Because the skin around your eyes is some of the thinnest skin on the body, it’s quite delicate, and especially important to treat it with care. If you’re experiencing dry under eyes, dry eyelids or dry patches under your eyes, just applying more of your regular facial moisturizer might not do the trick. However, don’t lose hope: simple lifestyle changes and the right eye treatments could do the trick. We’re breaking down how to treat dry skin around eyes, including lifestyle changes you can make, like:

• Staying hydrated
• Avoiding hot showers
• Gently removing eye makeup
• Protecting the eye area with sunscreen
• Choosing the best eye cream for dry skin
• Using a medicated balm for dry patches
• Visiting your dermatologist for guidance

1. Stay hydrated from the inside out

“The skin around your eyes is actually thinner than skin elsewhere on your body,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO, Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “This makes it more vulnerable to becoming dried out and irritated if your body as a whole is dehydrated.”

While drinking water is not a cure for dry skin, it can help your skin cells function better as a whole, which can help your skin in the long run. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recommends 11.5 cups of water a day for women and 15.5 cups for men for adequate hydration.

2. Cool It With Hot Showers

Are you wondering, “why are my eyelids dry?” Believe it or not, washing your face with hot water might be the culprit!

“I always recommend washing with lukewarm water,” Dr. Joel Schlesinger says. “Hot water can lead to dryness because it strips away your skin’s natural oils. This can cause redness and itchy, irritated skin.” When in doubt, dial down the temp when you’re ready to hop in the shower or bath.

3. Gently remove eye makeup

If you wear eye makeup often, it’s possible the process of removing it could be one of the factors causing eyelid irritation or dry under eyes. Cleansers, even some as delicate as micellar water, could be stripping the natural oils needed to keep the skin around your eyes hydrated.

Instead, reach for a nourishing oil like Eminence Organics Stone Crop Cleansing Oil, which will help break down makeup without stripping skin of essential moisture. A cleansing oil should take off all your makeup, but if you still have any lingering, do a quick sweep with a makeup remover like Jane Iredale Magic Mitt. All you need is water and a gentle touch to remove any left over.

5. Protect your eyes from UV rays

You’ve heard this here before: the sun’s UV rays can damage skin, leading to premature aging and skin cancer, so it’s important to protect your skin by wearing sunscreen every day. To avoid dry patches around your eyes caused from sunburn, it’s good practice to wear sunglasses with full-spectrum UV protection and invest in a sunscreen that’s specifically formulated for the area around your eyes.

We recommend Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 because it offers a tint that helps conceal the appearance of dark circles, but it’s also formulated with mineral sunscreen actives that are safe to use around the eyes. Additionally, it contains ingredients that help maintain hydration, while minimizing puffiness and wrinkles over time.

5. Hydrate and moisturize skin

Dryness around the eyes can be improved with an eye product enriched with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermallergo Eye Cream is safe to use on dry eyelids as well as the undereye area, with ingredients like glycerin for hydration, shea butter to help lock in moisture and niacinamide to soothe redness.

For an even richer option, Epionce Renewal Eye Cream makes a great choice. In addition to being eyelid-safe, it helps dry under eyes by strengthening the skin barrier with safflower seed oil. It contains hyaluronic acid to draw moisture to the skin while helping minimize any existing inflammation.

6. Use a medicated balm for ultra dry spots

If you have red, dry patches under or around your eyes, a medicated corticosteroid balm, such as FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm, could potentially ease inflammation and help your skin get on the mend.

“FixMySkin Healing Balms can be used on tender eyelids and works so well to heal dryness, flakiness and other skin irritations,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “It’s great for when you have a waxing gone wrong where skin is torn and so many other issues.”

7. Visit your dermatologist

If you’re not noticing an improvement in the eyelid or dry under eyes with topical products or these lifestyle changes, it may be time to make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist. They can examine your skin and help determine if periorbital eczema or other skin conditions may be leading to dry patches under eyes that won’t go away and recommend prescription treatment if necessary.

You can learn more about the best eye cream for dry skin, including ones with Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger’s personal endorsements.