Blepharitis: Causes, Treatments, and What You Need to Know

When your eyelids feel gritty, red, or stuck together in the morning, you might be dealing with blepharitis, a chronic inflammation of the eyelid margins that affects millions but is often misunderstood. Also known as eyelid inflammation, it’s not just dryness or allergies—it’s a real condition tied to bacteria, skin disorders, or tiny mites living along your lashes. Many people think it’s just a minor annoyance, but left untreated, it can lead to dry eyes, styes, or even corneal damage.

One of the biggest culprits behind blepharitis is eyelash mites, microscopic organisms called Demodex that live naturally in hair follicles but can overgrow and trigger inflammation. These mites aren’t caused by poor hygiene—they’re common in adults, especially over 50. Another major factor is seborrheic dermatitis, a skin condition that causes oily, flaky skin around the nose, eyebrows, and eyelids. If you get dandruff or rosacea, you’re more likely to have blepharitis too. The good news? It’s manageable with simple daily care.

Most people don’t realize that blepharitis isn’t cured with pills or eye drops alone. It’s a long-term hygiene issue. Warm compresses, gentle lid scrubs with baby shampoo or specialized cleansers, and consistent cleaning of the lash line can cut symptoms by 70% in weeks. Antibiotic eye drops or ointments help when bacteria are the main problem, but they won’t fix the root cause if you skip the cleaning. Some doctors now recommend tea tree oil treatments because they kill the mites, but you need to use them carefully—too strong and you burn your eyes.

What you eat matters less than what you do with your eyelids, but if you have rosacea or oily skin, cutting back on dairy and sugar can help reduce overall inflammation. Avoiding eye makeup during flare-ups is also a smart move—mascara and eyeliner trap bacteria and make cleaning harder. And if you wear contacts, you might need to switch to glasses temporarily until things settle down.

You’ll find posts here that dig into real-world fixes: how to make your own safe lid scrub, why some antibiotic drops work better than others, and what to do when blepharitis comes back after treatment. There’s also advice on spotting when it’s not blepharitis at all—like dry eye syndrome or even rare autoimmune conditions that mimic it. You’ll learn what pharmacists see most often, what doctors miss, and how to talk to your eye care provider so you get the right help, not just more drops.