Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAtopic DermatitisContact DermatitisSeborrheic BlepharitisPsoriasisCellulitisLupusSeeing a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Atopic Dermatitis
Contact Dermatitis
Seborrheic Blepharitis
Psoriasis
Cellulitis
Lupus
Seeing a Provider
A skin rash around your eyes, oreyelid dermatitis, can signify various conditions. Allergies, irritation, skin conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (eczema), infections, and autoimmune diseases are among the causes of patches of red, irritated skin that can impact your self-image and quality of life.It may also be a sign of a more severe condition.
Getting rid of a rash around the eyes often means treating the underlying cause, with healthcare providers tailoring treatments to individual cases. This article discusses why you may have a rash around your eyes, treatment options, and signs you should call a healthcare provider.
Pawel Kacperek / Getty Images
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a common inflammatory disease that causes rashes and affects the skin’s ability to retain moisture. People with eczema have persistent symptoms, which go through active and dormant periods. Common signs include:
Though more common in infants and children, eczema affects people of all ages. Your age can also influence the appearance and location of atopic dermatitis and its associated symptoms.
In Babies
In newborns and infants up to 2 years old, eczema causes redness or discoloration, rashes, or patches of discolored, dry skin. The face, scalp, or soft areas of skin around their joints (such as the elbows and knees) are most commonly affected.
In Children
In childhood and early adolescence, the rash is red and often thickened, bleeding easily or oozing clear fluid when scratched. It most often appears on the elbows, inside of the knee, neck, or ankles.
In Adults
Eczema rashes in older teenagers and adults are darker-colored brown or red. If scratched, they may start bleeding, scabbing, or crusting. In addition to the neck, knees, elbows, and ankles, rashes often spread to the hands and feet. Eyelid dermatitis due toeczemais most common among adults, and the skin below the eye may develop an extra fold (a Dennie-Morgan fold) or grow darker.
Treatment
Treatment for atopic dermatitis focuses on reducing the severity and frequency of symptoms and includes the following:
Contact dermatitisis a rash that occurs due to something in the environment. The symptoms appear as an allergic reaction, known as allergic contact dermatitis, or a response to skin irritation, called irritant contact dermatitis. Rashes due to contact dermatitis, which can causeeyelid dermatitis, have the following characteristics:
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Irritant contact dermatitis rashes occur when skin comes into contact with an irritating substance or friction from skin rubbing against skin or material.
This type may also cause burning or pain in affected areas. In some cases, streaky, red rashes develop where the irritating substance touches the skin, typically appearing one to two days after contact. Irritant contact dermatitis can also cause chronic swelling and cracking of the skin.
Common triggers include:
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis arises when exposed to an allergen that sets off an allergic reaction—itchy, swollen, and red patches form, which can become blisters and ooze.The symptomsdevelop on areas of directly exposed skin within 24 and 48 hours. Sometimes, airborne allergens can also lead to rashes.
You can be allergic to many different substances that are both naturally occurring and manufactured. Examples include the following:
Depending on the underlying cause, treatments for contact dermatitis include:
Seborrheic blepharitisis an inflammatory skin condition that affects the lids and skin around the eyes. It occurs due to overactive sebaceous glands—organs found in hair follicles that producesebum, which preserves skin moisture. Elevated sebum levels allow bacteria to form, which cause the following symptoms:
Seborrheic blepharitis can’t be cured with treatment, but there are options to manage the symptoms. A healthcare provider will first identify the bacteria causing your symptoms, evaluate their severity, and recommend treatment based on those two factors. Standard treatment approaches include:
Psoriasisis a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes the overproduction of skin cells. Researchers don’t know the exact causes of psoriasis, but they believe it involves a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
These excess cells lead to patches of inflamed, itchy, and scaly skin and plaques: areas of raised, red, or discolored skin. People with psoriasis go through periods of flare-ups and remission (with no symptoms). While most cases affect the elbows, knees, and scalp, the rash can also affect the eyelids.
Managing psoriasis often involves a combination of at-home methods and therapies, including:
Periorbital and Orbital Cellulitis
Periorbital cellulitis occurs when the skin around the eye and eyelid becomes infected, and orbital cellulitis occurs when the infection spreads to the eye. The bacteriaStaphylococcus aureus(staph) andStreptococcus(strep) are common causes.
