Can Retin A eyelid use - can it cause eye problems? Dr. Irwin answers on SkinTour

Could the Retin A I’ve been using on my eyelids cause a problem and eye area in general?

Dr. Irwin
April 6, 2013
Hi... I asked this question before but have gotten no response. I have had two doctors tell me that the one you use Retin A (like under your eyes) once you stop you could get the "droopys" from where your skin tightened and now it's settling and look worse. I have also read that with some eye creams that "taught" the eye the thing can happen. Is this what Retin A does ? Seems we are better off using nothing. I'm asking this question because I have used Retin A for over a year under my eyes because a dermatologist told me it was ok and and then all of a sudden my eyes started becoming dry (this is after a year) so I stopped and THEN all of a sudden one day my eyes got puffy (which they NEVER have been) and wrinkly and almost a little droopy underneath (which they have NEVER been.) now I'm scared I have done this to myself. Please help!!

Dear ST readers, friends and all, please, please remember that there is just is no way I can possibly answer all your questions, even though I’d like to. We get hundreds here now. So, I’ll do my best and I try to pick questions that resonate with other questions, sort of recurring themes.

Retin A eyelid use – can it cause eye area issues?

To answer your question, generally Retin A eyelid use is too irritating, at full strength. There are eye creams specifically formulated for this very thin skin that have retinol (a weaker version of Retin A/tretinoin) in them that many will tolerate. Some have also tried diluting the Retin A 0.025% or Renova 0.02% 1 to 3 with eye cream at night and that may work for some also.

Unless you are being irritated or are allergic to a cream, it can’t make your skin worse. The worse thing that would happen is just no improvement. If puffy eyelid skin persists, please see your dermatologist. Puffy eyelids can be caused by a whole list of things including allergies, too much salt, alcohol or sugar the night before, irritation or allergic reactions to all sorts of products including aerosols like perfumes, etc.! Once puffy eyelid skin resolves, there may be a usually temporary crinkling/drooping from the recent stretching.

Hope this helps,

Dr. B I

Check out the eye cream products I personally use or recommend to my patients here. 

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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