from doing warm compresses way too hot about a year ago i burnt my eyelids-they are still so red. yes i have ocular rosacea as well but was wondering if the redness will ever go away? i have had a few opthamologists concerned about it-but one just told me to go to the dermatologist
anyone offer any advice??
Val, I am sorry that I have no suggestions for you, (((Val))).
:) You could always tell others that it is a new trend in makeup. This would make you a trendsetter. :)
Dear Val,
Have you tried any cortisone cream on your eyelids?
Blepharitis can turn your eyelids red and is caused by either bacteria or it is like an allergy. There are some other causes, like cancer. There is also a condition called MGD, which is a dysfunction of the melbomian glands.
http://www.dryeyezone.com/encyclopedia/mgd.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blepharitis/DS00633/DSECTION=causes
It seems odd that you could really burn your eyelids so badly that they stay red for a year?
Has the ophthalmologist diagnosed anything at all?
I would try to get a referral to a dermatologist.
Or go with Joe's fashion statement idea!
Keep us posted
Hugs
Elaine
elaine
i have mgd and yes i burned them over a year ago-to be honest i sometimes still use too hot of a compress to try and keep the glands open.. i thought it was odd my opthamologist couldnt do anything for me but tell me to go to a dermatologist... i have a feeling the derm will just tell me not to put heat on my eyes-which every doc i have been to has told me to do for my MGD..ughhh
and no i havent tried cortisone cream-i guess i am scared it will go into my eyes.. should i just try regular cortisone?
Have you tried the eye lid cleaner wipes? I use OcuSoft twice a day, morning and night. I use the original formula but I just checked and they have an Extra Strength Version for moderate to severe eyelid conditions. I had so much debris in my lashes and my lids felt so heavy. After my eye doctor scraped the gunk off of my lashes, he recommended using the eye lid cleaner. Maybe this can help you? My dad also uses it once a day.
i used to use ocusoft. i am going to my local opthamologist tomorrow and will ask.. i think i just go too hot on the compresses and burn the skin.my fault..thanks for all the great suggestions!
Hi Valene,
PLEASE SEE A DERMATOLOGIST FOR THIS EYELID CONDITION.
Your eyes are not red from using too hot compresses.
There is a good reason why the ophthalmologist recommended a dermatologist. You cannot self treat ocular rosacea and it will not heal on its own with time and good eye hygiene. Also, cortisone creams and/or preparations are not used to treat this condition.
Even though your eye dr. is able to diagnose and prescribe medicine for eye(ball) redness from ocular rosacea. Only a dermatologist is qualified to diagnose and prescribe medicine for ocular rosacea when it has spread to the eyelids.
Good luck and please let me know how everything goes for you.
I saw a gal today with a red hand and arm. When she turned to face me it was on her left side. She told me it was roceacia (sp) and deep vein thrombosis.
Hi again Valene :),
I'm sorry that you have had to deal with this problem for such a long time. I know you have gone to different drs. and you have worked very hard trying to resolve this problem on your own.
It bothers me greatly that the eye dr.'s treating you did not properly explain why its so important to make an appt. with a dermatologist for an exam when the eyelid redness did not go away.
I've had flares of rosacea over 20+ years and its a highly treatable skin condition that responds well to prescription medicine.
Good Luck!
I am going to another eye doc today to discuss it. i used a cream from mario badescu called control cream on my eyelids last night and it really brought the redness down-i read about it online and already had some i purchased awhile back for my face but never used... it is supposed to be natural ..i am taking it to my doc with me to make sure its ok to keep using
Sadie-what RX do you use for the eyelids for rosacea? thanks!!! it would be helpful to know before i see the derm!
My dermatologist prescribes an antibiotic medicine and an ointment (Metrogel). This drug has been around for a long time but it may not be safe for eyelids since it is known to be extremely drying. Since then they have created newer medicines that are much less drying since most rosacea patients have very sensitive skin (like me).
My rosacea tends to be on my chin and cheeks (face) :D though my eyes got very bad in my last flare. My dermatologist recommended I use a liquid facial cleanser called Cetaphil because it is nondrying and good for sensitive skin. It's around ten dollars but it lasts a long time since you only need a little bit. You can pick it up pretty much anywhere - Wal-Mart, Target, drugstores. I've been very happy with it. The bar soaps I used in the past to wash my face were too drying for me.
I use Cetaphil facial cleaner for my eyelid scrubs. It's very mild.
Oops! Sorry - hit Reply too quickly. I also use Cetaphil products, but I use CeraVe liquid facial cleaner for my eyelid scrubs. It's probably similar to the Cetaphil version.
Researchers in California have discovered that 100% of Rosacea patients have 'abnormal peptides' on their skin and that this is what is triggering the immune response. Here is the link.
