Hemorrhoid Cream for Eye Bags?
If you have eye bags, you’ve probably heard about this old “remedy” that was endorsed by your own mom or grandmother. Go to the nearest drugstore and grab a tube of Preparation H. This hemorrhoid cream will supposedly get rid of puffy eyes fast.
No one knows who started this silly rumor but it is mentioned in model Diane Iron’s popular book “The World’s Best Kept Beauty Secrets.” Irons claims that many middle-aged celebrities use Preparation H to maintain their youthful looks. Supermodels reportedly swear by it, saying that this hemorrhoid cream gives them an instant lift when they are bothered by eye bags.
Apparently, the people who use Preparation H believe that if it can shrink hemorrhoids, it will also work for bulging eye bags. Promoters claim this is due to two ingredients: shark oil and a live yeast cell derivative called Bio-Dyne Skin Respiratory Factor. But the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) didn’t buy that story and ordered the manufacturer Whitehall-Robbins Inc. to reformulate the product.
At present, US versions of Preparation H no longer carry these ingredients but you’ll still find them in the Canadian and European versions. Instead, the American version has phenylephrine HCI 0.25 % – a vasoconstrictor that some dermatologists said will constrict capillaries and temporarily reduce dark circles and puffy eyes.
Dr. Debra Jaliman, a clinical instructor in dermatology at New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine said phenylephrine “tightens facial skin by temporarily constricting blood vessels and shrinking under-eye tissue – the same way it constricts and shrinks rectal blood vessels and tissue.” However, a Whitehall representative said Preparation H is not meant for the eyes and shouldn’t be applied there.
Since the skin around the eyes is thinner, it’s more sensitive and prone to adverse reactions that can occur from the ingredients found in Preparation H. There have been reports of irritation, burning, and itching among others.
“I would not recommend using Preparation H for puffy eyes. Every time I tried it, it burned and I had to rush to the sink and wash it off with cold water. The skin around the eye is very thin and sensitive, unlike the other area Preparation H is used for,” said one user in eHow.com.
“Instead of seeing miracles, all I saw was that my face was turning redder and redder and the pouches under my eyes were getting bigger instead of smaller! Finally, when my face started burning and itching all over, I washed off the darn stuff as fast as I could. For two days, my face was swollen and raw… hardly the results I had expected! Believe me, I was so disappointed by the failure of Preparation H to do what Irons claimed it would do that I vowed never again to use it. Not on my face and certainly not on any other part of my body!” said another disappointed user at MyDoctor2.com.
If you are tormented by eye bags, dark circles, swollen eyes or fine lines and wrinkles, don’t rely on hearsay or your next door neighbor for advice. One product worth looking into is Eyevive, the safe and natural way to reverse the signs of aging. Eyevive moisturizes and strengthens the skin around your eyes to help reduce eye bags, wrinkles, and other skin problems. For details, check out http://www.eyevive.com.
Janet Martin
http://www.articlesbase.com/cosmetics-articles/hemorrhoid-cream-for-eye-bags-192772.html
March 30th, 2010 at 7:16 am
is it safe to use hemorrhoid cream on eye bags ?
I have heard so many conflicting theories to this one. Some people say yes as long as you steer clear of the eye itself but others say its a no no.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:18 pm
why would you want to?
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
yes just dont geti in the eye
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Yes just dont get it in your eyes….
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
I would say no. The skin round your eye is very delicate unlike the skin around where the cream should go. I wouldn’t chance it.
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Yes, it is actually a very effective temporary puffiness reducer. However, I can’t stress enough that you should not get any IN your eyes themselves. Good Luck!
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Have you got hemorriods under your eyes?!
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
It’s not some thing you would want to use continuously but once or twice wont hurt!
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
A staple at most runway shoes and beauty pageants…as long as you don’t get it in your eyes…and don’t glob it on either…all you need is a very small amount.
References :
I work in the fashion industry…been behind the scenes many times
March 30th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
A doctor/dermatologist who was a guest on Oprah says it is safe to use but that it doesn’t help.
References :
Oprah Show
March 30th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Yes, it is fine. As long as you stay away from your eyeball. You only need hemmrrohid cream if your eyes are puffy from crying a lot or blackish from not enough sleep.
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I don’t think I’d risk it, but I have heard that you can. Maybe just put a little bit on and see if there’s a reaction before jumping in and slapping loads on.
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
if your eyes sag like a hemorrhoid i guess so.I wouldn’t do it your taking chance burning your eyes.
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Interesting question…I’ve never heard of this before. But wouldn’t it be less embarrassing to walk into the chemist and just ask for eye cream?
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
When I worked in jewlery at a department store years ago, we were right next to the cosmetic counters, and there were always tons of women telling the cosmetic counter girls that they didn’t want whatever eye cream they were trying to sell them along with their other items because they used Prep H and it was so great.
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
No..Use something that is made just for the bags under your eyes. Hemorrhoid cream has other ingredients in it that can actually make it worse over time and irritate the skin as well, the skin around your eyes is thin and you want to be sure your not putting anything on your face that could potentually harm your skin and your sight! Mary Kay has a great new product. Timewise firming eye cream.. http://www.marykay.com/amandaduncan
References :
Beayty consultant
March 30th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I think it is okay to use as long as you don’t put it too near the actual eye.
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Jaysus!!! What???!!!
References :
March 30th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I heard it was good but not tried it, I had forgotten about it, I think I will give it a go
References :