#213: How to Keep Your Eyelashes Clean Without Soap

Today, I want to share why using soap and water isn't efficient for cleaning your lids and lashes. If you've been following me for a while, you know that I always talk about four simple steps to take care of your eyes daily because when you learn to take care of your eyes today, your vision will last a lifetime. Taking care of our eyes is as essential as taking care of our hair, skin, and teeth. Our eyes are irreplaceable, and we need to ensure they serve us well for life.

Many of my patients say, "Yeah, I wash my eyes in the shower," or "I clean them when I wash my face." But why isn't soap and water enough? There are bacteria and mites that live on our lids and lashes—everyone has them, and it's completely normal. However, for those of us who suffer from dry eye disease, our lids and lashes create an environment that's more conducive to the overgrowth of these bacteria and mites. When they overgrow, you'll start to have uncomfortable symptoms like redness and irritation.

Inflammation is a common side effect of an overgrowth of bacteria and mites. What does inflammation look like? Redness, irritation, itching at the base of your lashes, red eyes, and crusties in your lashes when you wake up. The rims of your lids might become red and thickened from chronic inflammation over the years. You might say, "But I clean my eyes every day!" Yes, but the soap and water you use for your face aren't effective against bacteria and mites on your lids and lashes.

Soap isn't an antimicrobial, so it doesn't eliminate bacteria and mites. Additionally, the purpose of facial soap is to remove dirt, dust, and oils. Oils clog our pores and cause pimples, so we scrub our faces to remove them. But the delicate skin of the eyelids needs those oils to help moisturize the skin and maintain our tear film. We don’t want to strip away the protective oils from our lids and lashes. When we clean our face, we often close our eyes, so we’re not concentrating on the lash line where bacteria hide.

That's why it's crucial to clean your lids and lashes daily with products specifically designed for that area. If you want to learn more, check out my blog, "The Guide to Eyelid and Lash Cleansers,". This guide covers the four types of lid and lash cleansers, including hypochlorous acid sprays, convenient packaged wipes, and lid cleansing gels and foams. These products are antibacterial and help remove excess bacteria.

If you’re dealing with an infestation of mites, there's only one FDA-approved treatment for demodex mites: a new prescription medication called Xdemvy. You can learn all about Xdemvy on this blog.

Thanks for joining me today. Remember, there are four simple steps you can use every day to keep your eyes healthy.