Can Untreated Under-eye Edema Lead to Permanent Skin Laxity?

Question

I am a 22-year-old girl with no history of familial edema . I have recurrent conjunctivitis that leads to develop some kind of edema under my eyes. My doctor said that this edema will go away  but I don’t feel much better. I still have the sense of gritty feeling specially when I wake up and burny eyes at the evening plus the bags under my eyes are getting worse every day. I want to know if conjunctivitis has something to do with developing under eye edema.Does the untreated-edema lead to skin laxity and fat herniation that requires surgery to correct?

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Chronic eyelid swelling does lead to long term stretching of the eyelid skin. Trachoma is prevalent in Egypt which can be a cause of conjunctivitis and eyelid swelling. Please make sure you see an ophthalmologist who is testing you for trachoma and treating you appropriately. The damage that long term trachoma causes is much more significant that chronic eyelid swelling and the changes it causes to the eyelid skin.

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

The weight of excessive swelling on lower eyelid skin can affect the elasiticity of the skin. That would happen over a long period of time i.e., years but is possible. The more important issue is to find the reason behind it. You might have allergies or other ocular conditions. You should see ophthalmologists to find out the problem and the proper treatment.
Regards

William Portuese, MD · Answer

It all depends on how much edema is present on the lower lids.  If this is very severe edema of the lower lids, indeed it can create skin laxity by stretching the skin over several years if it is uncontrolled and untreated edema.  It is important to find out why there is so much edema in that area.  Make sure that you have an endocrine workup checking your thyroid levels as well as an allergy workup by your family physician.  The recurrent conjunctivitis that occurs on the eyelids does create edema underneath the skin and if it is severe enough, it can create excess skin.  Once the edema subsides there could be some mild excess skin present that can be addressed surgically once the medical condition is taken care of.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Yes, it is very possible to have the issue that concerns you. I would correct the allergies first than if the skin does not return to a more normal state than seek our help. 
From MIAMI Dr. B

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

There is NO doubt that prolonged stretching of the lower lid skin by prolonged or recurrent lower lid swelling causes laxity and thining of the lower lid skin with a premature aged look.
I would recommend you see a good Allergist to see WHY you have persistent conjunctivitis. Such processes can be immune based or the result of bacterial or viral infection.

Can Untreated Under-eye Edema Lead to Permanent Skin Laxity?

Answers (6)

Answer: Under-eye edema lead to permanent skin laxity

Answer: Under-eye edema lead to permanent skin laxity

Answer: Eye Inflammation and Swelling DO lead to thinning of Eye Lid Skin

Answer: Eye Inflammation and Swelling DO lead to thinning of Eye Lid Skin

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Can Untreated Under-eye Edema Lead to Permanent Skin Laxity?

Answers (6)

Answer: Under-eye edema lead to permanent skin laxity

Answer: Under-eye edema lead to permanent skin laxity

Answer: Eye Inflammation and Swelling DO lead to thinning of Eye Lid Skin

Answer: Eye Inflammation and Swelling DO lead to thinning of Eye Lid Skin

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.