Ever used hemorrhoidal ointment on your eyes?

It started several years ago when beauty magazines were reporting that top models and certain beauty icons were using Preparation H and other hemorrhoidal treatments to shrink under eye bags.  In fact many beauty publications recommended their use to not only firm up under eye puffiness but to firm facial skin as well.

 In theory, Preparation H worked…temporarily. It restricted the blood vessels, which could get rid of the redness for awhile, and contains 1% hydrocortisone, an anti-inflammatory that might temporarily reduce puffiness. Still, it became very dangerous with continued use. If the product was accidentally put in the eye, the ingredients could cause serious damage, including the risk of blindness. Also, prolonged use had been shown to cause skin thinning, increased skin fragility, enlarged blood vessels, and  even resulted in problems with the adrenal gland. (the natural steroid producer in the body). In short, the eyes  ended up looking worse, not better.

Skin thinning became the most visible down side of using a hemorrhoidal ointment on the eye area.  The skin became visibly thinner in a very short period of time.  Causing an untreatable bluish discoloration.

As customers began reporting these problems to medical professionals, the word was out.  Using these products in any other way than their intended use was detrimental.

In response, Preparation H – the product continues to be reformulated. One of the ingredients that reportedly reduced puffiness around the eyes was “live yeast cell” which is no longer part of the formula and therefore ineffective in reducing under eye puffiness.