Causes and Home Remedies for Dry Skin Around Eyes

eye care

When people talk to you up close, the first thing they notice are your eyes, so it is a bit disconcerting when the surrounding skin around your orbs feels and looks dry. Dry skin around your eyes can lead to cracking, irritation, peeling, reddening, or skin discoloration (a condition called raccoon eyes or panda eyes).

Having chronic dry skin around the eyes also leads to permanent loss of dermal elasticity. This means that the skin doesn't heal fast enough from superficial damage. Fine lines eventually become deep furrows (crow's feet). These tend to radiate from your eyes, up to the base of the forehead and down to the cheeks and sides of your mouth (marionette lines).

When untreated, this condition makes you look older than you really are. This also increases your risk of hypersensitivity, infection and inflammation. Worse, this can negatively affect the health of your skin, not just on your face, but everywhere else, making you more susceptible to other skin blemishes like: acne, candidiasis, cellulitis, fungal nail infections, impetigo, molluscum contagiosum, ringworms, shingles, and staph infection.

Should I Worry?
Not if you take action now. Dryness around your eyes is not an immediate problem when you know how to treat it. When it comes to the delicate skin in this area, it's best to begin with gentle, natural remedies you can perform regularly at home. Not only will this ensure that you don't overkill the problem, it will enable you to save on the typically high cost of drug-based treatments and surgical procedures (and their potential side effects.)

These include:

• Botox, Disport, and Xeomin injections - Although relatively affordable, you must undergo this treatment regularly (between 3 and 6 months intervals) to maintain the look, making it costly in end. Some people cut back on cost by injecting themselves, or using watered down injections, but this can cause some side effects like bleeding, bruising, headaches, pain and swelling at the site of the injection. It also triggers allergic reactions, causing the skin to blister and peel.
• Worse, the drugs may affect surrounding tissues, causing droopy eyebrows and eyelids. Overusing Botox and similar products tend to dry skin faster too, which ironically leads to more wrinkling. In some cases, these negatively affect the muscles of the eyelids that these don't properly close anymore, thereby preventing you from blinking normally.
• Some people who develop allergic reactions to the drugs complain of chills, compromised eyesight, corneal irritation, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, difficulty in speaking leading to voice loss, ear congestion, facial muscle soreness and stiffness, nasal congestion, neck and back pain, pain in the joints of arms and legs, swelling of the eyelids, swelling of neck glands, and urinary tract problems (including infection, bloody urine, painful urination, etc).
• Facial fat grafting or fat transfer - This procedure entails the removal of fat cells from the body, purifying these then injecting harvested fat cells into areas of the face the need "plumping" up, particularly around the eyes, cheeks and forehead. This is a common treatment, which aids in reducing visible signs of pitted acne, wrinkles and other superficial skin blemishes.
• However, the effects only last for one week to two months at the most, which means that the person has to undergo repetitive treatments. The cost of fat grafting ranges from $3,000 to $6,500 per session.
• Common side effects of fat grafting include acute pain, allergic reaction to anesthesia, bruising, calcification of injection area, fat embolism, formation of scar tissues, permanent discoloration caused by ruptured blood vessels and soreness at the site of the injection.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections for facial rejuvenation (also called vampire facelift) - This is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure, which is supposed to treat fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth area. This also aims to add volume to the face by plumping up grooves in the dermis using platelets (harvested from your own blood plasma) into the areas around and near the eyes.
• Like Botox, this should be done regularly (between 1 and 2 years intervals). Unlike Botox though, each procedure costs around $5,000 to $8,000 a pop.
• This is a relatively new cosmetic procedure, but some common side effects include acute pain, bruising, headaches and soreness at the site of the injection.
• Some of the more extreme complications of this procedure are abnormal blood clot formation, calcification at the side of injection, damaged artery or blood vessel, damaged nerves or veins, deep bone and muscle aches, formation of scar tissue, infection or inflammation at the site of injection, painful swelling of the entire face, skin discoloration or the appearance of dark patches, severe pain, and sore cheeks or the entire face.
• Rhytidectomy or full surgical facelift - Although regularly performed, the cost of this procedure in the US ranges still ranges between $3,000 and $25,000. It becomes prohibitively expensive when the person chooses to undergo the knife over and over to "fix" other flaws, even after a full facelift.
• Common side effects of this procedure includes bruising, numbness, pain, scarring and swelling.
• Possible complications of rhytidectomy include adverse reaction to anesthesia, blood or fluid retention under the skin, crusting or scarification, hair and skin loss due to tissue death, hematoma, infection leading to inflammation, loss of feeling in certain parts of the face, nerve damage, pulmonary embolism, skin discoloration, slow healing, tingling sensation on incision lines, and uncontrollable bleeding.
• Stem cell facelift - This procedure costs between $5,000 and $25,000, and remains unregulated in most countries. This means that medications, procedures, and even tools used for said treatments are not standardized, therefore, not carefully monitored for safety. A few unscrupulous practitioners are not even using stem cells. They use cheaper products like Botox.
• Although it's true that stem cell facelift has some success, there are also some side effects to watch out for, like adverse reaction to anesthesia, bone formation (when stem cells turn into bone instead of skin cells,) scarring and swelling.
• A few studies suggest that regularly undergoing this procedure trigger cancer cells in some people.
• Ulthera or ultrasound facial treatment. This is a pricey, non-invasive facial treatment that has limited success. People complain about the constant and sharp pain during and after said procedure. Although this is supposed to be a regular facial treatment (with intervals of 1 to 2 years,) many patrons refuse second treatments due to the intensity of pain.

