Eyelid Dermatitis: What's Causing It and How to Calm It Naturally

I first learned about eyelid dermatitis in medical school, but I didn’t really learn about it until it appeared on my very own eyelids. After a 2014 trip to Jamaica when I had an allergic reaction to an unwashed mango, I entered a three month period where my lips and eyelids were a hot mess. As a medical doctor and the founder of a skincare company, I was beyond frustrated that I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with my face, and desperate to find some natural remedies for eyelid eczema. In this article, I’ll break down what eyelid dermatitis is, some of the most common causes, and some simple, practical ways to help it heal. 

Quick Summary: Eyelid Dermatitis

• Eyelid dermatitis, also called eyelid eczema, is inflammation of the thin, delicate skin around the eyes. It can show up as redness, dryness, swelling, itching, stinging, burning, scaling, or discoloration of the upper and/or lower eyelids.

• The cause is often something you’re using or coming in contact with regularly, but not always something you’re applying directly to your eyelids. Skincare, makeup, shampoo, nail products, jewelry, eye drops, contact lens solution, and airborne allergens can all cause or exacerbate eyelid dermatitis.

• The most helpful natural treatment is usually less, not more: remove likely triggers, stop eye makeup temporarily, cleanse gently, avoid rubbing, and support the skin barrier with the simplest possible routine.

• If your eyelids don’t improve after two weeks of simplifying your routine, it may be time to ask a dermatologist about patch testing, which can sometimes help identify a specific allergen causing the problem.

What Is Eyelid Dermatitis?

Eyelid dermatitis simply translates to “inflammation of the skin of the eyelids” just as perioral dermatitis translates to “inflammation of the skin around the mouth.” While it is technically a medical diagnosis, it does not give a patient any information about the many eyelid eczema causes that might lie at the root of the condition. 

Eyelid dermatitis is a common condition, perhaps because the skin on your eyelids is the thinnest, most delicate skin on your body. Eyelid dermatitis affects up to 20% of the population at some point in their lives, especially in women, who tend to use more of the cosmetic and personal care products that can cause or exacerbate the condition. Dermatitis around the eye can be caused by exposure to something that causes irritation, in which case it’s called irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), or by an allergic reaction to an ingredient, which is referred to as allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).

It can affect the upper eyelid and/or the lower eyelid, and can manifest as redness, swelling, dryness, scaling, and discoloration of the eyelid skin. Symptoms can include itching, discomfort, stinging, and burning. Once you have eyelid dermatitis, your eyelids become even more sensitive to other ingredients than they normally are—even to your own tears, which you might be shedding out of sheer frustration. In short, it’s not fun! Here’s what mine looked like:

Is Eyelid Dermatitis the Same as Eyelid Eczema?

The official medical term for eczema is “atopic dermatitis,” meaning inflamed skin anywhere on the body; atopic means “without a specific location.” Eyelid eczema is just inflamed skin in a very specific location. Dermatitis and eczema mean more or less the same thing, but dermatitis is a broader term that covers irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis in addition to idiopathic (unknown cause) eczema.  

What Causes Eyelid Dermatitis?

As with most cases of eczema and dermatitis, there are many potential causes, and it’s not often just one thing. Irritant contact dermatitis of the eyelids involves exposure of the delicate skin of the eyelid to a substance that physically damages the skin barrier. Allergic contact dermatitis of the eyelids, the most common form of eyelid dermatitis, is an allergic reaction to a specific ingredient or compound, and happens less immediately than irritant contact dermatitis. 

If you develop eyelid dermatitis, one important question to ask yourself is “What have I changed recently?” While you can definitely develop eyelid dermatitis over time and without the addition of anything new, it’s always worth thinking through anything you may have recently introduced to your routine. Something as simple as switching your shampoo, getting your nails done, or trying a new eyeshadow can be enough to set things in motion. And remember, the new thing does not have to be something you apply to your eye area; your hands can transfer ingredients to your eyelids very easily—and often do. 

Eyelid Dermatitis Triggers in Skincare, Makeup, Haircare, and Nail Care

A 2021 paper by Huang et al. entitled “Seven Common Allergen Groups Causing Eyelid Dermatitis: Education and Avoidance Strategies” found that the top seven categories of allergens affecting people with eyelid dermatitis were “metals; shellac; preservatives; topical antibiotics; fragrances; acrylates; and surfactants.” I’ll focus here on where you might find some of these ingredients in some of the more common categories below. While this list is not comprehensive, I don’t want you to drown in the details, and these feel like the most common, potentially useful ingredients to look for if you’re on the hunt for potential eyelid dermatitis causes in your life.

