The Impact of Psoriasis In and Around The Eyes

Eyes are the windows to the soul, they say. Eyes come in various shapes and sizes, the colors and patterns are a testament to how perfect nature truly is.

The natural act of blinking keeps our eyes safe. Each blink helps lubricate and remove potential debris. And of course, our eyes get a hard reset when we close them at night. It's our organic way of resting them after the work they perform throughout the day to keep one of our most vulnerable body parts protected.

Enter psoriasis...

That's right. Psoriasis doesn't discriminate and has the potential to reach all body parts - including the eye, eyelids, under the eye, and eyebrows. When psoriasis finds its way to this sensitive part of our body it is never a good thing. Not that any psoriasis is a good thing, but you know what I mean.

Treating psoriasis around the eyes can be tricky. The skin around our eyes is considered one of the thinnest on our bodies. It is also structured differently from the rest of our skin. Having no oils glands means that it dries out easier and therefore this type of skin is more prone to drying out and irritation.

Are there any topical treatment options?

Topical treatments are one option. Should you choose to treat topically, try and source some samples of the product you would like to use and give it a try before purchasing a larger tub or tube. As we know these creams can be pricey. I am sure we all have some tubes that we only ever used once.

Be sure to only use ointments, salves, oils, or creams that are deemed safe to use on the skin around the eye specifically. This can cause major skin thinning and damage or irritation to the skin. You can always talk to your doctor about the safest option for your skin specifically.

As lazy as I can get with applying topic treatment, this is one area that I do not mess with. Have a cream accidentally run down off your eyelid into your eye? Well, it burns like hellfire. It can also be harmful. Understand the directions of your treatment, even the knowledge of what can happen if you do by chance, get some in your eye.

Make sure you know what to do should you get some of the topical treatment into your eye. Do not overuse, patience is key. Applying something fives times a day that should only be applied once, is never a good idea. As for alternative treatments, I often opt for a cold compress if my eyes are particularly sore. This approach seems to bring the swelling down and does help to relieve the itch and pain levels.

Makeup considerations

Look at what products you use. Make sure that you are using something that does not aggravate your psoriasis. It should also not dry out your skin. I find that using makeup cloths make a big difference. The makeup is simply removed with warm water and a very soft fleece cloth. No harsh products.

If you can allow your skin time to rest by not wearing make-up every day, it could only benefit your skin overall. Find ways that work within your routine when you can go makeup-free. Many people use makeup to cover up facial psoriasis and I have a good understanding of that. Just do the best you can.