gp at the practice who is a dermatologist, but not til 6th Feb.

They are so sore. Every time I look in th emirror I want to cry I look hideous, raw red patches right round my eyes up to eyebrows and in a big circle underneath. They have been like this for 2 months and are getting worse. The cold air outside makes them water. The tears sting the sore skin, and then I get chapped corners to add to the misery.

I haven't changed anything, same shampoo, soap, washing powder etc etc. No idea why it suddenly started, just want to get rid of it.

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steppemum · 23/01/2013 21:20

and I know exzema is spelt wrong

and I am sorry it is so long

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steppemum · 23/01/2013 22:34

bump, can anyone help?

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lucidlady · 23/01/2013 22:49

Poor you. Have you thought about speaking to an optician or other eye specialist? They may have a better idea of what it is.

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MonaLotte · 23/01/2013 22:54

I don't know if it would help but I have rosacea in my eyelids and was advised to use a warm compress on my eyes to open the pores and release the natural oils onto my skin. It's really helped. Worth a try maybe? I just run a flannel under the hot tap, wring it out then place over my eyes. Hope you get it sorted.

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steppemum · 23/01/2013 22:55

I do have an appointment with opthalmologist over another issue (not related) so gp said I can ask him/her.
I had a very thorough eye test in october, but that was just before this started

But it really is the skin. My eyes are fine.

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MonaLotte · 23/01/2013 22:55

I would also as for a referral to the eye clinic if you have one at your hospital?

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steppemum · 23/01/2013 22:56

thanks mona, will try the warm compress

What is rosacea? I have heard the name but don't know anything about it

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MonaLotte · 23/01/2013 22:56

Maybe dermatologist then if it's on the actual skin?

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MonaLotte · 23/01/2013 22:57

It's a type of acne (lovely I know lol!) x

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steppemum · 23/01/2013 22:58

thanks

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steppemum · 25/01/2013 20:56

was wondering if anyone else has experience of this?

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nomadwantshome · 25/01/2013 21:40

Yep very recently. Sore, red, itchy and dry in varying degrees. Stopped using usual mascara and daily moisturiser and tried differnt creams (all made it sting) used different oils (no stinging but still dry). Tried emu oil (researched on Internet) if you're any way iccie about where it's come from, fair enough, but it's sorted problem out a treat.

I tried my normal moisturiser again last week, itchy eyes during the day and then morning after, really sore, red eyes again. I am going to try my normal mascara again in a week or so to see if I react.

That's my experience but you may benefit from something else??

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nomadwantshome · 25/01/2013 21:46

Oh and btw no change in normal routine, can't see why I've reacted, never suffered from excema, but I obviously have - might be the menopause , but I'm a bit early', 43 - deep depression lol.

Good luck

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steppemum · 25/01/2013 21:47

thanks noma
I have tried almond oil, which makes them red as well, but less than other things

I have now abandoned the vaseline as well, and the last 2 days have had nothing at all. They are very dry now but not as red.

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nomadwantshome · 25/01/2013 21:54

You could try olive oil or jojoba or any gentle oil. I would keep trying if I were you. I don't know anything about nut oil other than they can be an allergen. It's really crap, isn't it? I looked like shite and it was so sore. I went make up and moisturiser free over the Xmas period but HAD to buy some new mascara for the new year and going to work. I went for a hypoallergenic one but it's pretty shite in that it crumbles away over the day.

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Nobhead · 25/01/2013 22:05

I get the same thing on my eyelids, below my lower lip and on the sides of my cheeks next to my ears. It drives me mad and gets really sore sometimes and it gets worse depending on what moisturiser I use (E45 is appalling). I use hydrocortisone cream when it flares up which helps but I don't like using it all the time. Always worse in winter too- tends to get better in summer.
I would see a different GP if you can, the one you saw doesn't sound very helpful.

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toucancancan · 25/01/2013 22:13

I've had problems with sore eyes, I think, due to mould that was growing on the back of a wooden blind in my bedroom. Could anything like that be a factor?

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steppemum · 25/01/2013 22:16

bit worried about you suggestion of menopause. I am 45. Would menopause cause this do you think?

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IndigoBarbie · 25/01/2013 22:24

Hi I feel like asking if you would mash up an avocado flesh and rub some of that onto your eyelids? There are a great many fatty acids in here, which would help to soothe your skin. You'd probably have to lightly pat it on, lightly rub on and then warm flannel it off. Also, it's natural enough to not dry out your skin any more than it already is. Jojoba oil is balancing for oily skin, and can sometimes make it drier.
Is it worse on one eyelid? Are your eyelids fluttering-sensation because of this?

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steppemum · 25/01/2013 22:25

toucan, we have been in this house for 1.5 years, and there was a lot of mould when we arrived but we have cleared it (fitted extractor fans etc) and It is now mould free and clean, and was before this started. So I don't think so.

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steppemum · 25/01/2013 23:15

indigo, I will have a go with the avocado. get one next time I am out.

Both eyes are the same, I am not getting fluttering, but because the lids are puffy the are not closing as well as they should, so i am getting dry eyes, which then makes them watery, which then stings the skin too.

They are better today (slightly) I have been doing Monas warm compress and haven't put anythign on at all for 2 days, not even the vaseline. I thought I would give them a break and see what happened. They are less itchy too today. Will see if it lasts.

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aleene · 25/01/2013 23:35

I have had problems like this on and off for a while. I'm sure it is an allergy to something I eat but not entirely sure what. I stopped taking a vit C and zinc supplement and that helped (could be coincidence) I think oranges, dark chocolate and certain ingredients in some wines Shock could be triggers. A flare up can take ages to die down. Hope you get to the bottom of it.

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CointreauVersial · 25/01/2013 23:42

I get this every now and then, and I think it's down to using old/contaminated makeup.

Last time it happened I had recently unearthed an old Touche Eclat from the back of my makeup drawer, and my eyes started itching almost immediately.

If you have mascara or eyeshadow that you use daily it eventually becomes contaminated by bacteria and can cause skin flare-ups. Each time I got excema I had a good clearout of my make up drawer and the problem quickly cleared up.

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steppemum · 25/01/2013 23:57

I rarely wear make-up, and never eyeshadow. I have a relativley new mascara, but I stopped using it as soon as they went itchy and haven't used any make-up since.

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ClareMarriott · 26/01/2013 13:36

Have you thought you might be allergic to something like peanuts ? Alternatively, have you tried bathing your eyes with milk . Use cotton wool dipped in milk that has just come out of the fridge, useful if you have conjunctivitis

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