Why does my eyelid burn after washing my face?

Why does only my eyelid react?

Eyelid skin is particularly sensitive to irritants and allergens, so a product can affect your lids without causing a rash elsewhere. Contact dermatitis means skin inflammation caused by something touching the skin. It can cause burning, itching, swelling and scaling on one or both eyelids. Burning can begin before a visible rash, so the absence of redness does not rule it out.13

Is it irritation or an allergy?

Irritation happens when a substance or friction damages the skin's protective outer layer. Soap, detergents, rubbing and temperature extremes can trigger eyelid irritation. Sensitive skin and a history of eczema make irritation more likely. Washing too much removes surface oils and increases water loss, leaving skin dry and more vulnerable to chemicals. Cleansers containing alcohol or exfoliating acids are particularly likely to sting. Combining an acne cleanser with acne products left on the skin can also cause excessive dryness and irritation.14

An allergy is an immune reaction to a substance, rather than direct damage from it. Irritation can appear immediately or within 48 hours; an allergic eyelid rash often appears one to several days after contact. A product you have used comfortably for years can become an allergy trigger. Timing is a clue, not a diagnosis: irritated and allergic eyelids can look similar.156

Could something other than my face wash be responsible?

Finding the trigger means checking more than the face wash, because the bathroom shelf is not short of suspects. Consider makeup remover, skincare, makeup and anything transferred by your hands. Nail polish or artificial nails can cause an eyelid rash without a rash on your fingers. Metal particles from keys or an eyelash curler can also reach the area. Shampoo running over an eyelid during rinsing can trigger a reaction even though contact is brief.23

What should I do at the next wash?

1. 1Stop the cleanser or other cosmetic product you suspect is causing the reaction. Avoid eyelid makeup while the skin is inflamed.
2. 2Wash and rinse your hands before touching your eyelids. Avoid rubbing or scratching the area.
3. 3Use plain water on the eyelids, or a cream cleanser designed for sensitive skin. Avoid temperature extremes.
4. 4Rinse thoroughly and gently pat dry. Washing calls for a gentle pat, not the enthusiasm reserved for cleaning a frying pan.
5. 5Ask a pharmacist about a suitable moisturiser if dryness is troubling you. Moisturisers help skin retain moisture and repair itself, but moisturisers can also be contact allergy triggers.

How long should it take to settle?

Contact dermatitis generally improves when the trigger is identified and avoided. Most cases clear in two to three weeks, but an allergic rash can persist for weeks after exposure stops. Repeated exposure can make symptoms return. If stopping the suspected product does not help, a dermatologist can investigate other causes and arrange patch testing, which checks for contact allergies.67

When should I get medical help?

See a doctor if symptoms are persistent, recurrent or severe, or do not improve with treatment. Seek immediate medical advice for a severe reaction or possible infection: rapidly worsening symptoms, discharge, increasing pain, feeling unwell, or feeling hot, cold or shivery. A clinician can decide whether eyelid inflammation needs a short course of prescription treatment. Use steroid creams only as directed; longer use increases the risk of further irritation.1567