Ever Heard of Eyelid Scrub? We Asked a Derm About the Highly Rated Amazon Product
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I first encountered lid scrub years ago in a friend's bathroom. She claimed the little pads helped cleanse her long eyelashes and prevented debris and pollen that got caught in them from inhibiting her sight or irritating her eyes. Then, I recently noticed that The Original OcuSoft Lid Scrub ($10 for a pack of 30) was one of Amazon's bestselling personal care products and wondered if I should have been exfoliating my eyelids this whole time. Was ignoring this step like not brushing my teeth?
Considering the product has 4.5 stars on Amazon and more than 1,000 reviews, I decided I needed to investigate it further. I reached out to board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, to find out if I should start incorporating this step into my daily routine. Read more about lid scrub ahead.
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What Is Lid Scrub?
According to OcuSoft, the lid scrub box consists of individually wrapped, premoistened pads to clean the eyelid area. It claims to remove makeup, oil, and debris from dry eyes. The brand also carries additional products for allergy sufferers whose eyelids are itchy, an extrastrength version of the original, and a foam variety. Reviewers on Amazon say they use the pads for a range of conditions including inflammation of the eyelid (also referred to as blepharitis) and dry eye.
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Is Lid Scrub Safe?
Dr. Bhanusali is reluctant to suggest lid scrub to his patients. "I don't generally recommend it given how thin the eyelid area is and how often we see reactions there to ingredients," he said. "Often, dryness and flaking [on the eyelid] can be due to medical conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or contact dermatitis."
After asking Dr. Bhanusali to take a look at the product's ingredients, he said it looked benign but stressed the importance of exercising caution in this area. "In general, eyelids are one of the quickest places to react, so I would caution those with sensitive skin [to be careful]."
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Should You Use Lid Scrub?
According to both Amazon customer reviews and Dr. Bhanusali, those with sensitive skin should steer clear of these. Because the eyelids are so delicate and the skin is already so thin in that area, it's probably unnecessary to exfoliate them. If you are noticing buildup around your eyes, it's best to see a doctor rather than taking it into your own hands. However, if you're still committed to trying the product, try a patch test first. Then, Dr. Bhanusali suggests applying a small amount at a time and building up your usage.