Could be the late nights, the early mornings, the hours in front of a computer, some kind of dietary deficiency...or just old age. But whatever the cause, I am no longer able to spring out of bed after a few hours sleep looking fresh as a daisy, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
So...as an extension to my beauty products research, Ive started experimenting with home remedies for bloodshot eyes.
It all started with a call to the vet.
I adopted a kitten recently, and she came to us with a winky eye. When I asked the vet what I should do about it, he first recommended that I get an eyedropper and put drops of...cold tea.
Cold tea in my cat's eyes?
According to various sources on the Internet, cold tea is a good remedy for itchy red eyes.
But is it good for your eyes?
If you've read any of my posts on green tea, you know I have lots of it lying around. I drink it for its antioxidant properties, use it as an antibacterial mouthwash (rich in flouride), and then sprinkle the dried leaves into my kitty's litter box to control odours.
So starting now I'm also going to put a few drops in my eyes.
Ocular Rosacea?
One possibility is that I suffer from a condition known as ocular rosacea. Rosacea affects something like 14 million individuals in the United States. It's characterized by red, blotchy skin. Itchy flaky patches. Fine capilliaries on the surface, and a tendency to flush easily.
The reason I think maybe I am suffering from ocular rosacea is that I have a chronic dry, ithy patch of skin on my face. If left alone, it gets rough and patchy and itchy. Apparently sufferers sometimes also get this chronic ailment in their eyes.
I've read a lot about the causes and cures for ocular rosacea. The prognosis is mostly...unexplained, progressive and incurable. Great.
For years I used a hydrocortizone cream to try to control the patchy skin problem. It helps, but I don't really like to use it. So lately I've been sourcing home remedies. I suspect that years of loading my body with "toxic" beauty products has caused or worsened the skin condition.
So I began experimenting with:
baking soda to gently exfoliate my skin once a week or so
a solution of borax for gentle cleansing daily
green tea and glycerine to moisturize, and heal
zinc oxide cream (diaper rash cream) to soothe, and protect from further sun damage
The results? The skin is smoother, the flaky patches are gone, and the itching is much better (but still present). The texture and the pigmentation are more even.
Not a miracle cure...but a HUGE improvement....and all of this using stuff I have lying around my house.
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