Why are my eyelids red?

Symptoms:

The edges of your eyelids are red and sore, your eyes feel dry and gritty, especially when you wake up in the morning and you’re losing your eyelashes.

Your eyelids are red and itchy, the skin is flaking and your eyes are burning, you recently started to use a new mascara.

The edges of your eyelids are red, crusty and flaky, and you’ve noticed the same thing in your eyebrows, your hairline and around your nose.

It could be:

Blepharitis, an inflammation, and sometimes infection, of the edges of your eyelids, often due to loss of the grease glands that keep your eyelids and the surface of your eye moisturised.

Contact dermatitis

due to the mascara but it can also be caused by sunscreen, eye drops, make-up, bathing and showering products.

Seborrhoeic

dermatitis, a form of dermatitis related to eczema but confined to the skin where there are lots of grease glands.

Stop it:

Use artificial tears morning and night, and drops for blepharitis which you can get from the chemist. Keeping your eyes warm will help grease the glands to work efficiently.

Don’t put anything on your face, stop using all make-up and get some 1% hydrocortisone cream from the chemist. If it doesn’t clear up in 3-4 days, see your doctor

Wash carefully and gently with an antiseptic soap around the areas affected. See your doctor for a steroid cream to reduce the inflammation and soothe the eczema. Don’t use any form of harsh cleanser.