Skin irritation from eyeglasses

On a daily basis, wearing eyeglasses should be as comfortable as possible.
However, it can occur to meet some inconveniences with its pair of glasses.
Thus, even if it's rather uncommon, a pair of eyeglasses can sometimes cause skin irritation.

Skin irritation from eyeglasses : Signs and causes

In some cases, skin irritation or contact dermatitis may occur on the face area directly in contact with the eyeglass frame.
This peculiar skin reaction generally manifests itself in the form of red marks often concentrated in the nasal area.
As a result, the irritated area of the skin becomes sore and itchy, which can be very uncomfortable.
In some more severe cases, cysts, blisters, bumps or even lesions can as well appear on the face.
Skin irritation from wearing eyeglasses is quite infrequent and is usually caused by an allergy to the eyeglass material.
Indeed, some plastics and metals are more allergenic than others and some people may develop an allergic reaction when wearing them.
Furthermore, some of the substances used to make the frame may also be allergenic.
This is the case of the nickel varnish and some dyes, solvents or waxes which can also cause a skin irritation.
The friction of the eyeglass frame on the face can also cause contact dermatitis.
In this case, irritation marks may appear on the upper cheeks in contact with the lower part of the frame and behind the ears where the temples are located.
Finally, dirt developed under the nasal bridge can also cause a skin reaction.

What to do if your eyeglasses cause irritations

The first thing to do when you notice a skin reaction to your eyeglasses is to clean your frame thoroughly.
If the irritation disappears soon afterwards, then it was due to a dirty frame; if not, the cause is to be sought elsewhere.
The first case must remind you that a pair of eyeglasses should be regularly cleaned.
However, the most reasonable solution when a skin irritation is observed is to consult your optician or opthalmologist straight away.
As a matter of fact, only a professional can determine with certainty the cause of your skin reaction.
If it is due to repeated friction between the skin of the face and the glasses, this means that the frame will have to be readjusted by your optician.
Indeed, a spectacle frame must always fit perfectly on the face and loose or too tight frames can cause skin irritations.
Finally, if it's an allergic reaction, the obvious solution is to replace your current pair with a new one made of a different material.
Thus, if your frame is a metal one, you may be allergic to nickel or titanium and should switch to a plastic frame.
If your pair of glasses causing the irritation is made of plastic, then it may be an allergy to polycarbonate, proprionate or polyamid.
In this case, changing to a metal frame should solve the problem.
If you have skin hypersensitivity or frequent allergic reactions, you should preferably opt for an hypoallergenic eyeglass frame.
Do not hesitate to ask your optician for recommendations in case of skin irritation due to your eyeglasses.