My eyes today. My whole eyelid is puffy, and the circles under my eyes are very dark from rubbing them.
Allergic shiners are a result of discoloration and swelling under the eyes and give the person the appearance that they have a black eye (or two!). They’re caused by sinus congestion and excessive rubbing of the eyes, both of which are symptoms of allergies.
Although I have these all the time, they vary in severity. During the spring and fall, it’s the worst because the pollen makes my eyes extremely itchy and I can’t help but rub them. If I don’t wear concealer, I inevitably get asked if I’m sick or tired. When they’re at their worst, I can’t wear eye makeup or concealer (which is typically the only makeup I wear). I hate going out in public when they’re really bad but I don’t have much of a choice. I’ve been asked if I was in a fight or got punched in the face by insensitive people.
Since I don’t often have eczema any place visible anymore, this is what makes me the most self-conscious. For the past month, my eyes have been like this. I’ve only been able to wear makeup a few times. I try to keep a positive attitude but this is really frustrating to me. My face is the first thing people see and I hate knowing I how awful I look. It’s not allergy season, I haven’t been around anything new or used anything new, so I don’t know why it’s happening. Applying makeup to hide it isn’t even really that effective.
After being around too many cats…
I use prescription eye drops (Cromlyn Sodium) four times a day to make my eyes itchy less often. I also use antihistamine eye drops, as needed. Lately, even the skin around my eyes is itchy! I take Benadryl non-stop, Singulair (which,in the past, has helped with my allergies), but nothing is helping me. I am going to make an appointment with my allergist this week because I am disgusted when I look in the mirror.
My eyes, when they’re not allergic.
From today: one eye with concealer, one eye without, to show the difference.
Aside from ODing on Benadryl, using cold compresses and eye drops, I’m at a loss about what to do. Hopefully, the allergist will have something helpful for me.
Does anyone else get these? What helps you?
Wow. I have had my share of allergic shiners. They are not fun and everyone can immediately tell you aren’t doing well. The worst were back in 2002 when I first arrived in Dallas for treatment.
What did you do to make them less noticeable or less uncomfortable? On one hand, it makes “invisible” illnesses less invisible, but ugh — I just don’t like that it’s the first thing people see.
For me, I think it was just the allergy treatments and avoiding chemicals. I made the mistake of trying more than one store with my daughter on Friday, even though I had my mask on, and I have them now. Darn it!
I’m sorry that people are sometimes insensitive. :/ I can’t walk outside when pollen count is high in the spring because my eyes will burn and water uncontrollably!! My eye doctor gave me drops during the summer because “you have dry eyes” (he tells me); what’s weird is that I wasn’t really aware of it. I mean, I know they sometimes get dry but apparently it’s all the time. I also think I may be allergic or sensitive to mascara because whenever I wear it, I inevitably rub my eyes and they feel irritated. Do you wear eye makeup?
I know what you mean about going outside in the spring! I do it as little as possible, and only with sunglasses on. Still, I end up having to take lots of medicines and use eye drops. Do the eye drops help?
And I do wear eye make up (almost always, except when my eyes are really bad because it hurts to put it on). It doesn’t normally bother my eyes, though!
The allergy eye shiners are so frustrating! Mine got soo much better when I stopped eating gluten actually but errrrr you already do that. I hope you find some relief!!
Mine have gotten WORSE since I stopped eating gluten! I can’t explain it. I don’t get it at all. I stopped having gluten in September and September & October are both really bad allergy months for me. But they should be fine now! It’s the middle of winter here. …Although, we have been using the fireplace more often this winter, burning oak logs that were outside for 7 years. I wonder if that could be making it worse.
oh man, YES!!! That sounds like it could be a major trigger. Try stopping for a few days to see what happens. Haha back to the same fun game, “stop everything I’m doing in my life to see what is causing my allergies.” Ugh.
Ugh, I have these too and I know what you mean about being self-conscious when you look in the mirror. To tell you the truth, when I looked at your photos, I didn’t even notice the shiners right away… but maybe because I’m so used to seeing those under my own eyes as well. People that don’t understand allergies are so rude, I’m sorry that you get asked if you were in a fight or are tired/sick! But gosh that picture of you without allergy symptoms – you have gorgeous eyes!