There are several safer and more effective options, from dietary and natural treatments to other solutions.

Causes of Dry Skin around the Eyes

In order to find an effective treatment, you have to first determine what is causing the dryness. Here are some common causes:

• Dermatological disorders such as the following:
  • Eczema (or eczematous dermatitis, specifically atopic dermatitis) can occur on the areas surrounding your eyes, including your eyelids. In addition to dryness, eczema causes the skin to become scaly. In more extreme cases, this causes cracking, itching, reddening and swelling. When untreated, dry skin becomes inflamed and bleeding sets in. This increases the risk of infection and painful skin peeling, leading to blistering, oozing, skin reddening or discoloration of skin in uneven patches, and unusual skin thickening of afflicted area(s.)
  • This is usually a symptom of allergic rhinitis, but people who are genetically predisposed to all sorts of allergies have higher chances of acquiring eczema.
  • Blepharitis affects the eyelids, causing these to become inflamed with dry and scaly skin. This also causes a liquid substance to stick to eyelashes, making hair clump together. Other symptoms include crusting, itching, and reddening. In extreme cases, this causes burning sensations, excessive watering of eyes, irritation of skin and eyes, mucus buildup, and oversensitivity to light. When untreated, this can cause decreased vision in one or both eyes.
  • Chronic blepharitis is common, with repetitive bouts of remission and flare-ups.
  • Common triggers of this condition are: allergy (e.g. blepharo-dermatitis, dermato-blepharo-conjunctivitis, and seasonal blepharo-conjunctivitis,) bacterial infections (e.g. herpes simplex, staphylococcal, varicella zoster, etc.,) facial acne rosacea, MGD or Meobomian gland dysfunction, and seborrheic dermatitis.
  • Perioral dermatitis is a serious and often chronic condition that usually affects adult women. It can spread to the nose and mouth areas. Symptoms include bumpy rash, burning, itching, liquid or pus-filled bumps, reddening, and scaly skin. Studies show that products (e.g. cosmetic products, lotions, oral contraceptives, sunscreen, toothpaste, topical solutions, etc.) that contain corticosteroids, fluorine, paraffin, and petrolatum may trigger allergic reactions that eventually lead to this condition.
  • Poor hygiene, which causes bacterial, fungal or viral infection is also considered a typical cause of this rash.
  • Sunburn injury or exposure and overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun can lead to minor and serious burns (erythema). Other symptoms include dryness, blistering, dark pigmentation, fever, foul-smelling skin, heat stress, peeling, premature skin aging, reddening, retinal damage, skin cancer, stinging pain and suppression of the immune system. This also increases the risk of infection and inflammation.
  • Extreme UV overexposure may lead to confusion, fainting, headaches, nausea, severe pain and vomiting.
  • Other burn culprits might be exposure to a sunlamp or a welder's arc.
• Climate is another common cause dryness. The climate can do its damage in both hot and humid weather. Sudden changes or extremes in weather can aggravate the dryness of your skin.
• When temperature drops, air becomes drier due to low humidity. Less moisture in the air depletes skin of oil (sebum), which causes cracking, itchiness, reddening, and the appearance of fracture lines, which could split and bleed. This also causes skin to look dry, saggy and wrinkled.
• When temperature rises, the risk of UV damage rises as well. This causes skin to age prematurely. Worse, this slows down the skin's inherent healing abilities, making the person highly susceptible to life-threatening conditions, like melanoma, neoplastic skin lesions and skin cancer.
• Eye skin stress can trigger dryness. Excessive rubbing of the skin can cause stress. This is the reason why dermatologists recommend against furious face scrubbing or constantly rubbing your face with unclean hands. This damages the epidermis, and compromises your vision as well.
• Eye skin stress can also be acquired from constantly washing your face with hot water. This comes from the outdated belief that hot water opens up pores. This may have grains of truth in it, but opening up your pores is not synonymous to freeing these from epidermal debris.
• Any mild facial soap can clean out pores better. Use room temperature or lukewarm water, and always use gentle strokes to lessen permanent damage to the epidermis.
• Stress can also result from applying and wearing make-up. For example, applying concealer to hide dark skin under the eyes, wearing eyeliner and/or mascara, and using dirty brushes that contain accumulated bacteria are all stressful to the skin.
• Harsh chemicals - Regularly using or overusing facial cleansers and other skin products (e.g. facial scrubs with micro-beads, and deep cleansers, etc.) that contain harsh chemicals can result in dryness. The skin surrounding the eyes is thinner, more sensitive, and naturally susceptible to irritations from chemicals and toxins.
• Chronic use or abuse will permanently damage the epidermis, which does not only leave the skin darker looking and more prone to sun damage, but also increases its risk of bacterial, fungal and viral infection resulting to inflammation.

