How to Treat and Prevent Dry Skin Around the Eyes

Written by Dr. Bilal Ahmed Khan

Last Updated on February 13, 2025

Image: Medical News Today

Do you feel irritation, itchiness, or uncomfortable pain around your eyes? If yes, it’s a clear sign that the skin around the eyes has dried out.But why do your eyes suddenly dry out? Well, it can happen due to multiple reasons which you’ll get to know in this guide. The most common reason is that the skin around the eyes is sensitive compared to other body parts such as the soles of your feet. Actually, the skin of your eyes is 5 times thinner than other parts so dryness can happen more frequently. But, there is nothing to worry about as dryness around the eyes is common, especially during winter months. This also does not mean that you should completely ignore it. Let’s get into the causes, symptoms, and solution for this dryness.

Articles Contains

How to Know That Your Eyes Have Dried Out.
How to Know That Your Eyes Have Dried Out?
How to Treat Dryness Around the Eyes?
Final Thoughts
Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
References

How to Know That Your Eyes Have Dried Out?

Dryness is not something you cannot experience. In fact, its symptoms can appear quickly, leaving you with a feeling of itchiness, and burning. (1) Although dryness can occur in any body part, you can notice it far more quickly when it appears on the sensitive area around the eyes. Enlisted below are some of the prominent symptoms that the skin around your eyes has dried out:

You’ll feel itchiness or a scratchy feeling around the eyes
Your eyes will be watery or teary
Light sensitivity
Blurred vision
Redness or burning sensation
Difficulty wearing contact lenses

Besides these visible signs, you’ll also feel a more thickened skin around the eyes. There might be a strong possibility that wrinkles and fine lines will start to appear even if you’re not aged.

Image: Dr Sabrina

How to Know That Your Eyes Have Dried Out?

Now, you have a list of symptoms and want to find out the exact factors that caused dryness. Unfortunately, there is no one-line answer for this. Pinpointing the exact cause of dryness around the eyes can be a bit complicated as it includes multiple factors. (3) Let’s have a look at some of the causes in detail below:

1. Aging

(9) As you age, your skin, especially around the eyes, starts losing its elasticity. Its ability to produce natural oils decline, which ultimately leads to dryness. In fact, research has shown that people over 40 or 45 have more chances of dry skin compared to those in their young period of life.

So, what to do if dryness around the eyes is caused by aging? Well, the most effective solution is to use a hydrating gel that contains antioxidants. Or, you can try ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin C for quick results.

Image: Medical News Today

2. Weather Conditions

Another prominent cause of dryness around the eyes is weather. Severe weather conditions like low humidity or intense wind can affect the production of natural oils around the skin. This can ultimately lead to dryness or flakiness around the eyes.

For dryness caused by harsh weather conditions, you can try a barrier eye cream. Another simple trick is to avoid rubbing too much as it can also lead to irritation or puffiness around the eyes.

Image: Dr.Shehla Ebrahim

3. Skin Infections

Aging and weather conditions are just some of the reasons, the most common ones are skin infections. This ranges from the simple allergies to chronic conditions such as eczema and atopic dermatitis. Let’s discuss some of the common skin infections in detail below:

● Eczema

Eczema is one of the most common and leading skin conditions that cause dryness and itching around the eyes. Although it’s more common in children, it can occur at any age. In most of the cases, the skin around the eyes becomes scaly, thickened or red. So, you have to carefully control it with a proper skin care routine.

Image: Healthline

● Blepharitis

(7) Blepharitis is another common skin condition that causes inflammation of the eyelids. It usually affects eye glands present near the base of your eyelashes and can affect the functioning of your eyes. The most common cause is the accumulation of bacteria along your eyelids which can lead to severe infection if not managed at early stages.

Image: Golden Vision

● Conjunctivitis

Also known as pink eye, Conjunctivitis can cause infection in Conjunctiva, the membrane that covers your eyes. Over time, it can lead to swelling, inflammation, and dryness around the eyes. The best solution is to avoid rubbing your eyes or stop using harsh skin care products.

Image: Cleveland Clinic

4. General Causes

(6) Besides these chronic skin conditions, there are some general causes that can lead to dryness of the eyes. For example, harsh shampoos contain chemicals or toxic substances that can cause irritation when running down your face during a shower.

Image: Medscape Reference

Similarly, there are irritants in cosmetics, or facial cleansers that can have adverse effects on your skin. Some of the usual suspects can include the following:

Harsh soaps
Sunburns
UV light rays

How to Treat Dryness Around the Eyes?

