Redness around the eyes: Causes, symptoms, and treatment – Medical News Today

Various health issues can lead to redness around the eyes, including allergies, reactions to irritants, and infections.

The medical name for eczema is atopic dermatitis, and this chronic skin condition can cause redness around the eyes. It is common in children, though adults can develop it.

Symptoms vary from person to person, but some of the most common include:

Genetic variations, environmental factors, irritants, and allergens are the primary causes of eczema.

Currently, there is no cure. To treat eczema, a doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone (Deltasone), creams to alleviate itching and redness, or a combination of both.

Moisturizing the skin every day and applying over-the-counter topical treatments may also help ease the symptoms or prevent them from developing.

Learn more about eczema here.

Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with something that causes irritation or an allergic reaction. It can cause the skin to become flushed and itchy.

While the condition is not contagious, it can be very uncomfortable.

Contact dermatitis symptoms include:

Some irritants that may be responsible include:

Allergens that may cause contact dermatitis include:

To treat contact dermatitis, a doctor may prescribe:

To help resolve the issue, a person might try using a wet compress to soothe the skin. It is also important to avoid allergens and irritants.

Learn more about eyelid dermatitis here.

Blepharitis is inflammation at the base of the eyelashes. It occurs when oil glands around the eyelashes get clogged, and it can cause itchiness and redness around the eyes.

Symptoms of blepharitis include:

Healthcare professionals believe that bacteria in the skin may be responsible for blepharitis.

Specific conditions may lead to it. These include:

Usually, home care techniques can help, such as washing the eyelids and applying a warm compress to loosen any crusting.

If this is ineffective, a doctor may prescribe or recommend:

Learn more about blepharitis here.

Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection. It usually affects the skin on the lower legs, but it can appear on the face, including the areas around the eyes.

Cellulitis can cause redness, swelling, pain, and tenderness. In the eye area, this issue can be very serious and worsen without prompt treatment.

Contact a doctor right away if there are symptoms of cellulitis of the eye. These include:

The primary cause is bacteria entering the area, and this may occur due to:

Treatment involves taking oral antibiotics for 514 days, along with pain relief medication.

This treatment should relieve the signs and symptoms, but contact the doctor if the issue persists or get worse or a new fever develops.

Learn more about cellulitis here.

This common issue feels like a small lump or swelling on the eyelid, and it is also called a meibomian cyst.

It develops when something blocks a meibomian gland. These line the eyelids, and a blockage can prevent one or more of these glands from releasing their secretions.

As a result, swelling and a cyst can form. If the cyst becomes infected, it causes pain and redness around the eye.

Symptoms of a meibomian cyst, or chalazion, include:

Home care strategies may help, such as gently massaging the eyelid with clean fingertips or applying a warm compress to the closed eyelid.

If these techniques do not work, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics, and in rare cases, they recommend minor surgery called incision curettage to remove the cyst.

How is a chalazion different from a stye?

Shingles, sometimes called herpes-zoster, results from infection with the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Anyone who has had chickenpox may develop shingles at some point, and the virus can lie dormant in the nervous system for years.

Symptoms of shingles include:

The skin symptoms can arise in any area, including the face, causing redness around the eyes.

Currently, there is no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with prescription medications reduces the risk of complications and speeds recovery.

To treat shingles, a doctor may prescribe:

Learn more about shingles of the eye here.

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that usually affects the face.

It causes facial flushing, and it can occur with small, pus-filled bumps, irritation, and swelling.

Health experts believe that the condition results from hereditary and environmental factors. Some of these triggering factors include:

Learn about treatments for rosacea here.

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Redness around the eyes: Causes, symptoms, and treatment - Medical News Today