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HomeHealth TopicDermatology

6 Things That Can Cause Rashes Around Your Eyes—And What to Do About Them

Nishika Reddy, MDPatricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH
Published on September 12, 2022

Key takeaways:

  • Rashes under and around the eye are common. Major causes of eyelid rashes are infections and allergies.

  • Eyelid rashes can lead to redness, itching, swelling, scaliness, and thickened skin around your eye.

  • Some under eye rashes will go away on their own. But others need treatment with medication. 

Extreme close-up of a person's eyes with a severe rash on their forehead and eyelids. They have bright blue eyes.
lauraag/iStock via Getty Images

Your eyelids are fragile. At less than 1 mm thick, they’re the thinnest skin on your entire body. This makes your eyelids vulnerable to damage and irritation. Rashes under and around the eyelids are often a sign of this damage. 

No matter how careful you are with skin protection, eyelid rashes are often unavoidable. Let’s take a look at the top six causes of under eye rashes and what you can do to treat these common eyelid rashes.

1. Dermatitis

Dermatitis means inflammation of the skin. Eyelid dermatitis is inflammation of the eyelid. It causes a red, scaly rash under or around the eye. Anything that irritates the eyelid can cause dermatitis. Because your eyelid is so thin and fragile, it doesn’t take much to irritate the skin. 

Some common things that can set off eyelid dermatitis include:

  • Makeup

  • Soaps, laundry detergent, and facial cleansers

  • Perfumes and fragrances

  • Eye drops (like dorzolamide)

  • Tissues

  • Makeup sponges and brushes

If you have a new eyelid rash, take a close look at what products you’re using near and around your eye. Even if you’ve never had a problem with these products before, they might still be the cause of your rash. That’s because you can develop a mild allergy to these products over time.

2. Infections

Some infections can lead to a rash under or around your eyelid. Viruses and bacteria can all cause eyelid rashes. Your eye is a very vulnerable part of your body. Any infection near your eye needs to be checked by a healthcare provider right away. 

Shingles, which is caused by the varicella virus, can also cause a rash near your eyelid. This is called herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Shingles near the eye can lead to serious eye injury. Eyelid shingles is red, bumpy, and painful. It needs urgent medical attention and treatment with acyclovir or valacyclovir.

Preseptal cellulitis is a bacterial infection under or around the eyelid. It causes the eyelid to become red and swollen. Preseptal cellulitis can be painful and make it harder for you to open your eyelid. It can also lead to more serious eye infections and needs immediate treatment with antibiotics

3. Allergic reactions

Allergic reactions can lead to a rash around the eye. The sap in poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac contains a chemical called urushiol. If you come in contact with urushiol you can develop a red, itchy rash. People sometimes touch these plants and transfer the sap to other parts of their body by touching their face or rubbing their eyes. If you think you’ve come in contact with one of these plants and now have a rash around your eye, see a healthcare provider. You may need treatment with steroids to help calm the allergic reaction. Avoid scratching and rubbing your eyelid because this can lead to infections.

4. Autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune conditions like lupus and dermatomyositis can cause a rash around your eye. They’re often a sign of a flare. Often, these rashes are purple or violet and develop around both eyes. They’re not always painful or itchy. People usually experience other symptoms, like muscle weakness, joint aches, and night sweats.

People with skin conditions like eczema can also develop flares around their eyes. An eyelid eczema flare looks like a regular eczema flare. It’s often red, dry, and itchy.

5. Blepharitis

Blepharitis is another type of eyelid inflammation, but this type is caused by bacteria. Bacteria that normally live on your eyelids can clog the oil glands in your eyelid. This leads to eyelid dryness and flaking, eye redness, and feeling like you have something stuck in your eye. 

Blepharitis can lead to other eye conditions including dry eye and styes. Warm compresses and eyelid scrubs can keep eyelid glands clear so you don’t develop blepharitis.

6. Xanthelasma

Xanthelasma are yellow bumps that can develop on the eyelids. They’re made up of fat particles that collect under the skin. They are not harmful, but they can be a sign of high cholesterol. If you have these bumps, it’s a good idea to get your cholesterol checked. Xanthelasmas can be removed using laser surgery. 

How serious are rashes around the eye?

Rashes around your eye can be a sign of a serious infection or illness. It’s always a good idea to see a healthcare provider if you have a rash under or around your eye. If you have any other eye symptoms — like pain or vision changes — see an eye doctor right away. 

How can I prevent eyelid rashes?

There are many things you can do prevent eyelid rashes like:

  • Using sunscreen with at least 30 SPF 

  • Wearing UV protective sunglasses when outdoors

  • Avoiding rubbing, scratching, and touching your eyelids

  • Always washing your hands before touching your eyes and removing contact lenses

  • Using eyelid scrubs if you’re prone to blepharitis

  • Choosing facial products and cosmetics that are hypoallergenic

The bottom line

Because your eyelids are very thin and sensitive, they are more likely to become damaged and irritated. This damage can show up as a rash on your eyelids. Eyelid rashes can be caused by anything from an allergy to eye makeup to a flare of an autoimmune condition. And most rashes under or around the eye need treatment.

If you have an eyelid rash, it’s a good idea to see your healthcare provider. They can help you figure out the best treatment for you. You can also prevent eyelid rashes by using sun protection and opting for hypoallergenic cosmetics and skin care products.

References

Fonacier, L., et al. (2016). 53 - Contact dermatitis. Pediatric Allergy: Principles and Practice.

Lee, A. G., et al. (2022). Dermatomyositis. EyeWiki.

View All References (7)

Lee, S. J., et al. (2015). Allergic contact dermatitis caused by dorzolamide eyedrops. Clinical Ophthalmology.

MedlinePlus. (2021). Poison ivy- oak -sumac.

Murphy, P. B., et al. (2021). Allergic contact dermatitis. StatPearls.

National Eczema Society. (n.d.). Eczema around the eyes.

National Eye Institute. (2020). Blepharitis.

Porter, D. (2021). What is xanthelasma? American Academy of Ophthalmology.

WillsEye Hospital. (n.d.). Ocular shingles.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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