Blepharitis can be associated with a skin condition such as acne rosacea (malfunction of the oil glands) or a bacterial infection (such as staphylococcus). Eye make-up may occasionally cause blepharitis through an allergic reaction.

Even though it is not a serious condition, don't be fooled. Blepharitis can be very contagious. Those dealing with this condition must be very careful to avoid spreading the infection to other people, particularly family members.

Treatment Tips

When seeking blepharitis treatment, be sure to abide by the following steps to ensure the health and safety of those around you.

• Always wash your hands before and after touching your eyelids. If you don't wash your hands, you risk spreading bacteria and infection not only to those around you, but to other parts of your body too.
• Wash your hair and face every day. Good hygiene is key to reducing the symptoms of blepharitis and will lessen the spread of bacteria.
• Wash your eyelids every night.
• While you are treating blepharitis, use your own towels, shower poufs, and washcloths.
• If you are using medicated swabs to treat blepharitis, use a different swab for each eye.
• Avoid cosmetics, which often aggravate the problem. If you must wear cosmetics, look for ones that use mostly natural ingredients and are free of oil.
• Purchase new makeup brushes and applicators, as your old ones are likely contaminated with bacteria. Purchase a brush cleansing solution, and clean your makeup brushes regularly.
• Never share cosmetics.

Also be careful about sharing things like pillows, cushions, sheets, sleeping bags, and pillow cases, all of which will likely have come into contact with your eyes and will be contaminated if you are dealing with blepharitis. Some people sleep with eye masks on. If you do, wash and dry it thoroughly as it too has likely been contaminated. Avoid wearing your eye mask for the duration of your symptoms to let your eyelids breathe at night.

Many times, blepharitis becomes a chronic condition, meaning that it lasts over an extended period of time. Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotic or steroid eye drops or ointments. It is important to remember that any eye medications or even over-the-counter drops should only ever be used by one person. Sharing eye medications can result in transferring one person's infection to another person's eye. Never share eye drops of any kind. Also be careful when using eye drops so as to not touch the dropper on your eye. Doing so can transfer the bacteria into your other eye and leave the bottle contaminated.

Be sure to refer to these tips often to ensure the health and safety of yourself, your family, and your friends. To learn more about treating blepharitis visit restoreyes.