Dry and painful eyelids

A few months ago, on my left eyelid along the brow bone but under the eyebrow, a dry skin patch started to appear. I didn't think anything of it at the time so I ignored it. But after a few more weeks, it gradually took over my whole eye. It got swollen at times and itchy as well. Eventually it moved over to my right eye as well, and ever since it will come and go. It has never gone away completely and only once was it nearly gone before it returned again. My eyelids get very red and extremely itchy, and if they aren't itchy they are sore. They are most of the time always flaky (which I find really gross!) My eyelids are wrinkled now because of the swelling. It is extremely frustrating and painful at times, and has taken over my entire eyelid up to my eyebrows and has started under my eyes and sometimes along the sides of my temples. This started after I began using a new face wash. I got Clean and Clear and it seemed to be working great for the first few weeks, and then this started. I stopped months ago, but the problem still remains. I have always had sensitive skin, and it gets dry very easily. I now know that I probably shouldn't use face washes with benzoyl peroxide in them, but I haven't used face wash with that ingredient in it since I stopped with Clean and Clear. I thought this might be allergies at first, but I really haven't changed anything in my diet or lifestyle since this began. I then looked up online and found a few things that sounded similar to what I am experiencing. I thought it might be Blepharitis or even an excess amount of yeast in my system. I have tried lotions and washes to nothing at all and I have not found a solution to this problem, but I feel it is running my life and I haven't been happy in weeks because of it. I am just tired of it, and I really want to find a solution to this. I have an appointment set up with a dermatologist finally, but I won't be able to see them for a few months, and I just feel like I'm wearing thin on waiting for this to go away. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Infected periorbital seborrheic dermatitis

This looks like an infected periorbital seborrheic dermatitis. The other possibility is an allergic dermatitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a condition where the skin flakes and causes a dandruff so sufferers usually have this problem as well. The skin can be itchy and red. As a result it can sometimes become infected. The condition tends to occur in greasy areas such as the face and scalp. No one knows the cause for sure, but it has been linked with a fungus called Malassezia. Treatment in the eye area has to be done with caution, but may include topical steroids and antifungal creams.

Allergic dermatitis should be treated with topical steroids and also antihistamines. You could try over the counter antihistamine tablets such as Cetirizine or Chlorpheniramine.

If this is infected and looking at the picture I would say it is then you will need antibiotics for this so I would get your primary physician to see you if it is still as bad as the picture depicts.


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