Dry Skin Around The Eyes: What Causes It + 5 Ways To Keep The Area Soft & Supple

But what exactly causes dry skin around the eyes, and how can you keep those flutters soft and supple? There's more at play here than you might think. 

Most of the time, dry, flaking skin around the eyes boils down to two main causes: allergic reactions (or contact dermatitis) or genetic skin conditions. While other factors can also be at play (think dry weather, sunburn, or simply aging), those two frequently fit the bill:

Of course, you may just be facing some run-of-the-mill dry skin. Because the area is so thin, it's naturally more prone to dryness. Annoying, sure, but it's not necessarily cause for alarm; you can soothe and protect the tissue-thin skin quite easily, as you'll see.

With dry skin around the eyes, delaying the onset is just as important as managing any irritation itself. Good news is, there are a number of ways you can do both: 

The eye area is oft-neglected when it comes to SPF—but you should take the time to swipe a proper sunscreen across your lids. "The last thing you want is sunburn in this area," says Downie. "Unfortunately, sunburn can wrinkle your skin faster." Wrinkles, as we know, go hand-in-hand with dryness; after all, dry, flaking skin only accentuates those creases. Don't forget, sunburns can manifest as irritation, itchiness, and peeling after-the-fact—what you may regard as "dryness" may very well be sunburned skin.

Artificial fragrance is a common aggressor for sensitive skin. And because the eye area is so delicate, you may need to invest in gentle, hypoallergenic products, even if you don't think your overall skin itself is that sensitive. "Don't use anything fragranced or scented around your delicate eye tissue," says Downie. (Note: Even products labeled "unscented" can still contain fragrance, so look for truly fragrance-free options).

People with chronically dry and sensitive skin1 tend to naturally have fewer ceramides, the lipids naturally present in our skin cells2 that act as a barrier to keep moisture in. That's why you can find them in many skin care products marketed to dry and sensitive skin. And while it's a good thing to use ceramides topically, they only provide their benefits to the top layer of the skin—which is why you need to ingest them, too, so your body can enhance its natural levels as well. Phytoceramides (which are just plant-based ceramides often used in supplements) help reduce dryness3 and wrinkles while significantly improving skin hydration, elasticity, and smoothness. In fact, one clinical trial shows that when you take ceramides orally, it may help the skin just as much as prescription-strength topical ceramides3.*

Remember: If a product is old and crusty, there's a good reason. While you might hear of old tricks and tips to extend the shelf life of your products (such as adding eye drops to your mascara), reviving those old items might do more harm than good. Ciraldo even suggests investing in new eye makeup every six months, just to be safe. 

It may sound obvious, but it bears repeating: Dry skin is practically screaming for moisture. If you have chronically dry skin, you'll want to swipe on a moisturizer or nourishing eye cream to hydrate and soothe the area. Especially at night when the skin is more permeable4, as your skin loses significant hydration as you sleep—a pesky little thing called trans-epidermal water loss5. Locking in moisture with a trusty eye cream can manage the dryness before the flaking and irritation make their appearance.

Dry skin around the eyes can happen for a multitude of reasons, and it isn't always so easy to tell. It may take some trial and error to find the root cause, but there are plenty of avenues you can take once you pinpoint the issue at hand. You can always touch base with your derm, too, especially if the irritation seems to stick around—they'll be able to differentiate between run-of-the-mill dryness and contact dermatitis in a snap.