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/070807/7rosacea.htm
Peptides are make from amino acids. Amino acids are formed from dietary proteins. If you are unable to properly break down proteins (because you lack proteases (pancreatic enzymes) you would not be able to make normal peptides. I had a terrible lupus malar rash for 10 years that went away in 10 days just from eating foods that contained enormous amounts of enzymes that duplicate the ones found in the pancreas. Foods like raw organic fermented sauerkraut. You can check my past posts for more information or check out the group "Curing Autoimmune and Mimics." Anyone can join and they treat their autoimmune diseases using these types of foods with great success.
Hi!
I can certainly relate! I have ocular rosacea, blepharitis and dry eye as well. Last year, was the worst year ever with this. I lost eyelashes, my eyelids burned every day, and the blepharitis was out of control. So painful!
It took over 6 months to feel a little better, and each day now, it is just maintainance from creating more pain on my eyelids.
My Opthomologist has me use a warm washcloth only! Place over my eyes for 30 seconds to warm the oils just a little. Then, go down on the eyelid twice with the cloth, once on the lower lash, and once on the upper so the eyelashes grow the correct way.
Then, I used "Helon" eye drops (Phillips Eye Institiute in MN) every 15 minutes until I no longer needed them. Now, I use BLINK tears refrigerated every hour or every two hours as necessary.
I found shielding my eyelids under my covers also helps when the heat is on. I do the same for my dry nasal passages.
I know this is painful! As, I saw many doctors who said HOT compresses!!! HOT to get rid of blepharitis etc... That only made things worse. As did the moisture goggles.
IT TOOK a long time... I still struggle each day with my ocular rosacea and burning eyelids. But, this is much better than what the HOT compresses and packaged scrubs did to my eyes.
Rosacea skin is very sensitive as you know. So, I don't think creams will be good on your lids. As any oils can get into your tear film and make things worse.
Best advice - find a terrific caring woman opthomologist!
MNCJL
Quote from: mncjl on November 24, 2011, 02:33:20 PM
Hi!
I can certainly relate! I have ocular rosacea, blepharitis and dry eye as well. Last year, was the worst year ever with this. I lost eyelashes, my eyelids burned every day, and the blepharitis was out of control. So painful!
It took over 6 months to feel a little better, and each day now, it is just maintainance from creating more pain on my eyelids.
My Opthomologist has me use a warm washcloth only! Place over my eyes for 30 seconds to warm the oils just a little. Then, go down on the eyelid twice with the cloth, once on the lower lash, and once on the upper so the eyelashes grow the correct way.
Then, I used "Helon" eye drops (Phillips Eye Institiute in MN) every 15 minutes until I no longer needed them. Now, I use BLINK tears refrigerated every hour or every two hours as necessary.
I found shielding my eyelids under my covers also helps when the heat is on. I do the same for my dry nasal passages.
I know this is painful! As, I saw many doctors who said HOT compresses!!! HOT to get rid of blepharitis etc... That only made things worse. As did the moisture goggles.
IT TOOK a long time... I still struggle each day with my ocular rosacea and burning eyelids. But, this is much better than what the HOT compresses and packaged scrubs did to my eyes.
Rosacea skin is very sensitive as you know. So, I don't think creams will be good on your lids. As any oils can get into your tear film and make things worse.
Best advice - find a terrific caring woman opthomologist!
MNCJL
Thanks, MNCJL
I definitely agree about the skin creams! For one thing, many have some alcohol, which inflames rosacea, whether ocular rosacea or socalled "acne" rosacea, of the face and shoulders.
I've known I had ocular rosacea,blepharitis, and meibomianitis only for the last four weeks, after a lifetime of acne rosacea. I've tried compresses, but used up all my wash cloths long before the scheduled trip to the laundromat. The "teriffic caring woman opthalmologist" I lucked out on finding suggested using Ocusoft wipes for cleansing the eyelids, after the warm compress.
I still use Ocusoft, but use their Eyelid foaming cleanser
~Search within Amazon.com for Ocusoft foaming eyelid cleanser~
And, one uses a clean finger pad to do the scrubbing.
Otherwise, my eye/eyelid care is going to be governed by an investigational new drug study (for dry eye) being conducted here. Other than chiming in on the "no creams" advice, I'm following the study instructions.
Another product that I love, for warming the eyelids, is the Thermalon eye lid compress. The picture looks strange, but it's fast in the microwave, comfortable, and does the trick of warming the eyelids and releasing the oils for tear film. Wet compresses did not release oils for me, that I could tell. The result from the Thermalon compress was amazingly different. There was sticky oil on my eyelids, which I could then scrub off with the Ocusoft products! And then in the morning, some tears.
Try searching within Amazon.com for Thermalon-24342-Dry-Eye-Compress -- it's kind of hard to find using search terms
For the care I've been doing, it helps to have a concave mirror, that magnifies the eye area.
Oh, the things we discover when we get introduced to Sjögren's Syndrome!
I use eye drops frequently throughout the day, though not so much as you do. I like your idea of hiding the eyes under the covers at night.
Thanks for your post, and all the best with your ongoing regimen
Soycoffee