Rash around eye of human can develop at any age , Get more insights on the rash around the eyes of children, babies, adults and the causes, treatment as well as home remedies for the problem.
Many a times a dry red and itchy rash develops around the eyes and thus causes a lot of pain as well as discomfort around the affected area. It’s very important for dermatologists to closely examine how the rash looks like including the color and frequency of occurrence of the rash.
Rash around Eyes in Children and Babies Meaning
Children are most likely to develop the rash around eyes if the parent had ever had it as it is hereditary or any other disease like the hay fever and the likelihood of the disease is higher if both parents had the problem, although environmental factors can also lead to symptoms of the atopic dermatitis especially to the affected individuals.
Children with weak immune system are also most likely to be affected with the disease as the system cannot be able to fight any bacteria and virus that invade the body.
Emotional disorder is not a major reason why atopic dermatitis that produces rash around eyes affect the children.
In some children, the rash disappears for a long time only to come back when the child has reached puberty stage as it is the period when hormones causes the disease to flare.
Although a number of people that may have developed this disease as children also experience the same symptoms as adults, it is also true that the disease will show up at first in adulthood. But the pattern experienced by adults is very similar to that of adults, the disease may be widespread or even just affect small parts of the body. For example only the hands, feet or eyes may be affected and become itchy, red and inflamed.
Sleep patterns and the working pattern may also be severely affected and complicated. It is more likely to affect adults who are in occupation that mainly involves much of chemical handling and hand washing. Some people can though develop several rashes around the nipples.
Children may develop cataracts that a doctor may recommend regular eye examination to find out the exact cause of rash around eyes.
Rash around Eyes in Adults causes
There are very many reasons for the rash to appear around the eyes that may include the following;
- Atopic dermatitis– this is a common type of eczema, its chronic and irritates the skin with a lot of breaking, peeling, bleeding and hardening of the skin. It also frequently affects the skin of the feet, scalp, chest, hands and neck. It majorly coats the area around the eyes and eyelids. However, it should be noted that it is not contagious but it has a recurring characteristics making it very hard to ignore.
The cause of this type of rash around the eyes is unknown but researchers allude to poor immune system of an individual, a person coming in contact with allergens, exposure to very cold climate and low humidity, the rate of perspiration that is mostly caused by exposure to high temperatures and also skin irritants exposure like certain types of soap.
There’s very little evidence to suggest that this type of rash causes is genetic. But it worsens with emotional disturbances that includes stress and frustration.
- Allergic reaction- there are several causes of allergic reaction that forms around the eyes that includes foods, skin contact with pollen of plants and insect bites. Symptoms that accompany this type of cause of rash around eyes include having watery eyes, redness of the area around the eyes, a person may at times feel itchy and presence of hives.
It should be understood that the skin needs enough moisture treatment for a developing allergy rash. The inflammation and distension of the allergy is treated with cool and heal remedies using a baby shampoo because it is a bit mild.
- Contact dermatitis- this is usually exposure of the skin to the allergy causing and skin irritants. It can either be allergic or irritant in nature during the affecting time, any contacting with irritants could trigger the skin causing inflammation and redness of the skin.
This is also one of the most common causes of persons having rashes around the eyes and the risk increases to people who had previously atopic dermatitis. The condition is also not transferable but has the tendency of causing strong and sharp pain as well as discomfort.
- Lyme disease- people who act to host tick manifestation are mostly affected by this, this is due to the fact that ticks harbor the bacterium that is transmitted to the skin when a person is bitten by the insect. Rash around eyes that is borne by the tick is highly felt and present in the northern hemisphere.
The symptoms that is manifested by the affected by the person includes headaches, itchy rash, fatigue, fever and impairment of the nervous system.
- Other causes- hay fever is one of the most possible causes for people experiencing rashes around the eyes. This fever is due to airborne allergies and shows the signs of a person having watery eyes, patches of red and itchy rashes. The only cure that is proved to work against hay fever is by the use of histamines. Sometimes the rubber of swimming goggles may be the reason for the problem because a person wears the rubber a bit tight causing the reaction around the area.
- Beauty products- the continuous use of beauty products around the eyes can lead to allergic reactions on the skin around the eyes, they include eye makeup, exfoliating scrubs, mascara, moisturizing cream, facial wash and sunscreen lotion and other cosmetic products. Also avoid chemicals used in the hair scalp of the head if possible if you have to as they may cause allergic reactions around the eyes.
Irritant contact dermatitis is much less common at periocular sites than on the hands where various (especially occupational) irritant exposures are possible. Dust, fumes, and mechanical factors can have an irritating effect on facial skin and should be considered as potential triggers in patients with periocular dermatitis.
A history of exposures and avoidance of allergens as well as the exclusion of allergic and atopic co-factors can aid diagnosis.
Reasons for a Red Rash around Eyes
Red rash around the eyes can be due to atopic dermatitis which is a chronic and very long lasting disease that affects the skin. This disease refers to the tendency of inheritance to develop something like allergic reactions such as hay fever.
This disease makes the skin become very itchy. However, there are periods when the disease becomes worse that is usually followed by the period when the skin clears up.
Children that are affected by this disease should not get worried as their skin clears up faster as they grow older although their skin at times will be easily irritated. To some others, this problem come in adulthood and become very significant.
The signs and symptoms usually vary from one person. The most common ones however are, the dryness and itchy skin and rashes that appear on the face and behind the knees. Scratching is discouraged as it irritates the skin thus increasing inflammation and actually increasing itchiness but itching can sometimes happen during sleep when the conscious mind that controls scratching is lost.
