Heal Dry Skin Around Eyes
The skin around your eyes is very sensitive and delicate, and as a result it is more prone to becoming dried out and flaky. Healing dry skin around your eyes can seem like a challenging task, but with the right steps and information you can be well on your way to better-looking healthier skin!
Contents
Steps
Being Aware of General Skin Maintenance Techniques
- Learn healthy face-washing techniques that are effective yet gentle for your skin. Choose a mild unscented cleaning agent with a label that says "hypoallergenic." Wash for 30 to 60 seconds very gently, being careful not to stress or strain the skin around your eyes. Wash twice a day - once in the morning, and once before bed - and add an additional wash at the time you remove your make-up.
- Wash with warm water rather than hot water, as this is less irritating and stressful on the skin around your eyes.
- Dab your skin dry very gently with a towel when you are done washing. This is very important as drying too vigorously will trigger the skin around your eyes, potentially causing even more dryness. A gentle and sensitive approach is key.
- Be aware of variables in your environment. When avoided, this could diminish the dryness around your eyes. These include:
- Exposure to harsh chemicals, such as found in face cleaning products (particularly heavily-scented ones, which are often more irritating to the skin), make-up remover, or make-up itself.
- Harsh weather such as wind, as well as humid or hot weather.
- Stresses to the skin around the eyes, such as excessive rubbing.
- Exposure to chlorine from swimming pools.
- Prolonged bathing which dries out the skin in general and is not helpful when you are trying to increase the overall moisture and hydration of your skin.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water helps to optimize the natural moisture in your skin, thereby decreasing dryness around your eyes.
- It is recommended to drink at least 8 cups of water a day, and more with exercise or hot weather.
- Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day to make it as easy as possible to stay well-hydrated at all times.
- Avoid smoking and minimize alcohol consumption. Smoking and excessive drinking have been linked to greater skin irritation, correlating to a higher incidence of dry skin.
- Know what medications you are on. It is important to consider any possible correlations between starting a new medication and developing drier skin. Sometimes it can be a side effect of medication; for instance, many women find their skin problems are exacerbated when taking the birth control pill (it can help to clear up acne, but may also contribute to drier skin).
- Also be sure to consult your physician if you have any other medical conditions which may be playing a role in dry skin - things such as sunburns, "blepharitis" (a condition of the eyelids), "perioral dermatitis" (a type of skin rash that can arise from poor skin hygiene), or eczema.
- If your dry skin does not resolve after a trial of "home remedies," it is best to consult your physician to ensure that nothing more complicated is going on.
Choosing Cosmetics and Moisturizing Creams
- Choose the best cosmetics for dry and sensitive skin. When choosing foundation/concealer, look for one that says "hypoallergenic" on the label as this will minimize irritation and dryness to your skin. Also, when applying it to your skin, put as little as possible around your eyes, or avoid the eye area altogether if you do not need to use it everywhere.
- When selecting eyeshadow, the powder form is better than the cream form. This is because it is easier to remove, and overall less irritating to the skin around your eyes. (And remember, irritation to the skin around the eyes is a leading cause in dryness.)
- Minimize your use of eye make-up (particularly around your eyes). Also, wash it off as soon as you are done with gentle cleansers that do not exacerbate dry skin. Mascara and eye-liner can cause undue stress (pulling and stretching) of the skin around the eyes, making them more prone to dryness and irritation.
- Use moisturizing creams around your eyes. Choose creams that are specifically designed for sensitive and dry skin. One simple option is Vaseline jelly, as this is a non-irritating and very effective remedy that can be applied gently beneath your eyes before bed each night. That way, you can wash it off in the morning without anyone having to see it during the day.
- Another option is Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, which has been reported to have very effective results in people seeking to heal dry skin around their eyes.
- Overall, any moisturizing cream that is hypoallergenic and that seems to work for you (by process of trial and error, as you will be able to tell quite quickly whether it is worsening or improving the dryness around your eyes) should do the trick. The important thing is to be proactive and to use a moisturizing cream of some sort.
Changing Your Diet
- Take probiotics, or increase your consumption of fermented foods (such as sauerkraut of kimchi). Both of these serve to increase the healthy bacteria in your gut, which in turn improves the overall health and natural moisture of your skin.
- Add the following "super foods" to your diet. These have been shown to help with a variety of health conditions including dry skin:
- yogurt
- kiwi
- nuts
- quinoa
- eggs
- fish
- turmeric
- Increase your consumption of anti-oxidants. Foods that are rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, contribute to the repair process of your skin cells. This in turn increases the health of the skin around your eyes and decreases dryness.
- Use supplements to improve the health of your skin. In particular, you can try fish oil, omega 3 fatty acids, and Vitamin E, all of which can make a noticeable difference in reducing dryness around your eyes.
- Finished.
