Yes, you should moisturize your eyelids and use lubricants, such as preservative-free artificial tears, to manage the dryness and irritation associated with blepharitis. The primary treatments for blepharitis, such as daily eyelid hygiene (warm compresses and cleansing), can sometimes dry out the delicate eyelid skin, making moisturizing necessary.
Applying sunscreen and moisturizer should become part of your daily routine.
Wearing eye make-up, particularly eyeliner, may make symptoms worse. It is best to avoid eyeliner, particularly during a flare-up of blepharitis. Rubbing your eyelids may make the inflammation worse, so try to avoid doing this.
Treating blepharitis in a toddler involves consistent eyelid hygiene: warm compresses (10 mins, 2-3x daily) to loosen crusts, followed by gentle eyelid scrubs with diluted baby shampoo on a washcloth to remove debris, and massaging the eyelids towards the lashes to unclog oil glands. For persistent cases or infections, an eye doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointments, drops, or oral antibiotics, but always consult a pediatrician or ophthalmologist first, as they can determine the specific cause and treatment plan for your child.
Lubrication. Dry eye is often treated at the same time as blepharitis. Chilled, preservative-free, artificial tears are often recommended and dosed four times per day in both eyes, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
If skin or oily debris accumulates and causes irritation, you can develop dry eyes or excessive tearing. Healthy oils secreted by the eyelid margin help protect the tears from evaporating. Dry eye can get worse when blepharitis causes you to excrete unhealthy oils.
NYU Langone ophthalmologists often suggest the use of artificial tears for mild dry eye disease. This is an over-the-counter medication available as an eye drop that helps to replace or supplement the tear film, the natural layer of water, oil, and mucus that keeps the eyes moist.
Blepharitis can be uncomfortable. But it isn't contagious, and it usually doesn't cause any lasting damage to your eyes. The main treatment for blepharitis is regularly cleaning your eyelids and keeping them free of crusts. Blepharitis usually doesn't go away completely, but you can take steps to manage your symptoms.
Most children with blepharitis will have repeated episodes and then have long periods of time with no symptoms until they outgrow the problem.
Blepharitis comes from inflammation of the eyelids, often due to an overgrowth of Staphylococcus bacteria, blocked oil (meibomian) glands, or Demodex mites, linked to skin conditions like dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) or rosacea, allergies, or poor eye hygiene, leading to crusty, red, irritated eyelids. It's a multifactorial condition, meaning several factors can contribute, and the exact cause isn't always clear, but it involves bacterial issues, oil gland dysfunction, and sometimes parasites.
Lid cleaning often needs to be continued indefinitely to prevent recurrence. More severe cases of blepharitis may require treatment with antibiotic ointment applied to the eyelids or, antibiotic drops for the eyes and, in a few cases, steroid eye drops.
In my experience, certain foods may trigger blepharitis. These include processed or fried foods, sugar, white flour and fizzy drinks tends to aggravate the condition.
While eye creams are safe for use around the eye area, you should avoid applying most to your eyelids. The skin on the eyelids is much thinner and more sensitive than the skin around the eyes. This means that it's more prone to irritation and allergic reactions.
Some doctors also recommend Vaseline for specific dry eye conditions. For example, it may help with blepharitis, which causes dry and irritated eyelids, and dry eyes due to meibomian gland dysfunction. A person can place Vaseline on the lower eyelid to help prevent irritation from tears.
EPIMAX Eyelid Ointment. EPIMAX® Eyelid Ointment is a gentle, soothing moisturiser for sensitive, irritated eyelids or for those with eyelid eczema. Soothe, hydrate and comfort dry skin around the delicate eye area or on the eyelids that may be dry, itchy, red and flaky..
Blepharitis symptoms can be similar to ocular rosacea, but there are a few telltale signs: Crusty buildup around the base of the eyelashes (especially in the morning) Red, itchy, or swollen eyelids. Flakes or dandruff-like skin falling from the eyelids.
If you look paler than normal, or have a subtle yellow tinge to your skin and the whites of your eyes, you could have a vitamin B12 deficiency. This is because the vitamin is important for your red blood cells.
Self care
A consistent routine of warm compresses, gentle massage, and regular cleaning can help unclog meibomian glands at home. This approach works by softening the hardened oils and helping your eyelids function as they should. Taking care of your eyelids can make a noticeable difference in how your eyes feel day to day.
Those that stare at a computer screen for large periods of time throughout the day are also more prone to blepharitis, especially when sitting in an air-conditioned room or office.
Blepharitis progresses through stages, generally moving from initial inflammation and mild crusting (Stage 1) to blocked meibomian glands and swelling (Stage 2). Further progression involves increased crusting, lash misdirection, and inflammation (Stage 3), leading to severe dry eye, lash loss, and potential eyelid structural changes like entropion or ectropion in advanced cases (Stage 4).
Conclusion: Both Refresh Tears and Systane are effective and cost-effective interventions. Systane costs more than Refresh Tears, however clinical trial evidence shows it to be more effective.
Popular OTC brands include Systane®, Refresh®, and TheraTears®. These are often considered the best over-the-counter eye drops for blepharitis because they hydrate the eye and flush away irritants.
Several new dry eye treatments were approved by the FDA in 2025, including Miebo™ (NOV03), VEVYE™ (CyclASol), and Reproxalap.