Blepharitis: In desperate need of a solution..

Like Sandra I also use Wet Ones Be Gentle ( they have no alcohol but the same antibacterial agent as the others) and have improved enormously in just a week, thanks to Lynda,bless her. I also use a heat pad on my eyes for 5 minutes and massage the lids from nose to temple several times to drain the tiny glands (Melbomian glands, click drawing below) which lubricate the eye balls, then the Wet Ones. I do this three times a day.

My doctor told me of the warmth/massage/clean treatment ( but not of the Wet Ones I will let her know!) and didn't give me any medicaments.

The truth is that i am back to normal . I must have had blepharitis for years only that it flaired up badly in January. My eyes watered all the time and began to be sticky in the morning by when I decided to see the doctor.

I hope you have a quick result with the Wet Ones, Melissa, I think everybody that  have tried them have.

I am sure you will also be free of the pesky thing soon, Melissa! What you are doing is the same I do.The doctor gave me four pages of info which I tried to copy and paste here but it is not possible. It explained that the massage is done with eyes closed using the tip of one finger on the upper eyelid, from the nose end  to the corner at the temple. carefully pressing a bit. Repeating about five to ten times. Then the same on the lower lid.

To measure the five minutes i am with the heated pad on my eyes I use a free app in my Android tablet, called Diving into Silence Lite, which is meant as an alarm to use as a meditation aid. It has gentle sounds to wake you up and also can play white noise. It is very relaxing and makes me look forward to the treatment.

Today I read a lot, a thing I could not do a week ago such was the flood of tears always in my eyes.

Good luck!

Oh about make up I am not using any at the moment but when I buy a new mascara, I intend to wash the wand after each use and let it dry for the next day. Never putting it back in the tube as one does normally. There are also dispossable wands which are very cheap but I do not like to burden the poor planet with so much rubbish.

Try Wet Ones anti bacterial hand wipe. Check out this site and see the discussion by Lynda. Good Luck

Definitely see Lynda's and be patient, I am, to any practical purposes, free of Blepharitis after only some three weeks of heat/massage/ Wet Ones Be Gently (without alcohol)three times a day. I will keep it up for three months at least.

I am on Doxycycline too which I think does help a little but still stand by my daily ritual of a shower using Capasal shampo which contains coal tar, not sure if it is available non-prescription or not but it seems to have worked for me.  I tried all the wipes and stuff, that just made it worse.

Just replied on one of your earlier posts, so this is a repeat of what I posted you:

Google 'Tea tree oil demodex blepharitis' to find links to research into blepharitis being caused by an 'infestation' of the microscopic skin mite, demodex, and treatment plan to cure it, in case this is the cause of your blepharitis.

Basically, treatment is with 100% pure tea tree oil diluted with olive oil. Must dilute as tt is so strong it might irritate the skin around your eye otherwise. The tea tree oil is one of few things that will kill the mites.

Sounds completely bonkers, but it has worked for my son where prescribed medicines have not.

You can find the advised method of cleanse via Google search, but quick summary here:

initial treatment, then no more than once a week for 1-3 months  - 50/50 dilution, 3 cleanses, 10 mins apart

twice a day on the other days - for at least one month, cleanse with 10% tt to 90% olive oil dilution

The demodex mites burrow down into your hair / eyelash follicles, but they come out to breed, so you have to catch them when they come out , hence the repetition and  1 - 3 month time frame to kill them all off.

My son saw a massive improvement within the first week, and now after a month is almost 'bleph free'.

 

Hello Melissa, I am in the states and was so glad to read your post and know I am not alone!  I have had bleph for over three years now and it is worse on my left eye which not only droops but the upper lid is constantly swollen..especially in the mornings.  My skin around my eyes has been very affected by this condition, even pigment wise (my under eyes are beyond completely white all the time but again worse on the left eye).  I have been to various derms over these few years (most said this was "sun damage" which I am sure some of the skin pigment issues is due to no sun protection on my french/Danish very light skin over the years)....however, that being said, my left eye is extremely droopy on the bottom lid yet "surprised looking" on the upper if you can even picture that.  I have tried warm compresses but get impatient with the effort as the cloths always get too cold too quickly and I don't have a lot of time to do it (I work full time in retail management and am always on the go).  I have also been to several opthomologists over the years who all agree this is severe dry eye and there is no cure, only management of it.  I have heard of the Wet Ones but never stick with anything for more than about a day honestly as I always want instant results.  I have tried erythromycin ointment (I was not consistent with it however, but still have at least a half tube of it and it hs not expired), tea bags, warm washcloths, even ICE on the upper lid to reduce the swollen appearance, Coconut oil, tea tree oil, bio oil, coconut lotion/cream (think Palmers brand), plain baby oil, baby shampoo scrubs, name it I have tried it.  Nothing seems to work and it is very frustrating!  I also have some sun damage which has led to some rosacea that also seems permanent (although I get the sun damage is a very separate issue).

Anyhow I am a bit excited to hear about these "Wet Ones" (which we sell at the store I manage at) and to try them asap.  I am a bit nervous about going without eye makeup as I wear makeup daily and have since about age 12 or 13 (in my forties now)....since I have to face the public and my staff each day and my skin is blotchy in addition to the eye issue.  I am sorry for the novel here but I am so relieved to know this is not an isolated condition and I am anxious to begin using the Wet Ones to see what happens.  I am always eager and hopeful to try anything that might help but am not great about keeping it up.  So I plan to experiment starting tomorrow evening after I purchase some at work.  I will keep you all updated and sorry Melissa if it seems I am hijacking your post that is not my intent I was jsut so super excited (not that we are going through this TRUST!) but to know I am not alone.  Thank you for letting me add to your post and I wish us all the best of luck!