The appearance of the red skin around the eyes to people that are affected by the atopic dermatitis depends on the amount that a person has scratched. The skin can also become leathery with raised bumps and leaking fluid and thus infected.
The rashes can also appear around the eyelids and eyebrows. Scratching the area causes the area that is affected to become red and swell some people develop an extra skin fold under the eyes and may also experience patchy loss of eyelashes due to scratching and rubbing
The skin of a person with atopic dermatitis usually lose moisture from its epidermal layer and therefore reducing its protective capabilities that when the abnormal immune system is combined with it, the person’s ability to be infected by either bacteria or virus increases.
The symptoms dermatitis vary with different combination of symptoms that also vary in severity. The doctor bases the diagnosis of symptoms of the patient and the patient may be required to visit the doctor severally for accurate diagnosis and the doctor may be able to rule out that may cause skin irritation around the eye.
The doctor may refer a patient to a dermatologist or an allergists for specialized treatment for further evaluation of why rash around eyes.
The doctor may use a family history to better understand the nature of a patients symptoms including their possible causes, the doctor can inquire about the family’s history with regard to allergic diseases and whether the patient as a history of having been with asthma or hay fever
Currently there is no single test that been able to be used in diagnosis of the rash, although there are other tests that be done by the doctor to show an indication of allergic reaction to various allergens.
The doctor may prick the skin using a needle to a small amount of the body the is suspected to contain the allergen to help identify the factors that usually trigger rash around eyes. Negative results on the skin will help in ruling out the possibility of certain substances that cause skin irritation.
Can you get Rash under Eyes?
Rash can develop around eyes or even under the eyes
Risk factors for periorbital dermatitis include female sex, age ≥ 40 years, and atopic skin diathesis. The most common cause is allergic contact dermatitis. Other common causes and differentials are periocularatopic dermatitis, periocular airborne contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, and periocular rosacea.
Rare triggers of rash under eyes include seborrheic dermatitis, secondarily eczematous conjunctivitis allergica, and periorbital psoriasis vulgaris. Diagnosis of allergic periocular dermatitis should be done with patch tests using commercial test series as well the patient’s own personal care products –more than 10 % of cases of allergic contact dermatitis involving the periorbital region can only be diagnosed by patch testing of patients’ own products, not by commercial series.
How to Treat Rash around Eyes
Treatment of the rash around eyes calls for a partnership of the doctor, the patient and the family members. The doctor may need to treat based on the age of the patient, symptoms and the health of the patient.
Most of the patients who follow the doctors instructions notice improvement after a short period of time, the aim of treating this disease is healing the skin and prevent any flares.
The patient and family members should note any changes in the condition of the skin and if there is a response to medications if any and to use the medications that seem to work.
Certain antihistamines that cause a person to be drowsy can reduce the night time scratching and allow restful sleep at bed time. The effect is good for the patients who are worse affected at night when the scratching increases
Barrier repair moisturizers can easily help to reduce the moisture that is lost and help to rebuild the skin and reduce rash around eyes.
Using phototherapy which is a combination of the ultraviolet A and B light waves that can be used alone or combined can be the most effective form of treatment for both the mild and severe dermatitis. If the doctor is satisfied that the use of phototherapy will be helpful to treat the symptoms that are associated with dermatitis then he will use it at the minimum exposure and monitor the skin carefully.
Antibiotics are recommended in the cases of bacterial infection of the rash around the eyes. The most recommended ones are the broad spectrum antibiotics where the patient is advised to take the antibiotic for the entire duration of the time recommended to avoid making the bacteria develop resistance
Where there is severe cases of infection like the Lyme disease then intravenous antibiotics are recommended as the course of treatment but this varies from one patient to another. Insect repellants is also recommended as a perfect prevention for Lyme disease.
Oral antihistamines are the best remedy recommended for severe itchiness of the body
Topical creams that contains active ingredients that can sooth the skin such as calamine are recommended to reduce the inflammation of the skin. They are effective especially when you want to reduce the intensity of the itchiness, on application the patient is strictly advised to refrain from scratching the skin so that the cream can have the desired effect.
Use of emollient cream that moisturizes the skin to promote a faster healing process will keep the skin hydrated properly to prevent it from drying up
You are advised to avoid the allergen that has caused the rash around eyes as identified by the doctor including discarding the expired make up then wash the area with clean water. Avoid botanical gardens if they are the environment that is causing the allergen.
If a contact allergy has been established as the cause, treatment of choice is to avoid the allergen. The patient should be given concise information on the relevant contact allergens and should be given a formal documentation
Home Remedies
- Cool compresses can be applied to help in reduction of the inflammation of the skin that is irritated and keeping the skin hydrated at all times thus preventing it from drying excessively. A cool compress can also help in reducing the burning sensation.
- Applications of cucumber slices around the eyes have in the past indicated to reduce the rash that forms around the eyes, the burning sensation that is accompanied with the rash around eyes subsides on application of this slices around the eyes.
- Chamomile is very useful in treatment of all types of inflammation, a concoction of one teaspoon of the dried chamomile flowers in boiled water, let the flowers steep into the liquid and the solution to cool down then use the solution for eyewash or compress
- Witch hazel is an old American Indian remedy that has long been used in history to reduce inflammation with its astringent properties that help greatly to reduce the swelling on a body and thus reduce rash around eyes.