For children
A skin rash that occurs only around the eyes has basically the same causes in children as in the elderly population. Typical triggers are allergies or neurodermatitis. Especially the latter affects up to 15% of children and is therefore much more common than in adults.
However, there are also causes that occur more frequently in childhood. One of these causes is impetigo cotagiosa. This infectious disease is characterized by honey-yellow crusts and vesicles, which occur mainly on the face.
It is the most common bacterial skin disease of childhood. It usually heals without scarring and is treated with topical antibiotics. For persistent courses or previous illnesses, antibiotics are also prescribed as tablets. Skin rashes in the eye region can also occur in the context of various childhood diseases such as measles, rubella or chickenpox. Typically, however, almost all of the skin is affected by the rash and general symptoms such as fever, cough or rhinitis occur concomitantly.
During pregnancy
Skin rash on the eyes may also occur during pregnancy. However, there is no specific cause that can be attributed to pregnancy. Rather, they are rashes that can also occur outside pregnancy. Often rashes on the eyes are also of an allergic nature during pregnancy or occur in the context of an underlying disease such as neurodermatitis.
TreatmentTherapy
A rash around the eyes can be treated in several ways. The decisive factor for treatment is the cause of the rash. Allergic rashes, for example, are best treated by avoiding the allergen.
Antihistamines can be used to alleviate itching. Stubborn rashes can also be treated with light cortisone ointments. However, these are only suitable for short-term use, especially on the face, as they lead to atrophy, i.e. thinning of the skin.
Neurodermatitis is treated with moisturizing and cortisone ointments. For long-term therapy the new calcineurin inhibitors Tacrolimus and Primecrolimus are suitable, which may also be applied on the face. A shingles of the eye is treated with a five to seven day therapy with Aciclovir infusions. An acyclovir ointment is also applied externally to the affected skin areas. Black tea compresses are recommended as a general decongestant and soothing measure for skin rashes around the eyes.
