Dry eyes, allergies or just plain itching – there are many reasons why we want to rub our eyes. And while it undoubtedly feels liberating in the very moment, your skin not so happy.
Harmful
For whatever reason you rub your eyes, experts recommend doing it as little as possible (twice a day is actually too much). It is not good for the skin under the eyes at all. It is the thinnest skin on the whole body, and thin skin can get damaged quickly. “You should really think of it as rose petals and what happens when you rub them together,” explains plastic surgery nurse. Tara Adashev off on HuffPost.
Many dermatologists urge their clients not to rub their eyes. It can have unpleasant consequences. “It can make your eyes tired,” dermatologist Dr. Snehal Amin. In some cases, rubbing can also damage the capillaries, causing redness of the eyes.
Effect on your skin
However, eye rubbing affects not only the eyes themselves, but especially the skin under the eyes. Chronic rubbing can cause dark circles. This is also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. And the darker your skin tone, the more problems you can have. “Particularly for dark-skinned people, rubbing has an accelerating effect on the production of skin pigment in the eye area,” said dermatologist Dr. Angel Pitcher. And it doesn’t stop there.
“Rubbing your eyes repeatedly puts you at risk for lichenification, which is a medical term for thickening of the skin,” said dermatologist Dr. Brendano Field. This can have negative effects. For example, it can make wrinkles on the skin lighter and it can make the skin dry and flaky. Obviously we prefer to avoid it.
Itchy eyes
There are now several reasons why you feel the need to rub your eyes. “Dry eyes can be one of those reasons,” dermatologist Dr. Karyn Grossman. “Rubbing can stimulate tear production, but it’s best to apply eye drops throughout the day so you don’t have to rub.” She recommends that you contact your doctor. Your dry eyes may also require a different treatment plan.
Grossman continues that people can suffer too allergies: “They can cause itchy eyes, making people want to rub and that makes it even more itchy.” Do you itch all day? Even then, the dermatologist recommends contacting a doctor.
How sensitive is the skin?
Rubbing your eyes so it’s not good for your skin, done. But we’re actually busy with our eyes all day, like when we do our skincare routine or when we apply makeup. Can it really hurt? The plastic surgeon and dermatologist Dr. Tanuj Nakra can reassure us immediately. “There is little chance that a light touch on the eyes for makeup or contact lenses will have an effect on the skin.”
The skin under the eyes can last a long time, but it is best to leave the eyes alone as much as possible. If you really suffer from dry or itchy eyes, always contact your doctor. And do you really need immediate relief? So dermatologists recommend applying a cold compress to the eyes. This can also relieve itching.
Source: HuffPost | Image: iStock