Skincare Triggers for Eyelid Dermatitis

Preservatives in skincare products can be a trigger for eyelid dermatitis. Specifically, methylisothiazolinone was the 7th most common allergen in the Huang paper above, and it’s in quite a few mainstream skin and hair care products. Some formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, like DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, and imidazolidinyl urea, in skin and hair care products can cause eyelid eczema. If you’re on the hunt for eyelid eczema skincare products, I’d recommend avoiding those ingredients.

Fragrance/parfum is another significant ingredient when it comes to eyelid dermatitis, which generally refer to synthetic fragrances, and can contain hundreds of fragrance chemicals. But natural fragrance can cause trouble for irritated skin as well, due to the naturally occurring allergens in some essential oils, like linalool, limonene, and cinnamal. Essential oils are a lovely addition to many skincare products, and can be used medicinally in many ways, but it’s probably wise to avoid them when you’re dealing with eczema on the eyelids, at least until your skin is feeling healthy again.

Cocamidopropyl betaine is a common surfactant in cleansers and micellar water that can be a cause of dermatitis around the eye area. Specifically, a compound called DMAPA used in the making of cocamidopropyl betaine can cause eyelid dermatitis, and it’s worth noting that you have to test for this compound specifically if you’re doing allergy testing, as it is not always present in the cocamidopropyl betaine used in patch testing. 

Balsam of Peru is a natural resin from the Myroxylon balsamum tree that causes skin reactions in some people. It is not the same as Balsam of Peru essential oil, which has a dramatically lower incidence of allergic reactions; most of the heavy compounds in the resin that cause reactions do not make it through the steam distillation process of extracting the essential oil. That said, it’s important to keep the total concentration of Balsam of Peru essential oil below 0.4% when using it in a cosmetic application.

Makeup Triggers for Eyelid Dermatitis

Metal is a big one in the makeup realm, from cobalt in your eyeliner to gold in your eyeshadow to nickel in your eyelash curler. If you’re dealing with irritated eyelids, it’s worth ditching eye makeup entirely for a few weeks, and looking carefully at the ingredients of any eye makeup you use in the future. 

Shellac is another very common allergen in makeup, such as mascara and eyeliner. The quickest way to eliminate it is to check whether the product is vegan. Shellac is a refined version of a resin called “lac,” secreted by female lac bugs; if a product is listed as vegan, it should not contain shellac. 

Wearing false eyelashes causes eyelid dermatitis for some people, perhaps due to the acrylates in the adhesives used to apply them. If you have eyelid dermatitis, false eyelashes are probably not your friend!

Lastly, how often are you replacing your eyeliner, eyeshadow, and mascara? If you’re anything like me, not often enough. Mascara and eyeliner should be replaced every six months in order to prevent bacterial contamination, and eyeshadow should be replaced every 12 (cream) to 24 (powder) months. And don’t forget your makeup brushes, which should be thoroughly cleaned every two weeks. You don’t need a makeup brush cleaner, which often contains irritating chemicals; just use a bar of Naked or Oh So Detox Body Soap and hot water—works like a champ!

Haircare Triggers for Eyelid Dermatitis

Surfactants—the ingredients that create foam—are a very common source of irritation for eyelids in shampoos. Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate can cause various forms of dermatitis for a lot of people, as well as cocamidopropyl betaine, as mentioned above. 

The same preservatives and fragrance ingredients mentioned in the skincare section can also be used in hair care products, so be on the lookout for those. 

If you color your hair, some hair dyes (particularly those containing p-phenylenediamine) can cause or exacerbate eyelid dermatitis. If you struggle with eyelid irritation, it’s worth asking your stylist to look for a less irritating brand of color. (Or you could decide to ditch the dye completely, like I did!)

Nail Care Triggers for Eyelid Dermatitis

Gel and acrylic nails are a very common cause of eyelid dermatitis. Ingredients such as acrylates, methacrylates, and HEMA can cause both allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis of the eyelids. “In the last few years, with the widespread use of artificial nails, an increasing number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis caused by acrylates have been reported particularly in nail technicians, but also among artificial nail users,” explains a paper by Moreira et al. 

The condition can occur during the application of the nails, while the powder is airborne, or after the nails have been applied, from touching the nails to the eye area. While reactions are also common in the skin around the nails, it’s possible to have eyelid dermatitis from a gel manicure without symptoms on the hands, due to the fragility of the eyelid skin compared to the thicker skin on the fingers. According to Moreira et al., “Due to its exceptional vulnerability, eyelid skin may be the initial or only area that demonstrates signs of contact dermatitis, while other areas of the body remain unaffected by the same exposure.”

