I have been dealing with red, swollen, itchy, flaky, eyelids for a couple months now.  Went to dermatol., who of course prescribed hydrocortisone ointment.  Got some relief, but not much.  Then changed all make-up and brushes.  Cleared up for a couple days, then came back raging.  It was depressing.  Then I prayed, and asked God to show me what it is..you know, it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack!  A day or two later, I was telling a friend about my eye problem (it was obvious, at least to me).  She said, "honey, you are eating something you shouldn't be...are you eating strawberries?"  YES...I make fresh smoothies, eat them fresh, on and on.  They're in season in January (Florida strawberries), then later from California.  I have since cut out strawberries, and am ecstatic to report that it is disappearing!  Never had a problem with strawberries before!  Incidentally, my mother had the same eye problem, only 10 times worse.  She cut out all berries just to be sure, and she is clearing up as well.    Whatever you do...don't keep using cortisone ointments.  You will permanently damage that tender skin around your eyes!  Good luck and God Bless!

Hi, I had the exact same problem before too.  Although I haven't figured out what I am allergic to yet I will explain what I have figured out.

 So basically your dr. explained that you have contact dermatitis, which  means that you get ezcema around your eyes because of something you are touching.  I had the exact same problem around my eyes. And most doctors wouldn't give me medicine around my eyes since it was dangerous.  My eyes became so bad a doctor finally gave me steroid GEL to put around my eyes. 

 I use ALL's laundry detergent that is 'free' of everything, aveda's shampure, and don't use lotion or conditioner/hair products at the moment.  The problem has completely gone away.

 

When I compared conditioners/ shampoos/ lotions I was allergic too they all had glyceral stearate.  However, I did find that many of these ingredients have many different names and there could  be more.  My suggestion would be to watch out for those items that I had problems with.

 

Finally, I was never allergic to anything in my life before either.  As it turns out the apartment I was renting had something wrong with the air quality - it made me very sick and when I finally moved I became all better.  Except of course for my newly developed mystery allergy.  I would make sure that the places you are frequenting are safe because it is unusual to develop allergies that severe overnight.

 

Good Luck!