Although I have shiners, the skin around my eyes doesn’t really itch. It DOES get puffy and irritated and dry if I have a flare though, and that is the worst since people look at your eyes first when they are talking to you! So I completely sympathize there. I’m able to cover up my shiners decently with Tarte maracuja oil concealer, but I hope your allergist is able to help because I know these are no fun and make one just want to hide from the public.
The only two suggestions I have besides what has been said: Perhaps you have developed a mild allergy to your eye makeup? You say that you can’t wear concealer when they are really bad, does the concealer make them itch more? Could be an idea to switch brands. My other suggestion is to try eliminating dairy. I know you already eat a restricted diet, but since shiners are from allergies and sinus congestion, I think it is worth a try. I used to have chronic sniffling and runny nose almost every single day when I was eating dairy (I had kleenex stashed everywhere and took allergy pills constantly!), and these symptoms completely stopped when I cut out dairy.
The concealer doesn’t make my skin or eyes itch more, but the skin is like puffy and not smooth so the concealer doesn’t look good on; it doesn’t go on smoothly, if that makes sense.
Usually, i use benefit boi-ing concealer, but i saw your review of tarte concealer. I should try that!
As for dairy, ugh… I know i should at least try to cut it out. I’ve had sinus surgery twice and my sinuses still aren’t any better. I should give it a try. How long was it before you noticed a difference?
Hm, it’s hard for me to remember as this was over a year ago, but I would say I noticed a difference in maybe 1-2 weeks. I hope you see relief soon if you do it – I know dairy is such a hard food to give up. There is nothing like melty cheese… yum. Daiya “cheese” is a very decent substitute that makes excellent “grilled cheese” while being dairy-free.
Oh, I’m so sorry. I don’t have any advice for you — this is the one thing I actually don’t have — except to hang in there. The thing about allergy symptoms is that they are always coming and going, changing in new (and odder) ways. I hope you get some relief.
That’s for sure! I feel like every year (sometimes every month and every week), it’s something new! I’m sure this doesn’t come close to what you’re going through with the topical steroid withdrawal though. I related a lot to the post you wrote the other day, about your mood being so tied to your skin. I, like you, am trying to just live more in the moment, regardless of my appearance. I look back on much of my childhood and teenage years, and I wasn’t really having much fun because of how self-conscious I was. I don’t want to look back on these years and say the same thing. My ability to have fun, have a good life, enjoy myself, love and be loved, shouldn’t hinge on how good my skin looks! It’s hard though.
I think your eyes are beautiful, even with the shiners.
I sometimes wish I had some visible symptom like that so people would know when I was having a hard time. But I can see how it might make me feel self-conscious too. But I think you pull it off very well. If anyone says anything, you should just say ” you should see the other guy.” 
Thanks! Invisible illnesses are both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, no one knows we’re sick, so we’re faced with disbelief. On the other hand, if we do end up with any visible symptom, we feel so self-conscious about it because people think we’re sickly! The grass is always greener, I guess!
I was wondering if you have been patch tested? Allergic shiners are bluish dark discoloration under the eyes usually caused by engorgement of the veins in that area secondary to nasal congestion. It does’t usually involve a rash of the skin. If you are having an itchy flaky rash that waxes and wanes over time, you may have a contact dermatitis which is a delayed chemical allergy similar to poison ivy. Periorbital dermatitis is not usually make up, but rather incidental contact to things we touch with our hands and then transfer to our face. Metals are a common culprit. Sometimes people have to do low nickel diets if it is causing systemic symptoms. Like your diet wasn’t already complicated enough! If this sounds like the issue, seek out what I call a “super dermatologist” that can patch test to hundreds of different chemicals (North American patch test panel) and not the typical boxed “T.R.U.E.” test that some allergists and dermatologists use. I hope this helps. I’m a relatively new blogger and this sounds like a great topic in the coming weeks. “Allergic shiners or Periorbital Dermatitis” or “My Jewelry is Killing Me!”
