Inflammation of the eyelid skin

Inflammations in the upper eyelid, which are limited to the eyelid skin, are often caused by a viral infection. The reinfection or activation of a Varicella zoster virus, the pathogen causing chickenpox and shingles, can lead to the so-called zoster ophthalmicus (facial erythema) in immunocompromised patients. Initially, this painful clinical picture leads to photophobia, increased lacrimation and inflammatory processes (redness, swelling).

As the disease progresses, small blisters appear which are painful and can burst open. After these wounds are encrusted they usually heal within a month. Therapeutic measures are indicated, in addition to treatment with the virustatic agent Aciclovir, pain-relieving drugs in the acute stage.

It is not uncommon for this viral infection to cause nerve pain, which in severe cases is treated with medication. This pain often persists even after the zoster has healed. Another viral pathogen that can cause inflammation of the eyelid is the herpes virus.

This virus is also reactivated by immunocompromised conditions, hormonal changes or other influences such as sunlight, stress or similar. With this superficial disease the eye is initially reddened, it feels as if there is a foreign body in the eye and the itching and burning increases. In addition, more tear fluid is produced and the eye is sticky in the morning.

Also in this case eyelid care is essential and healing is accelerated by virostatic eye ointments. With both diseases it is important to prevent the spread of the inflammation from the eyelid to the cornea. Another cause of inflammation of the skin of the upper eyelid can be parasites.

If, under very poor hygienic conditions, crabs or head lice get stuck on the edge of the eyelid, itching and often chronic inflammation patterns occur. The lice and their nits must be removed with tweezers and the skin treated with ointments that additionally kill the parasites.Allergic skin inflammation can also be caused on the eyelid skin by hypersensitivity reactions to cosmetics or eye ointments or drops. The resulting eczema manifests itself with swelling and redness.

Blisters form and the skin flakes. The allergen that caused the reaction should be discontinued and the inflammation treated with a cortisone ointment. An eyelid abscess can be passed on in connection with local infections after injuries and can lead to swelling and redness of the eyelid.

Fever can occur in the course of these processes. This inflammatory process can melt down and its contents can spread. After splitting the abscess, the pus empties. Before this splitting, however, an attempt should be made to treat the inflammation with heat or broad-spectrum antibiotics. Other causes of eyelid skin inflammation are very specific and above all rare: Liderysipelas, impetigo contagiosa, syphilis, anthrax, tuberculosis, leprosy and diphtheria.