Why Rubbing Your Eyes Is Bad for You

This is one of the worst things you can do for your eyes. And some people are doing it from the moment they wake up: rubbing your eyes.

You should never be rubbing your eyelids while you’re awake. It’s not good for the health of the eyelids.

The Eyelid Skin Is the Thinnest Skin in the Body

The eyelid skin is the thinnest skin in the body. If you compare it to the skin of your feet, for example, the skin of your feet has a whole extra layer called the stratum lucidum, and it’s got a very thick keratin layer, which is designed to take wear and tear.

The eyelid skin is the opposite. It is not designed to take wear and tear at all.

In fact, by rubbing your eyelids, it can cause the skin to thin out and make you more prone to allergies like dermatitis.

Rubbing Your Eyelids Can Make Them More Sensitive

When it comes to rubbing or scratching the eyelids, one of the most common problems that occurs is periodic dermatitis.

Scratching your eyelids or rubbing them can make you more prone to allergies. For example, people from hair dye or nail polish or various fragrances they put on their skin.

The eyelids are super sensitive, and if you’re rubbing your eyelids, it makes them even more sensitive.

Eyelid Laxity or Looseness

Another issue that can occur is eyelid laxity or looseness. Believe it or not, there’s a condition called floppy eyelid syndrome.

Floppy eyelid syndrome means that the eyelids have become so loose that you can just flip the eyelid over.

In fact, some patients, while they’re sleeping at night on their pillow, their eyelid flips over and opens up while they’re sleeping, and they wake up with really mukasey and uncomfortable eyes. 

And that’s from eyelid laxity from rubbing.

Rubbing your eyes can also make bags worse.

Consider Keratoconus

If those things didn’t scare you enough, consider keratoconus.

Some people have rubbed their eyes so much that the center of the cornea bulges forward to the point where they cannot see anymore.

Eventually, they’ll require a corneal transplant in many cases. In fact, one of the most common causes or reasons to need a corneal transplant is because of keratoconus.

So if I haven’t given you enough reasons to not rub your eyes, please don’t rub your eyes.