Thanks for the comment! My rashes are usually separate from my eyes (though in some of these pictures, I did start to have some sort of rashy reaction on my eyes too, sigh). My allergic shiners are from my eye and nasal allergies – I’ve had them most of my life and they don’t really ever go away for me, but sometimes they’re better. Sometimes, it just seems to be an allergic reaction (like in some of those pictures, more like allergic conjunctivitis?). I have almost every type of allergic disease (environmental allergies, eczema, asthma, sinus issues (with surgery twice)) so I don’t know, they probably overlap at times, too.
I’ve not been patch tested for chemicals, though my dermatologist has recommended it. I just don’t want to have to think about even MORE! It’s something I’ll consider at some point in the future though. Thanks for the suggestion. Glad to have found your blog
Hi Amanda –
I think you probably have an undiscovered food sensitivity. It’s definitely it’s possible a milk. At least with a sensitivity, you can remove it completely, see the benefit and then enjoy the item every once in a while – some cheese a couple of times a month as a treat, for example. My father snored horribly, had nose pollups, and had terrible problems with phlegm for his entire life. A couple of months ago he finally agreed to cut out all milk. He’s symptom free now. It’s a miracle for him – he never believe it was milk, so it was a real eye opener for him. Now when he has milk here and there it bothers him, but then he goes milk free and the symptoms clear up right away. It’s changed his life. I really encourage you try going milk free for at least one week – no casein, whey – nothing with traces of milk. See how you do. One week isn’t too hard….and you shoudl start to see results if that’s the issue.
Good luck!
Jennifer
Thanks for the comment and suggestion! So many people have suggested going dairy-free that I really ought to give it a try. Logically and intellectually, I know milk increases mucus production and with all my sinuses problems, it’s a no-brainer to at least give it a try. But emotionally, with all my OTHER “real” food allergies and Celiac Disease, I’m resistant because I don’t want to cut anything else out! The things we do to ourselves…. but you know what. I think I’m going to give it a try because you’re right – I can still at least have it once in a while! I’m sure I’d be better off in MANY ways leaving my dairy indulgences as occasional treats instead of something daily.
My son also has allergic shiners. He is on zyrtec which helped his allergies,but not the shiners. People always look at him and say he doesn’t get enough sleep, but he does. I have heard before that it could be related to dairy, but he is only one and milk is very important in his diet. I am unsure about what to do, but he has a follow up appointment soon so I hope she comes up with another recommendation.
HI Abby, thanks for the comment. I’m sorry to hear your son has allergic shiners but glad the Zyrtec has at least helped with the allergies. I hope your doctor has some good suggestions for you!
Hi ,came across this page as I searched for chronic allergy shiners.
First of all I feel you! Have had to deal.with these awful shiners my whole life, and it really makes me feel UGLY and gross feeling and effects my conference immensely! I wish I could just find an answer to these suckers so it would be nice if someone could give some feedback. By the way yours are nothing compared to mine plus.im fair skined and mine have these blue veins the circle around the shiners, yup I love them lol
Hello. One of the most common allergies is caused from laundry detergents and dryer sheets. I suffered for years not knowing an once I switched to allergy free detergent and threw away the smelly dryer sheets my allergies cleared up 80%. Just a thought. I live with shiners too. Every day someone asks if I was in an accident or fight. I used to get upset but now I just ask them if they gained a few pounds in return to their stupid question so they can see how it feels. Lol. Just kidding. I just tell them I beat someone up and they better not mess with me. Lol. Then I tell them it’s allergies. I have to try to just have a great positive attitude Bout it and they will see that ur secure and no longer focus on ur shiners becuz if u don’t care neither will they. Putting too much energy into worrying about it draws in the negative question askers. Good luck ! U will get to an age where it really doesnt matter who thinks what. I am and it’s nice. Lol.
Hi! Thanks for the comment. I actually use Molly’s Suds laundry detergent (no harsh chemicals or fragrances) and no dryer sheets! It was a recent switch and I do think it helped to an extent. Sometimes they’re worse than others; probably the same for you!