The typical signs of periorbital cellulitis include redness or discoloration, pain, and swelling in one eye. With periorbital cellulitis, eye movements don’t cause pain, and you see normally. But with orbital cellulitis, moving the eye hurts, vision becomes blurry or doubled, and the eye may bulge (proptosis).This condition can cause lasting damage to the eye if allowed to progress.
Healthcare providers treat periorbital and orbital cellulitis with oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics, which kill bacteria. Alongside antibiotics, topical corticosteroids may also help relieve symptoms.
You may need eye surgery if you have a severe case of orbital cellulitis that doesn’t respond to other therapies.
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that affects the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, or other organs. It commonly is diagnosed in people assigned female at birth between the ages of 15 and 44. Researchers believe it derives from genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors and certain medications.
Nearly half of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—the most common type of lupus—causes a distinctive, butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and over the nose, which can also impact the eyelids.
As with some other autoimmune disorders, lupus has no singular cure. Healthcare providers recommend treatment to manage symptoms. For rashes associated with lupus and mild cases, options include topical corticosteroids.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
While rashes around the eyes are not typically serious, they can be. They can also significantly impact your quality of life. Medical treatments can make a big difference, so it’s important to know when to get help.
Call a healthcare provider if you experience the following:
Summary
Many acute or chronic conditions can cause a rash around the eyes or on the eyelids. Treatments ranging from home remedies to medications or other procedures help manage flares or take on underlying causes.
A rash around the eyes can be a sign of something more serious, and symptoms can also significantly impact your self-image and quality of life. If you’re struggling with symptoms, it’s important to seek medical care. Don’t wait; the sooner you get help, the better you’ll feel.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders.Psoriasis.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).Frazier W, Bhardwaj, N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020;101(10):590-598MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.Patel K, Nixon R.Irritant contact dermatitis: a review.Curr Dermatol Rep. 2022;11(2):41-51. doi:10.1007/s13671-021-00351-4Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Baiu I, Melendez E.Periorbital and orbital cellulitis.JAMA. 2020;323(2):196. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.18211Anosike BI, Ganapathy V, Nakamura MM.Epidemiology and management of orbital cellulitis in children.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2022;11(5):214-220. doi:10.1093/jpids/piac006MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders.Psoriasis.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).Frazier W, Bhardwaj, N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020;101(10):590-598MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.Patel K, Nixon R.Irritant contact dermatitis: a review.Curr Dermatol Rep. 2022;11(2):41-51. doi:10.1007/s13671-021-00351-4Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Baiu I, Melendez E.Periorbital and orbital cellulitis.JAMA. 2020;323(2):196. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.18211Anosike BI, Ganapathy V, Nakamura MM.Epidemiology and management of orbital cellulitis in children.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2022;11(5):214-220. doi:10.1093/jpids/piac006MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders.Psoriasis.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).Frazier W, Bhardwaj, N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020;101(10):590-598MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.Patel K, Nixon R.Irritant contact dermatitis: a review.Curr Dermatol Rep. 2022;11(2):41-51. doi:10.1007/s13671-021-00351-4Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475Baiu I, Melendez E.Periorbital and orbital cellulitis.JAMA. 2020;323(2):196. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.18211Anosike BI, Ganapathy V, Nakamura MM.Epidemiology and management of orbital cellulitis in children.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2022;11(5):214-220. doi:10.1093/jpids/piac006MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disorders.Psoriasis.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
Frazier W, Bhardwaj, N.Atopic dermatitis: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.2020;101(10):590-598
MedlinePlus.Contact dermatitis.
Patel K, Nixon R.Irritant contact dermatitis: a review.Curr Dermatol Rep. 2022;11(2):41-51. doi:10.1007/s13671-021-00351-4
Putnam CM.Diagnosis and management of blepharitis: an optometrist’s perspective.Clin Optom (Auckl). 2016;8:71-78. doi:10.2147/OPTO.S84795
Rendon A, Schäkel K.Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment.Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20(6):1475. doi:10.3390/ijms20061475
Baiu I, Melendez E.Periorbital and orbital cellulitis.JAMA. 2020;323(2):196. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.18211
Anosike BI, Ganapathy V, Nakamura MM.Epidemiology and management of orbital cellulitis in children.J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2022;11(5):214-220. doi:10.1093/jpids/piac006
MedlinePlus.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
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