Until now, you’ve a list of the visible signs and factors that can lead to dryness around the eyes. But, what’s the treatment? For your convenience, here is a (2) step-by-step guide to deal with dry skin around the eyes.

Step 1 - Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

(5) As you might know, the skin around your eyes is thinner, more delicate, and of course, more sensitive to harsh weather conditions. That is the reason doctors recommend drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water per day.

Image: Reddit

Why? Drinking enough water and having moderate fluid in your body keeps your skin hydrated and blocks out dryness. So, it offers a quick and simple solution to your dried skin around the eyes.

Step 2 - Use an Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes lacks oil glands so it needs extra care besides just hydration. Therefore, it is usually advised to follow a skin-care routine that includes an effective eye cream for dry skin.

Most eye creams contain honey as an effective ingredient and help reduce dryness around the eyes. These eye creams are formulated to moisturize the sensitive skin around the eyes and thus help prevent dryness.

Step 3 - Gentle Facial Cleansers

(8) Another quick and proven treatment to reduce dryness around the eyes is to use a gentle face cleanser. This is because you need to wash your face twice a day to remove oil, dirt, or debris. When you use a strong cleanser, it can negatively affect your skin, leading to dryness and itching.

Image: Cetaphil

On the other hand, a gentle cleanser can remove impurities all at once. Your skin will feel hydrated and purified. On top of all, a gentle cleanser will have no side effects on your eyes so it’s completely safe to use.

Step 4 - Avoid Hot Water Exposure

One of the leading reasons for dryness around the eyes is using hot water. Although a hot water bath can have amazing benefits for your skin, it can make your skin extra dry, especially near the sensitive eye portion.

Image: Dry Eye Directory

(10) Research studies have also shown that you should wash your face with cold or lukewarm water instead of taking hot showers. (11) According to the American Academy of Dermatology, cold or lukewarm water is the best way to keep your skin healthy and fresh.

Step 5 - Keep Moisturizing

Right after you use a facial cleanser, it’s recommended to apply a moisturizer to reduce dryness and patches around eyes. Depending on your skin type, moisturizer will help you prevent wrinkles, and fine lines, and will keep your skin hydrated most of the time.

Moreover, moisturizers trap the existing moisture on the skin and thus act as a strong barrier against water loss. Usually, it is applied after washing when the skin is still damp to lock in moisture.

Step 6 - Follow a Skin-Care Routine

(5) The last and most important step is to follow and maintain an anti-aging skin care routine. Whether your skin is aging or not, you should take a couple of minutes to upgrade your skin. This includes regular cleanup, weekly facials, and skin care products to reduce dryness around your eyes.

Image: Bello Bello

Final Thoughts

To summarize it, your skin around the eyes is thinner and sensitive compared to all other body parts. This is the reason it needs extra care and proper skin care routine so you can prevent dry skin around the eyes. You can also try some home remedies like aloe vera or glycerin to moisture and hydrate your skin around the eyes.

Key Takeaways

Now, you’ve a detailed step-by-step process in hand, you can start taking action to remove that itchiness and dryness around your eyes. Again, the skin around your eyes is super sensitive so it needs extra care and treatment to maintain a fresh and healthier appearance. Here are some key takeaways that you can keep in mind when preventing dryness around the eyes:

See if there are any visible signs of itching or dryness around the eyes.
Find out the possible causes that can lead to dryness. It can include allergies, chronic skin infections or your skin care products.
Take help from your doctor or use preventive measures as effective solutions to prevent dryness around the eyes.
Always use high-quality skin care products and avoid exposure to heat, harsh weather, or hot water.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I treat dry skin around my eyes?

There are multiple ways to treat dry skin around your eyes. You can use hydrating gels, eye creams, facial cleansers, or moisturizer to treat dryness around the eyes. Or you can take general preventive measures such as avoiding hot water following a proper skin care routine.

2. What is the best natural lubricant for dry eyes?

Castor oil is usually considered the best natural lubricant to prevent dryness around the eyes. It can help reduce tear evaporation and hydrate the skin around the sensitive eye area.

3. Can I put vaseline around my eyes?

Yes, you can use vaseline around your eyelids and around the dry parts of your eyes to moisturize it. Most of the time, people use vaseline to reduce dryness and it also acts as a safe moisture barrier.