Blepharitis is a common eye condition that affects your eyelids and the eyelash hair follicles. The eyelids turn red, itchy and swollen, with scales that appear at the base of your eyelashes. It may give you a foreign-body sensation in the eye and cause a lot of discomfort, especially when you wake up in the morning with crusting of the eyelashes.
This eye condition is usually caused by excessive growth of bacteria that is found on skin. It can also be caused by dandruff, allergies or when the eyelid’s oil glands get blocked. Blepharitis can sometimes become chronic; hence it is important to treat it on time using these simple natural treatments to keep it under control.
Natural Treatments For Blepahritis
Warm Compresses
If you have blepharitis infection in your eye, you will have crusts and oil debris accumulating often on your eyelids. Using wet compresses will help to loosen these and provide relief from this condition.
Dip a clean washcloth in some warm water, wring it a little and apply over your closed eyelids for a few minutes. You will get immediate relief from the pain, and doing this twice a day will help kill the infection.
Evening Primrose Oil
If you have dandruff and dry skin, these skin conditions will worsen the symptoms and occurrences of blepharitis. Consuming evening primrose oil daily will help restore moisture to your skin as well as hair.
It contains gamma-linolenic acid which helps improve the health of your skin and hair. You can have doses of 500 mg per day for six weeks and then reduce the dose to half. After six weeks you will see a great improvement in your condition.
Calendula
Calendula is popularly known as marigold and has flowers which have bright and beautiful orange petals. It is very popular for its medicinal uses and helps to treat a variety of skin conditions. It contains substances which have great skin healing properties, and hence it can also be used to treat blepharitis.
Calendula ointment is easily available in health stores and you can apply some on your eyelids to get relief from pain and inflammation. Apply it thrice a day to cure blepharitis completely within a few days.
Tea Bags
Tea contains tannin which is very beneficial in treating skin conditions. It can be used to get relief from the painful symptoms of blepharitis and to kill any infection at the site of application. Soak a tea bag in hot water for a few minutes. Let it cool and apply over your closed eyelids. It is very cooling and soothes the inflamed area.
Baby Shampoo
Blepharitis causes a lot of crusting over the eyelids; you can use baby shampoo to remove the crust as it does not contain any harmful chemicals and is easy on the eyes, causing no tearing. Add a few drops of baby shampoo to some warm water and use it to clean your eyes with the help of a cotton ball. Do this thrice a day to keep the area clean and it will also help to treat the infection.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is one of the best natural remedies to treat blepharitis condition. Dilute a drop of tea tree oil with a little almond oil and dip a cotton ball in this solution. Apply on and inside your eyelid to get relief from the itching, pain and inflammation due to blepharitis.
Apply it twice a day for around fifteen minutes each time. The swelling on your eyelids will also decrease considerably, and within a few days you will be completely cured of this condition.
Potato
You can place a slice of potato over each eye for fifteen minutes, thrice a day, to get relief from the symptoms of blepharitis. An even more effective way is to grate a potato and pack it in a piece of muslin, and then applying this over each eye. Regular application will treat the symptoms of blepharitis and help cure it within a few days.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil application is the simplest natural remedy you can try at home to treat blepharitis and prevent its future occurrences. Coconut oil contains antiseptic and antibacterial properties which are very beneficial in treating this condition.
Dip a cotton ball in some virgin coconut oil and apply on both the eyes. It will help keep the skin moist and also kill any infection at site. Apply at least thrice a day regularly.
Oregon Grape
Oregon grape is an herb and its roots are used for many medicinal purposes. It is quite similar to goldenseal but can be easily grown anywhere, so its use as medicinal plant has grown worldwide.
Oregon grape possesses antibiotic properties and substances called berberine which are effective in killing a wide range of microbes. The topical application of this herb helps to kill infection at site and helps treat blepharitis.
Flaxseed
One of the major causes of blepharitis is the reduction in normal oil secretions in the eyelids. This makes the eyes dry and hence increases the risk of bacterial infections. Flaxseed contains omega3 fatty acids which are very beneficial for your skin and help keep it healthy.
You can chew them as such or sprinkle in powdered form over your food. If you have blepharitis, it is best to take flaxseed oil capsules as it will help normalize lid secretions and treat this condition effectively.
Avoid Eyestrain
If you have blepharitis, it is important to avoid eyestrain as it will worsen your condition. Try to give as much rest to your eyes as possible. Avoid watching television, computer screen, or reading, as they will cause further strain on your eyes. Sleep as much as you can and just relax.
Hot Showers
Blepharitis causes lot of irritation and discomfort in the eyes. The dry crusts that form on the eyelids can be very bothersome, and the inflammation is really painful. A hot shower gives relief from these symptoms.
Just stand under a hot shower with your face turned upwards towards the water. Let it clean away the crusted eyelids and soothe the pain.
Maintain Hygiene
If you suffer often from recurring blepharitis, then you need to take proper precautions and learn to maintain a good amount of hygiene. Wash your hands and face often, especially after coming back home from work. Do not rub your eyes and wipe them only with a clean cloth.
It is better to avoid using makeup and keep your eyes clean as cosmetic products may contain irritants that will worsen your condition.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Drink plenty of water throughout the day as it will keep your body and skin well hydrated. This will reduce the dryness in your eyes, which makes the blepharitis condition even worse. Drinking lots of water regularly will even prevent future occurrences of this eye condition as the harmful toxins get flushed out of your system.