What to Do

You can do several things to treat the dryness of the skin surrounding your eyes. These things do not have to cost much, nor do they have to put you at risk for side effects.

Here are the best practical tips to treat your condition:

1. Fight dryness with hydration.

• For those who are not drinking enough water, you should increase your water consumption. This will prevent dehydration that normally manifests through the skin.
  
  It is also highly recommended to spray your (preferably, recently washed, or at least, makeup-free) face with plain water on extremely humid days. This is one of the safest and the best ways to cool off. Apply liberally, but make sure to stay out of the sun, as UV rays speed up moisture evaporation, thereby resulting to steam – another skin damaging agent.
  
• If you have time to spare, place chilled slices of fresh cucumbers on your eyes before settling down for a 20-minute nap. Cucumbers can draw the heat off your eyelids, which is a great way of cooling off sun damaged skin. Cucumbers also have mild whitening properties that are beneficial in reducing dark rings around your eyes.
  
  More importantly, this remedy will encourage skin to retain more moisture. This helps lessen the appearance of dry skin and crow's feet. Again, make sure to do this away from direct sunlight.
  
  If you are not a fan of cucumbers, you can substitute fresh slices of jicama or zucchini.
  
• If you live in an area, which frequently experiences extreme weather or sudden shifts in temperature (e.g. balmy in one minute then snowy cold the next), it may be a good idea to invest in a humidifier. Cold air tends to sap moisture from skin. High heat can fill pores with epidermal debris, which also causes dryness.
  
  Regularly using a humidifier diffuses enough moisture in the environment to prevent skin from drying out too fast. This helps lessen dullness, flaking and premature wrinkling. This also lessens the risk of acquiring airborne pathogens, as bacteria and virus don't travel well in moist air.
  
  A humidifier is also a natural, organic aid to chronic dry throat, cracked lips, irritated vocal chords and problematic sinuses.

2. According to skincare experts, the best treatment is to apply external remedies:

• Apply gentle strokes of moisturizer to the affected area. Make sure to use a light touch, as your eye skin is delicate and sensitive.
• Choose your moisturizer carefully, and avoid those that contain harsh chemicals. You can also make your own moisturizer to make sure that only natural ingredients go into it. Ingredients that work well to moisturize this area include almond oil, Aloe Vera gel, avocado oil, beeswax, buttermilk, coconut oil, egg yolk, frankincense oil, honey, lavender oil, myrrh oil, olive oil, sandalwood essential oil, Shea butter, sweet almond oil, vanilla oil, and Vitamin E.
  
