4 Causes For Flaky Eyelids

Do you have dry and flaky eyelids? This condition is not only unattractive, but can also make it difficult to apply makeup. And very often, simply moisturizing the area is not enough to fix the problem. To do that, we need to understand what causes flakiness, and it’s not always dryness. So, what are the most common causes of flaky eyelids?

1. Dryness

You probably think that dryness is the main cause of flaky eyelids. After all, dry skin = flaky skin, right? Well, not necessarily, when it comes to eyelids. If the skin of your lids is simply dry, then it will probably flake. Luckily, this can be easily fixed by applying a moisturizer suitable for this delicate area. But don’t be too surprised if your moisturizer doesn’t seem to help. Just like flakiness, dryness is often a symptom that something is wrong, and to solve the problem, you need to find the real cause.

2. Allergies and irritations

If your lids are dry and flaky, chances are you are experiencing a negative reaction to a cosmetic product you’re using. The skin around your eyes is very delicate and ingredients such as fragrance, preservatives and fish scales (they are used to give a sparkling, shimmering finish to eyeshadows), which are safe for use on the rest of your body, can easily irritate it. Eyeshadow curlers made with nickel should also be avoided if you have very sensitive skin.

Another often unsuspected culprit is nail polish. Yes, I know you don’t apply that on your lids (at least, I hope you don’t), but if you touch your eyes after you’ve just applied nail polish on your fingertips, the chemicals in it will get in contact with the eye area, causing an irritation. The same is true for food. If you’ve been cooking or eating and rub your eyes without washing your hands first, an irritation or allergic reaction can occur. When this happens, you should try to figure out which substance you’re reaction to (patch tests can be really helpful for this) and stop using it.

3. Infections

In more serious cases, flakiness can also be a symptom of an eye infection. One of the most common is called blepharitis and causes itchiness, redness, swelling, discharge and, especially in the morning, stickiness and crusting. In this case, you should see a doctor immediately for a precise diagnosis and treatments. Eye infections need to be taken very seriously because, if not treated in time, they could damage the eyes and even cause blindness. In addition, avoid sharing your cosmetics with someone else unless you know how to sanitize them properly, and don’t use expired products. These habits may seem harmless but they are two very common causes of eye infections. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

4. Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Yep, your eyelashes can get dandruff too. And guess what the cure is? An anti-dandruff shampoo, of course! No, I’m not kidding. Just apply a tiny amount of anti-dandruff shampoo for about 3 minutes every day on your lids and then rinse off. It goes without saying that you should keep your eyelids closed tightly during the treatment because if the shampoo gets into your eyes, it will sting like hell.

When All Else Fails

If these simple treatments didn’t work for you and your lids are still dry and flaky, then you may have an underlying condition that requires a different treatment. Make sure you visit your doctor for a proper diagnosis and cure.

Have you ever experienced dry and flaky eyelids?

You may also like -

QOTW: What Beauty Products Should Men Use More Often?Does Everyone Need To Use A Moisturizer?Dandruff vs Dry Scalp: What's The Difference?How to care for combination skin

Tagged as: blepharitis, dry eyelids, eye allergy, eye irritation, flaky eyelids, seborrhoeic dermatitis