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Is it normal for sebum to burn..
  • RizosMios
    the heck out of my eyes? I wash my face twice a day and my morning wash goes normally for the most part, but my nightly wash burns my eyes and leaves me looking high afterward, they are so red. Is it normal for sebum to affect one this way? Could it be something else that I'm not considering?

    I do think I excrete an excess of oil, by the way. 
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    I've never heard of sebum causing this problem. (Although it does contain some fatty acids that I suppose could make your eyes sting.)

    Some other possibilities: 
    Are you using the same cleanser in the morning and at night? 
    Are you putting on makeup (or anything else on your face) in the morning that could be getting in your eyes at night? 
    Are you putting anything else on your face at night (like overnight retinol treatment) that could be getting in your eyes? 
  • RizosMios
    Sometimes I can be sitting, browsing and my eyes randomly sting and I must go wash my face that very instant. This almost always happens at night. 

    1. For the most part I use the same ones...I grab whatever's closest so either my BF's face wash or mine. 
    2. No makeup (although I probably should consider wearing the stuff as I'm closing in on 29 and zits are still a regular part of life...lol.)
    3. I do try to use a serum thing that is supposed to help clear old scars but I put that on when I go to sleep, so after eye-burning incidents. The stinging doesn't happen much in the morning. 

    I'll keep a closer eye to my routine though and see if it's the cleanser or the serum...I do believe it's sebum though, my face is always a shiny mess when this occurs. 
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    What about mascara, eyeshadow, eyebrow pencil, anything like that?

    Here's an experiment you can try to see if it is the oil: get some of the oil blotting sheets and blot HALF your face. If everything else is constant and only the unblotted eye stings, then it is more likely to be the facial oil causing the problem.  
  • RizosMios
    No eye makeup either. 

    But clever clever...I'll try your idea! I should talk to Right Brains more often... ;)  
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    I'm glad you liked my suggestion. If you do try the experiment, write back and let us know how it turned out and I'll put a post up on the blog about your experience. 
  • rozy
    They should devote a study just for you if your sebum really tuns out to be burning you! :)
  • RizosMios
    Thanks Rozy... :/ 

    It's actually not that super abnormal. Googling "oily face burning eyes" turns up a few hits, mostly from acne forums, some people claim the excess oil is coming from the eyelids...googling again with "oily eyelids (burning eyes)" yields even more results, playing around with words "sting", "irritation" = more results. 
  • rozy
    Oh I never knew it was a common thing! Did you do your experiment yet?
  • Right BrainRight Brain
    Wow, this was new to me too. Thanks. 
  • AngelaS
    I have to chime in - if I don't wear eye make-up, my super oily lids ends up causing my eyes to burn or sting through the day (it gets worse as the day goes on).  If I put even a sheer wash of eye shadow on or full-on makeup, though I have super creasing problems, my eyes don't burn.  I feel ya, RizosMios!!
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