  You can use these ingredients individually or combine them to create your own DIY moisturizer.
  • Aloe Vera Rich Moisturizer - Combine 4 tablespoons of organic aloe vera gel with 2 tablespoons of almond oil, and 2 tablespoons of melted extra virgin coconut oil (or homemade coconut butter) in a bowl. Pierce one Vitamin E capsule into the mix, optional. Apply lightly on skin around the eyes, and leave on for as long as possible. This recipe also works well for chapped lips and irritated skin.
  • Frankincense and Myrrh Moisturizer - Combine: ¼ cup of avocado oil, ¼ cup of melted coconut oil (or homemade coconut butter,) 1 tablespoon of melted beeswax, 10 drops frankincense essential oil, 10 drops of myrrh essential oil and 5 drops sandalwood essential oil in a bowl. Apply lightly all over the face, preferably at night. Leave on for as long as possible. This works well on sun-damaged skin.
  • Lavender Rich Moisturizer - Combine ½ cup of melted coconut oil (or homemade coconut butter) and 12 drops of lavender essential oil in a small bowl. Pierce one Vitamin E capsule into the mix. Apply lightly on skin around the eyes, and leave on for as long as possible. If desired, apply on the rest of the face and neck as well, preferably at night. This helps skin feel tighter.
  • Note: Always buy therapeutic essential oils, or oils used for massages. Do not use aromatherapy or potpourri oils. Exceptions to this rule include almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil (which should always be food-grade), Shea butter (which is cosmetic-grade), and Vitamin E (which is a food supplement.

3. Give your skin a break from wearing eye make-up. As much as possible, skip the eyeliner and mascara, as they can cause unnecessary stress resulting in dryness.

• If you must wear make-up, choose brands that are hypoallergenic and recommended or tested by ophthalmologists. Skin experts recommend that you choose creams rather than powders when it comes to eye shadows.
• Be sure to test the make-up before you buy it. Do a skin-patch test whenever possible. Testing is necessary to determine and rule out an allergic reaction to any of the product's ingredients.
• Opt for "light" makeup on most days and only wear "heavy" makeup on special occasions.
• Choose at least one whole day per week to go makeup-free. And always, always, remove your makeup, then wash your face before going to sleep.
• When exercising, doing strenuous physical work, or working long hours outdoors or under the sun, it is best if you go makeup-free. Heat and sweat will not only dissolve your makeup faster, but also clog pores near and around your eyes. The worst that could happen is when environmental pollution (e.g. car exhaust, dirt, smog, etc.) infects your makeup-clogged pores, resulting to acne or infection.
• Wear skin protection when going outdoors. If you are planning to stay under the sun for more than 30 minutes, wear a lotion with high SPF count. If you plan to tan, apply more than one layer of suntan lotion and spread this (or ask someone else to do this for you) as evenly on your skin as possible. Wear dark sunglasses or a brimmed cap/hat if you are going outdoors on extremely sunny days.

Natural Remedies

For skin injuries and disorders (eczema, perioral dermatitis, blepharitis, and injury from sunburn), try these natural remedies:

• Eczema: topical solutions like the application of organic avocado oil, coconut oil, and olive oil on the affected skin can help lessen visible signs of eczema. Bathing in lukewarm water with sea salt, seat water, or epsom salts also helps ease some symptoms of this condition.
  
  If the eczema is rather severe, you can try bathing in lukewarm water with a good portion of fresh milk, or apply a salve made from uncooked old-fashioned oatmeal blitzed in the food processor with small amount of milk or water.
  
  Eating foods rich in gelatin or probiotics might help, too. Probiotics will boost the good bacteria in your body to fight the bad bacteria and heal. You may want to eat and/or apply plain yogurt topically or increase your intake of other foods rich in probiotics such as kefir, kombucha, cottage cheese, buttermilk, miso, and kimchi.
• Perioral dermatitis: if you have perioral dermatitis, avoid using scented soap and facial cleanser that can irritate your skin, especially around the eyes. Wash your face with nothing but warm water.
  
  Take a break from wearing make-up, at least your eye make-up. Stop using face creams, including sunscreen in lotion form (use a liquid or gel instead).
  
  For mild cases of perioral dermatitis, place a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar in a cotton ball. Dab (not rub or soak) on affected area. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Wash with unscented soap. Repeat step two to three times a day.
  
  Create a soothing salve by lightly applying plain or Greek yogurt of affected areas. Leave on to dry until crusty. Wash with unscented soap. Repeat step at least once daily.
  
  For more advanced cases, apply organic honey affected areas. Leave on to dry until crusty. Wash with unscented soap. Repeat step at least once daily, or when conditions flare-up.
  
  Other homemade topical solutions you can use are:
  
  Avocado and lavender oil salve - Combine ¼ cup of avocado oil and 10 drops of lavender essential oils. Apply lightly on affected area and leave on for as long as possible. Apply at least once daily.
  
  Shea butter and oregano scrub - Combine ½ cup of Shea butter and 1 heaping tablespoon of dried oregano. Apply gently on skin. Wipe away residue with clean paper towels. Repeat step at least twice daily.
  
