Rosacea is a common skin disease that causes rosy patches on your skin and dry or oily spots, usually on the face. There's a related condition called ocular rosacea that can cause dry eye.

Rosacea and ocular rosacea seem to be linked to autoimmune disorders, which happen when the immune system — your body's defense against germs — kicks into overdrive and attacks different parts of your body. Ocular rosacea may also be related to mites that live on your eyelashes or bacteria from the skin that end up on your eyelid.

Ocular rosacea can affect the meibomian glands. They're located on the rim of your upper and lower eyelids — the spot where they meet when your eyes close. These glands make the oily surface layer on the eyes, which keeps them moist and prevents tears from drying up. Ocular rosacea blocks the glands, which stops your body from making this protective film.

People with ocular rosacea are also more likely to be dehydrated, which means the eyes may be short of moisture as well. Ocular rosacea may also damage the lacrimal gland, which makes tears.

Acne can be an unfortunate right of passage for many teenagers, and individuals with this condition may also be more susceptible to meibomian gland damage and tear instability.

In addition, some acne medications have been known to unfortunately bring about dry eye symptoms. For example, Isotretinoin works by decreasing the size of the oil glands that secrete oil onto the skin. By reducing the production of the facial oils, the pores become less clogged and the amount of acne diminishes.

As the medication travels through the bloodstream, it also penetrates the eyelids’ meibomian glands, which produce the oil for tears. Whereas the results of these medications may have a positive effect of diminishing acne, they can create side effects of dry eye symptoms.

When you have blepharitis, your eyelids become inflamed or swollen. The condition can play a role in bringing on dry eye.

Blepharitis that's on the inside of your eyelid (the part that touches the eyeball) is called posterior blepharitis.

Blepharitis that affects the place where your lashes attach to the eyelid, called anterior blepharitis, can be caused by scalp or eyebrow dandruff. Dandruff and rosacea lead to swelling, which can block glands on the eyelids and interfere with the oily coating of the eye. Blepharitis can also be caused by a skin rash that's due to an allergic reaction to something like latex.

The term eczema describes several skin conditions that occur in over 31 million people across the United States. People who experience eczema symptoms on their face commonly also experience scaly or itchy skin around the eyes.

Types of eczema that trigger eye symptoms include:

Atopic dermatitis:
Adults with atopic dermatitis often find that eye symptoms develop, including itching, swelling, and darker, thicker skin in the area.

Contact dermatitis:
If an irritating or allergenic substance (like a cosmetic product or hair dye) makes skin contact, it can trigger a reaction that causes extremely dry skin.

Seborrheic dermatitis:
This type of dermatitis affects oil-producing glands around the body, including the very edges of the eyelids (where the lashes grow).

Eczema has links to dry eye syndrome, especially if its effects present on someone’s eyelids.

Telangiectasia is a condition in which widened venules (tiny blood vessels) cause threadlike red lines or patterns on the skin.

Causes may include:

Rosacea
Aging
Problem with genes
Pregnancy
Sun exposure
Overuse of steroid creams
Trauma to the area

Abnormal blood vessels secrete pro-inflammatory substances, which can reach the eyelids via the orbital vasculature, which in turn create dry eye symptoms.