Other Common Triggers for Eyelid Dermatitis

Nickel is by far the most common allergen associated with eyelid dermatitis.  One interesting case report of allergic contact dermatitis was caused by nickel released from the metal tip of an eye cream applicator, because “when the metal part interacts with cosmetics containing water, such as creams or gels, nickel can dissolve.” That said, nickel does not have to have direct contact with the eyelids to cause trouble. If you wear eyeglasses or jewelry containing nickel, it can transfer to your hands and then to the eye area. 

Airborne allergens like pollen, scented candles, essential oil diffusers, nail product vapors, cleaning sprays, sawdust, or aerosolized poison oak or ivy stirred up during vigorous yard work can cause eyelid dermatitis. 

Contact lens solution and eye drops may contain thimerosal, which was third on the list of common allergens that can cause eyelid dermatitis. 

Source: Huang et al., “Seven Common Allergen Groups Causing Eyelid Dermatitis: Education and Avoidance Strategies,” Table 3

Natural Treatment for Eyelid Dermatitis

In my experience, the first and most important step in eyelid eczema treatment is removing possible causes of eyelid dermatitis from your routine and leaving your eyelids alone! If I had to give you a list of quick changes that would remove a good number of potential allergens and irritants from your life, I’d start with these seven steps:

1. Remove SLS from your life, including toothpaste, haircare, laundry detergent, and cleaning products in your home. 

2. Switch to an unscented shampoo and conditioner (Innersense Clarity or Desert Essence Unscented)

3. Remove synthetic fragrance from your life entirely. It’s in EVERYTHING (except Osmia products, of course), so this is no small task. 

4. Switch to a gentle facial cleanser, and avoid the eye area entirely—just a water rinse is fine for your eyelids when they’re inflamed.

5. Switch to an unscented, natural body soap and body oil or lotion. 

6. Keep your fingernails clean and natural, skipping even nail polish for the time being. 

7. Stop wearing eye makeup temporarily, and research nickel-free makeup lines if you plan to wear it again in the future.

Cold compresses (clean washcloth soaked in very cold water and wrung out) can be helpful to decrease inflammation when used two to three times per day—just make sure your washcloth was not washed with detergent that contains SLS and synthetic fragrance. 

If your eyelids are feeling dry or irritated, I recommend applying a very thin layer of pure white petroleum jelly on them immediately after washing your face while your eyelids are still damp. 

Only once your eyelids have healed should you consider returning to your regular skincare products in the eye area, introducing only one new product per week to track your response to each addition. And remember that anything you use in/on your hands and hair will probably end up on your eyelids by the end of the day.

What Should You Avoid Putting on Eyelid Eczema?

Many people are understandably tempted to apply antibacterial ointment like Neosporin to their eyelids when they’re inflamed, but that can be a big mistake; neomycin and bacitracin are actually two of the top ten allergens in people with eyelid dermatitis in the study by Huang et al. 

Another mistake, often made by dermatologists and general practitioners treating eyelid dermatitis, can be the use of steroid creams, which were also listed as a potential cause of eyelid dermatitis. Additionally, they can cause a withdrawal flare up when you try to stop using them. 

It’s helpful if you can avoid wearing eye makeup until your eyelids are healthy again. If you can’t, then remove eye makeup carefully with a few drops of jojoba oil, and skip the makeup remover and makeup wipes, both of which can contain allergens and irritants that cause eyelid dermatitis. 

And please hear this, my dear friend: I do NOT recommend trying tea tree oil, lavender oil, chamomile tea bags, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda paste, raw honey, aloe gel from the plant, coconut oil, olive oil, and herbal salves when your eyelids are upset. I love nature, but all of these beautiful, natural ingredients can hurt more than help when it comes to your delicate eyelid skin when it’s in a state of deep distress. 

When Should You See a Dermatologist for Eyelid Dermatitis?

If you’ve tried the less-is-more approach and you’re not getting any relief after two weeks, it may be helpful to discuss allergy testing with your physician to see if you are allergic to one of the many ingredients mentioned above. It can be very hard to pinpoint the cause of eyelid dermatitis, but if you know what you’re allergic to, that’s at least a starting point for a process of elimination. 

Other conditions than can look like eyelid dermatitis include the following: 

-Blepharitis or seborrheic blepharitis

-Squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma

-Herpes zoster (shingles)

-Chalazion or hordeolum (infection/blockage of meibomian glands)

Dermatologists may recommend patch testing, which can help determine the exact allergens cause reactions in your body. According to Glass et al., “patients with suspected eyelid ACD benefit from a depth and breadth of patch testing beyond common allergens such as Balsam of Peru, cinnamic alcohol, fragrance mixes, gold, methylisothiazolinone, nail care products, neomycin, and nickel.”