  Tea tree oil salve - Combine ¼ cup of high quality olive oil with 12 drops of tea tree essential oil.
  
  Eating anti-inflammatory rich foods will help ease some symptoms of perioral dermatitis, like: calendula flowers (use in salads or teas,) castor oil, coconut oil, green tea, honey, olive oil, oregano, Shea butter and turmeric root.
• Blepharitis: you can get rid of blepharitis naturally with lukewarm compress applied to your eyelids. Rinse and wipe gently using clean wash cloth or paper towel. To remove crusting, add a drop of baby shampoo (preferably with no-tears formula) in ¼ cup of water. Mix well. Place a small amount of mixture on a cotton ball and apply on affected area. Gently rub away crusts on eyelids and lashes. Rinse with clean water afterwards. Pat dry.
  
  Castor oil and coconut oil (all applied topically) mixed with a couple of drops of calendula (marigold) essential oil or tea tree essential oil are all good natural remedies for blepharitis.
  
  You can likewise benefit from a natural anti-inflammatory diet that includes ingredients like Brussels sprouts, chia seeds, eggs, flaxseeds, ginger, hemp seeds, soybeans, turmeric, walnuts, and food items rich in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. anchovies, caviar, herring, mackerel, oysters, salmon, sardines, and tuna.)
• Sunburn: the best way to treat sunburn injury is to prevent the condition from happening in the first place. Avoid going out when the sun is emitting its hottest rays, or anywhere between 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wear protective glasses and sunscreen with high SPF count when going outdoors.
  
  If suffering from sunburn, try a cool bath or an oatmeal compress or apply milk or aloe vera. Other home remedies include:
  
  Chamomile facial wash - Combine 2 cups of room temperature or lukewarm water, ¼ teaspoon of mild, unscented liquid facial soap and 12 drops of chamomile essential oil into a small basin. Wash face with this solution using a clean face towel then rinse with plain water. Pat dry but do not scrub skin. Use this solution at least twice daily.
  
  Honeyed oatmeal facial mask - Combine 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 cups of warm water and 1 cup of old-fashioned rolled oats in a bowl. Leave this to cool completely to room temperature. Apply to face (or affected area) and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse well afterwards.
  
  Strawberry and yogurt mask - Combine 1 cup of plain yogurt or Greek yogurt, and ½ cup of fresh strawberries, minced. Apply to face (or affected area) and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse well afterwards.

Ways to Treat Dry Skin via Diet

Improving your diet is an easy, and natural way to help heal dry skin. A good diet might include:

