Drop Addict asks…I read your post about being addicted to lip balm and I have a similar problem: I think I’m addicted to eye drops. My eyes constantly feel dry and I’m always putting drops in them. Is this bad for me?

The Right Brain Responds:
Dear Drop Addict, we’re not opthalmologists so we’re not qualified to give you any medical advice about your eyes (or any other part of your body for that matter.) But, since using eye drops to moisturize your eyes is kind of like using lotion to moisturize your skin, or conditioner to moisturize your hair – what the heck, let’s give it a shot.

Dry eye

It’s possible you have a condition called “Dry Eye.” If that’s the case, the answer isn’t putting drops in more often – it’s finding a drop that’s longer lasting. Plain saline drops have a very transitory moisturizing effect – they just don’t coat the eye very well. What you need are drops that contain ingredients known as hydrogels that increase the drops ability to stay on your eye.

Common hydrogel ingredients include Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carboxy Methylcellulose, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Carbopol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, dextran, and hyaluronic acid. Look for drops with any of these ingredients and you should see some improvement.

And by the way, here’s a GREAT reference for all things related to eye moisturization.Learn amazing things about real tears, find out what’s in artificial tears, and see almost 30 different kinds of moisturizing eye drops. Just reading the list of soothing drops made our eyes tired and dry!

Finally, for a different kind of eye drop check out Eyegazms. (If for no other reason than the cool sounding name.)

Carol’s colorful question: Why can’t I use regular hair color on my eyebrows?  I’ve sprouted so many white eyebrow hairs that using brow products alone doesn’t cover them anymore. I see warnings against this.  Why?  If I’m careful, would it be ok?

The Left Brain’s eye opening response:

Carol, using permanent hair color on your eyebrows is very dangerous because it may cause an allergic reaction that could blind you.  Here are some key facts from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website:

Hair Dye Reactions

• “…some consumers have reported hair loss, burning, redness, and irritation from hair dyes. Allergic reactions to dyes include itching, swelling of the face, and even difficulty breathing.”
• “The patch test involves putting a dab of hair dye behind the ear or inside the elbow, leaving it there for two days, and looking for itching, burning, redness, or other reactions.”
• “The problem is that people can become sensitized–that is, develop an allergy–to these ingredients, they may do the patch test once, and then use the product for 10 years before having an allergic reaction… you’re supposed to do the patch test every time, even in salons.”

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Considering what could go wrong, I don’t think dying your eyebrows is really worth the risk.  And using organic hair color is no solution either.  Maybe you could find a temporary brow colors that doesn’t have the same potential for allergic reaction.

What do YOU think? Have you ever dyed your eyebrows? Leave a comment and share your experiences with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Mid Brain muses:

The folks over at C&E News are reporting on a new technology for changing your eye color. Researchers at Ciba Vision and Bausch & Lomb have come up with a new way to change eye color that works much better than the current technology. While colored lenses have been around since the 1970’s, they haven’t worked well for making brown eyes look naturally blue.

But now by using nanotechnology (really really tiny particles) and inspiration from the wings of butterflies, even the darkest brown eyes can be made blue. And it won’t even require a breakup with your boyfriend. I’ve gotta tell you, it’s stories like these that makes this Beauty Brain proud to be a scientist.

What do YOU think? Would you wear a special pair of contacts to change your eye color?
What if you don’t wear glasses or contacts? Would you wear them just to change your eye color? Leave a comment and share your colorful thoughts with the rest of the Beauty Brains community.

Diana dares to ask: Do cheap sunglasses provide the same amount of UV ray protection as more expensive sunglasses? Does it matter? I understand the FDA does not regulate this (not that I think they should…) but how can we tell if the shades we’re buying will protect our eyes or potentially harm them?

The Right Brain’s squinty replay:

This is a very important question Diane! Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can burn your skin AND the corneas and conjunctivas of your eyes. Plus, long-term UV exposure can lead to eye disease like cataracts (clouding of the lens) and macular degeneration (breakdown of the macula) Sunglasses that block this UV light are a great way to help protect your vision, but you don’t need to spend a bundle to do it.

Good guidelines

You’re right that the FDA doesn’t regulate sunglasses. But the American National Standards Institute has set some guidelines that can help you pick the right pair. They say that glasses should block UVB by 99% and UVA radiation by 95 percent. Here’s the important part – the glasses should indicate the level of protection they provide. If the glasses aren’t labeled with a specific UV claim then DON’T BUY THEM because it’s impossible to know how much protection they will provide. And don’t assume that “special” lenses block UV. Blue blockers, polycarbonate, and polarized lenses may block SOME UV light but without special coatings these lenses DO NOT meet the UV minimum blockage requirements. Make sure the glasses are clearly labeled with the type of protection the offer.

What to look for

Look for these voluntary industry labels that (hopefully) manufacturers are using:

• “Cosmetic” = 70% UV reduction
• “General purpose” = 95% UV reduction
• “Special purpose” = 99% UV reduction
• “UV-400″ and “UV absorption up to 400nm” = 99% to 100% UV reduction

Also, you should know that the UV protectant coating doesn’t have a color, so don’t be tricked into thinking that darker lenses provde better protection. Also, remember that the tint or color of the lens doesn’t matter.