Dermatologists might suggest a skin biopsy if there is any concern for skin cancer, or antibiotics if they suspect a localized infection. 

They may also recommend steroid creams, and my advice there is to proceed with caution; steroids can often relieve symptoms initially, but some steroids can cause eyelid dermatitis, and people often experience topical steroid withdrawal when they try to wean off the medication. If you consider using steroids, make sure it’s only for a very short period of time, ideally less than a week. You can also ask about non-steroidal options like tacrolimus or pimecrolimus, which don’t have as much of a rebound risk.

Eyelid Dermatitis FAQs

Why do I keep getting eczema on my eyelids?

Unfortunately, it’s probably because of something you’re doing or using that’s irritating your eyelid skin. 

Can eye cream cause eyelid dermatitis?

Yes, and it’s best to stop using any eye creams until you sort out what might be  causing your dermatitis. 

Can nail polish cause eyelid eczema?

It can, especially if it contains tosylamide/formaldehyde resin, fragrance, or camphor. 

Is Vaseline good for eyelid dermatitis?

I usually recommend pure, white petroleum jelly for eyelids. Lots of brand name petroleum products also contain other ingredients, from lanolin to alcohol to fragrance, so I prefer the generic version. 

Are essential oils safe for eyelid eczema?

Certainly not when applied directly to the skin, and possibly not at all, depending on the level of inflammation. I recommend using products with no essential oils or extremely low concentrations (less than 0.2%) until your eyelids return to normal. (Note: I never recommend an essential oil concentration over 0.5-1% in the eye area or on the face, and only essential oils that are appropriate for facial use. Examples of essential oils I would not use on the face or eye area include mint, cinnamon, clove, tea tree, and lime.)

How long does eyelid dermatitis take to heal?

It depends on how quickly you can eliminate things that are keeping your eyelids inflamed. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get rid of SLS and synthetic fragrance, and how prevalent those two ingredients are in a wide range of products. 

Can stress cause eyelid eczema?

Stress can cause and/or worsen a huge number of medical conditions, especially when it comes to your skin, and extra-especially when it comes to your fragile eyelids. 

Should I stop wearing makeup if I have eyelid dermatitis?

Yes, at least until your eyelids have healed. 

What ingredients should I avoid around my eyes?

Almost everything! Rinse with water, and apply a thin layer of pure, white petroleum jelly while your skin is still damp. Once your eyelids have healed, you can start adding skincare products back to your routine one at a time, tracking your skin’s response to each one. 

When do I need patch testing for eyelid dermatitis?

In short, you should see a dermatologist if you’ve tried removing potential allergens or irritants and your eyelids are not improving. 

Hope this information helps you find some natural remedies for eyelid dermatitis. It’s a super frustrating condition, but with some simple lifestyle changes, you can often help your eyelids heal before needing the more intensive eyelid dermatitis treatment often recommended by dermatologists. It’s amazing what switching to clean skincare, haircare, and makeup products can do for your poor, irritated eyelids!

With love and happy eyelids, 

Resources:

Carlisle RT, Digiovanni J. Differential Diagnosis of the Swollen Red Eyelid. Am Fam Physician. 2015 Jul 15;92(2):106-12

Moreira J, Gonçalves R, Coelho P, Maio T. Eyelid Dermatitis Caused by Allergic Contact to Acrylates in Artificial Nails. Dermatol Reports. 2017 May 29;9(1):7198

Huang CX, Yiannias JA, Killian JM, Shen JF. Seven Common Allergen Groups Causing Eyelid Dermatitis: Education and Avoidance Strategies. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021 Apr 12;15:1477-1490

Lora R. Dagi Glass, Vinay K. Aakalu, Jill A. Foster, Seanna R. Grob, Timothy J. McCulley, Jeremiah Tao, M. Reza Vagefi, Michael Yoon, Stacy L. Pineles, Edward J. Wladis, Patch Testing for Eyelid Dermatitis: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, Volume 132, Issue 7, 2025, Pages 842-847

Sukakul T, Dahlin J, Svedman C. Eyelid Allergic Contact Dermatitis Caused by Nickel From a Surprising Source: An Illustrating Case of Illuminating Eye Care. Contact Dermatitis. 2025 Nov;93(5):422-423

Knopp E, Watsky K. Eyelid dermatitis: contact allergy to 3-(dimethylamino)propylamine. Dermatitis. 2008 Nov-Dec;19(6):328-33

https://nationaleczema.org/body/eyelid-eczema/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/dry-eyelids

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10032-blepharitis

Chhadva P, Goldhardt R, Galor A. Meibomian Gland Disease: The Role of Gland Dysfunction in Dry Eye Disease. Ophthalmology. 2017 Nov;124(11S):S20-S26