• Drinking 8 glasses (approximately 12 ounce) of water a day is a standard measurement, but you should drink as much as you can, when you can. It doesn't matter if you can only consume 4 glasses, or you can kick back more than 10 glasses of water daily. The bottom line is to hydrate the body well from within.
• And by "water", we mean: plain, unflavored water. This should contain absolutely no calories. Beverages like beer, coffee, energy drinks, sodas, tea and wine may contain water, but the additional ingredients actually deplete the body of essential moisture and other minerals.
• Skip energy water, flavored water, or mineral-charged water. If you check their list of ingredients, you will notice that these products contain high amounts of sugar – about 4 teaspoon to 20 teaspoons in a 16 ounce bottle.
• Increasing daily consumption of anti-inflammatory food. This helps lessen superficial damage on the skin. More importantly, this spurs healing in the cellular level.
• Here Are Some of the Best Anti-Inflammatory Food Items:
  • Berries, like: blackberries, black currant, boysenberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, gooseberries, grapes, mulberries, persimmons, raspberries, salmonberries, and strawberries
  • Coconut oil
  • Eggs
  • Fatty fish, like: mackerel, salmon, sardines and tuna
  • Fruits, like: grapefruits, kiwifruits, and oranges
  • Green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables, like: arugula, beet tops, bok choy, broccoli, butter head lettuce, cabbage, celery, collards, dandelion, kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, and watercress
  • Homemade, unsalted bone broth
  • Nuts, like: almonds and walnuts
  • Pineapples
  • Plain yogurt, especially the fat-free variety
  • Seeds, like: chia seeds, flaxseeds, and sesame seeds
  • Spices, like: ginger and turmeric
  • Vibrantly colored root vegetables, like: beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, and purple yams
  • Whole grains, like: quinoa, rice, and wheat
• Avoid or lessen food items that can induce inflammation, like:
  • Processed foods and drinks, especially those that contain high amounts of sugar or sweeteners.
  • Refined carbohydrates, or products that contain high amounts of refined flour.
• Increased consumption of antioxidant rich food. Antioxidants are your best weapon against oxidative stress that causes dry skin. Dark green vegetables, fruits, and nuts are excellent sources, including:
  • Aromatics, herbs, and spices, like basil, cilantro, garlic, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley and thyme
  • Beans and legumes, like black beans, kidney beans, navy beans, peas, pinto beans, small red beans, and string beans
  • Berries, like blackberries, cranberries, elderberries, goji berries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, sweet cherries, and wild blueberries
  • Dairy like butter, buttermilk, cheese, and yogurt
  • Dark, bitter chocolate
  • Fatty fish and seafood, like bass, butter fish, catfish, caviar, cod, crab, crayfish, grouper, haddock, mackerel, mussel, octopus, oyster, pompano, sardine, seaweeds, scallop, shrimps, squids, tilapia, and tuna
  • Fruits - apples, avocadoes, cherries, clementine, grapefruits, kiwifruits, lemons, mangoes, oranges, plums, and prunes
  • Meat - chicken, eggs, lean beef, and turkey
  • Nuts, like cashew nuts, pecans, and walnuts
  • Sesame seeds
  • Tea, like black, green, oolong, and white
  • Vegetables, like alfalfa sprouts, artichokes, aubergines or eggplants, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, pumpkin, rapini, red peppers, Russet potatoes, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, and Swiss chard
  • Whole grains, like bran, barley, millet, and quinoa
• Consume a bit of fat. Eating lean is a wonderful way to keep your weight down, but the truth is: skin, hair and nails need good amounts of fat or oils (or approximately 1 tablespoon a day) to look and feel healthy too.
• Fat and oils make skin feel softer and smoother. This speeds up cell regeneration in the cellular level. This also slows down the effects of UV damage, and makes skin look younger and more vibrant.
• Fat and oils help make nails look clearer, and hair look glossier.
• Some of the best sources of organic and heart-friendly fat are almonds, avocadoes, bacon (organic,) capers, butter, cheddar cheese, chia seeds, coconut, coconut oil, cod liver oil, crab roe, cream, dark chocolate, eggs, flaxseeds, herring, macadamia nuts, mackerel, milk, peanut, peanut butter, pistachios, olives, olive oil, parmesan cheese, salmon, sardine, trout, walnuts and yogurt.
• Take natural vitamin supplements, specifically omega 3 fatty acids or fish oil and vitamin E. Fish oil will not only treat your dry skin from the inside, but will also help if applied topically. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant. This is especially beneficial if you are following a vegan or vegetarian diet and have cut off organic sources like dairy and seafood.
• Note: always ask your primary health care provider before taking any food supplements, especially if you are already taking strong medications for existing medical conditions.
• Include more superfoods in your diet. Benefits of consuming super food, includes acquiring higher levels of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. This helps prevent or slow down the effects of cancer, improves digestion, lowers cholesterol, minimizes signs of aging, lessens symptoms of heart diseases, protects organs from toxins, and reduces inflammation.
• The best super foods include acai juice, almonds, apples, avocadoes, beans, beets, blueberries, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, chia seeds, collard greens, cranberries, eggs, garlic, ginger, Greek yogurt, green tea, kale, leeks, lentils, oatmeal, olives, olive oil, pistachios, plums, pumpkins, prunes, quinoa, salmon, scallops, spinach, steel-cut oats, strawberries, tomato sauce, walnuts, and watermelon.

Prevention

Perform preventive care of the skin surrounding your eyes. Keep in mind that the skin there is thinner and more sensitive and therefore needs tender and gentle care. When cleansing this area, use gentle strokes. Avoid rubbing your face with unclean hands or towels. Avoid rubbing your eyes, if possible. Use gentle facial cleansers.

Avoid triggers of dry skin such as: dry and humid air exposure, prolonged bathing (especially in hot water,) prolonged contact with chlorine (e.g. swimming in the pool,) sun exposure, and using heavily scented soap and/or facial wash.

The same goes for the application of your eye make-up. Make sure that you use clean and sterilized brushes and make-up applicators. Always remove your makeup before going to sleep.

Shift to a healthy lifestyle. Along with dietary changes (see above), avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as they can speed up the signs of aging including dryness of skin, wrinkling in the eye area, and the appearance of fine lines and crow's feet.

Dry skin is typically not an emergency condition, but it can be chronic and permanent. Hence, you are better off starting your treatment with natural remedies. However, if your skin condition is severe and accompanied by other symptoms, then it is prudent to consult your physician for a medical solution.