Cost is not critical

UV labeling is what you should look for, not a high price tag. We quote the Glaucoma Research Institute

The good news is that sunglasses don’t have to be expensive to protect your eyes and they can often be found at the local drugstore. Unfortunately, a high price is not always a guarantee of high quality and protection. Part of the difficulty is that standards and labeling regarding UV protection are voluntary, not mandatory-and can be confusing.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Don’t be cheated by Chanel, fooled by Fendi, or duped by Donna Karin. Look for proper UV labeling and save some money!

What do YOU think? Do you buy expensive sunglasses because you think they work better? Leave a comment for the rest of Beauty Brains community.

References:
Mayo Clinic
Glaucoma Research Institut

Natalie’s puffy eye problem: I was wondering if you could tell me if it’s ok to use Preparation H for under eye puffiness on a regular basis. There is a variety that comes with hydrocortisone that I’m particularly interested in. Thanks.

Forebrain gets to the butt of the problem:
First of all, the Beauty Brains would never recommend using ANY medication for any purpose other than it’s intended use, especially around the eyes. Having said that, let’s take a look at causes and solutions for puffiness.

Causes of puffy eyes

Undereye puffiness is characterized by red swollen skin under the eyes and is usually due to one of these causes: bloating, dehydration, fatigue, allergies, hormones, or genetics. Because the roots of these causes are so varied, it is hard to say which physiological mechanism is behind the puffiness appearance, and therefore not all treatments will work equally well; however, since the redness is due to increased blood flow to the area a treatment aimed at restricting blood vessels should provide some temporary relief. The swelling however, may be for a variety reasons and the treatment for that is not as straightforward.

Is Preparation H the answer?

Some people believe that Preparation H is useful for treating undereye puffiness since it works by temporarily restricting the blood vessels in the area onto which it is applied. There are many different variations of Preparation H; however, they all basically perform the same function (they just use different ingredients to reduce the irritation). Preparation H with hydrocortisone contains a 1% concentration of the stuff, quite low considering that you can get hydrocortisone creams with concentrations up to 2.5% over-the-counter.

In general, although it may in theory seem effective, I would not recommend anyone to use any kind Preparation H on their undereye area for one big reason. If you accidentally get some in your eye, the other ingredients can seriously damage the eye, and then unfortunately undereye puffiness will be the least of your concerns. Besides that, I wasn’t able to find any conclusive scientific evidence on Preparation H being more effective than other methods of reducing undereye puffiness, basically meaning that this treatment is more of an urban legend than actual fact. The Straight Dope came to the same conclusion in their entertaining article on this topic.

What about hydrocortisone?

So what about using just hydrocortisone? As I have previously mentioned, you can get hydrocortisone creams without a prescription at a pharmacy at concentrations up to 2.5%. As a topical steroid, it has anti-inflammatory effects and could in theory temporarily reduce puffiness in the undereye region.  However, as with Preparation H, there is a concern regarding accidentally getting the stuff in your eyes, in fact the manufacture state that you should NOT use the product in, or near, your eyes.  Also, prolonged use of topical steroids like hydrocortisone has been shown to cause skin thinning, increase skin fragility, enlarged blood vessels, and prolonged use in large doses can result in problems with your adrenal gland (the natural steroid producer in the body).

So what’s a girl (or boy) to do?

So what should you do to treat undereye puffiness? While there are temporary treatments like applying cool water compresses to the area, sleeping with your head slightly elevated (you can use an extra pillow), the best way to get rid of undereye puffiness is to address the underlying roots of the problem. Are you getting enough rest? Seven hours of sleep per night is the recommended minimum. Also, often undereye puffiness is due to allergies. While it may not be pollen season, you can still be allergic to anything from airborn allergens like grass to certain foods that are a part of your diet. Get an allergy test done, or try eliminating foods from your diet to see if any relief occurs. Another big reason for undereye puffiness is bloating or dehydration. This can be hormonal like before menstruation, or because of diet. The best treatment in these cases is to take a diuretic (it will help you eliminate the extra fluids), as well as to drink enough water and consume healthy amounts of salt to stay hydrated but not bloated.

Finally, for some people, having puffy eyes is hereditary. In these cases, there really is not much you can do besides really invasive measures like cosmetic eyelid surgery, something I don’t personally advocate.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

As undereye puffiness can be a sign of a health issue like lack of sleep, allergies, or hydration problems in these cases, it is important to address the root issue and not just the symptoms. However, in cases where immediate relief is necessary my recommendation is to avoid Preparation H and hydrocortisone, and rather use a cooling compress, head elevation, and rest. (For info on puffy eyes check out this post.) Please remember to read cautions and warnings on packaging of products you are not sure about since they will usually give you a pretty good idea of where the stuff isn’t meant to go. And finally, if you’ve tried everything and the puffiness is still not going away, it might just be hereditary in which case there really isn’t much you can do besides a few make up tricks.

Fun Fact: A rumour exists in the US that Preparation H is the most shoplifted supermarket product since customers are too embarrassed to bring it to the cash register.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/under-eye-puffiness/AN00664

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preparation_H/

http://www.mothernature.com/

http://www.dermnetnz.org/

http://www.drugdigest.org