Comments for Swollen itchy dry eyelids as a Side Effect of Vitamin D?

Go off of everything..
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Tara,

It's unlikely to be the Vitamin D since you took it without problem for a month. But since nothing that you are taking is CRITICAL to day every single day, why don't you just stop taking everything and see if that helps.

If it doesn't, then you know its not your supplements and you can resume them in a couple of weeks.

If it DOES help, then just add it one supplement back into your regimen every week or so and see if your reactions start up again.

I mean, there's just no way that anyone over the internet is going to be able to say what you are allergic to. You'll just have to go by trial and error and find out what it is. Maybe you tried a new soap? Laundry detergent? Dish soap? Maybe your cleaning lady is using a different solution? Maybe the office cleaning lady is?

You'll just have to go through step by step and try to figure it out. If all of that fails, then each week try eliminating a different food that you've been eating and see if it's that. You'll just have to be a detective until you solve the mystery.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

YES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT VITAMIN D IS CAUSING ITCHY, SWOLLEN, DRY, FLAKY EYELIDS!!
by: Special

Hi Tara,

After reading your posting I am so confident that my Vitamin D (1 pill a day of 1000 IU) is what has been causing my itchy, swollen, dry and flaky eyelids since 9/7/10. I believe I started taking the Vit D around July or August of 2010 and the allergic reaction began shortly after.

I have pictures of my eyes almost shut close; the pictures don't even look like me! It's been a nightmare. I've used steroid ointments, eye drops for itchy eyes, cold rags, I've stopped wearing eye make-up for weeks at a time as well as my contacts, I stopped using my MaryKay products and more and the symptoms just never ceased.

Something told me to look into the medications that I've been taking and the Vit D is the only "new" one so I found your posting as well as some others online and now I feel like I am not alone in this battle. I am a 29 year old female 150lbs and I noticed that you mentioned you are 27 and 100lbs; I don't think our age or weight matters. It's the Vit D intake I'm sure.

Unfortunately, I have already taken my dose for this morning, but I will no longer take the Vitamin and I will see if the reaction goes away. I will pray and keep my fingers crossed for you and me both and lets hope for the best. Thanks fro sharing! :)

Special

Of Course it COULD be, but is it?
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

Hi Tara and Special,

Of COURSE the vitamin D 'could' be causing your allergic reaction, but the question is, 'is it'? If you are taking 1000 IU capsules, I'll bet that you are taking 'drug store' brand that are packed in oil and have a bunch of fillers and crap in them.

I have to say that my clients NEVER EVER have these reactions that people write about on my site and these reactions almost never occur in studies where there are thousands upon thousands of people taking these supplements.

Why do I think this is? Because people who write in go to their local drug store or grocery store and get the cheapest vitamin d supplements that they can. And those supplements are CRAP and are filled with crappy ingredients and, particularly, rancid oils.

Rancid oils cause the BIGGEST problems in people that are taking vitamin d because rancid oils are horrible horrible for you and many people react negatively and sometimes even violently to these terrible oils that have been sitting in vats for years and sometimes decades before going into your supplements.

So, when you have taken ONE poor quality supplement and reacted to it, you CANNOT SAY that it was the 'vitamin d' until you get a different high quality no oil supplement and you still react. If you do, THEN I will believe that it is the vitamin D, but until then, it is MUCH more likely to be some crappy ingredient and/or rancid oil in your cheap-o vitamin d supplement that you thought was such a bargain when you got it...

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Side Effects

PS: If you found this website helpful, please consider using the
Easy Immune Health Product Store the next time you purchase your supplements online. Your support allows me to keep this site running and educating as many people as possible. Thank you!

It's possible the vitamin D caused the blepharis
by: Anonymous

It's possible the Vitamin D caused the blepharis after taking it one month because by that time it would have built up in her system - as it is stored in fat cells. Just stop taking it and see if the blepharis wanes - and don't change anything else so you don't get confused about it possibly being the culprit.

If that doesn't help try taking Vitamin A retinol form, not beta carotene. But do that after you've stopped the vitamin d for at least a week with no improvement. Be careful with taking vitamin A retinol form for long periods as it is also stored in fat and can affect the breakdown of bone.

Swollen itchy eyes
by: Anonymous

I am having the same problem. After elimination of every other possibility am strongly suspicious that i am having an allergic reaction to vitamin d. My doctor switched me from over the counter vitamin d to a prescription, once-a-week pill. The day after I take it, my eyelids get extremely itchy, and then swell and get red and puffy. (I also get very dry, chapped lips and skin around my mouth,) Previously, when I was taking two 1,000-unit pills a day, my eyelids began to itch and get slightly red. So I first changed my makeup, and the eliminated it altogether. But my eyelids were still very sensitive. My doctor said that people with allergies to wool may be sensitive to some vitamin d over-the-counter preparations and had me try a synthetic prescription variety, which comes in a weekly gel pill dose. The reaction for me is worse! I have taken three weeks worth but will stop taking it now until I can see my doctor again.

Vitamin D
by: Brad

After taking Vitamin D for two nights only. I found when I awoke the second morning my left eyelid was really puffy and sore. I def. do not feel better on Swiss. Safe to say I won't be taking that again. It sucks because I think it was actually helping me sleep. I could try another brand but I have so many other health problems atm I don't want to make things any worse.

allergy to Vit D
by: Anonymous

Hi I too have had an adverse reaction to Vit D in a liquid form of olive oil. I bought this from an holistic pharmacist, so I believe it is quality.
Rx Vitamins Liqui-D3 is the brand name.

The very morning after taking two drops 4,000 I>U> I woke up with two very swollen eyes. I thought it was another PM menopause supplement the pharmacist gave me so I stopped that. well after a month of itchy swollen eyes and illuminating everything BUT the Vit D drops I went to my Medical Doctor for blood test to check my Vit D level. It was at 158 too high she told me to back off the Vit D for a few weeks. Well after a couple of days my eyes stopped itching and everything is back to normal. I told the natural pharmacist this and she thinks I have kidney problems. Really ? So she tells me to take Ester C...I do and the very next morning guess what ?? Itchy eyes AGAIN...there is Calcium in Ester C..not sure if D3 is in it. Not on label. UNREAL...I am going off of all supplements until this clears out of my system.These were not over the counter supplements either. Very expensive!

vit D
by: Anonymous

After I began taking vitamin D a year ago, I began getting weird marks on my legs and arms. They were like rashes but some were like red circles. I also began getting joint and muscle pain in my hips and legs. I couldn't figure out what was going on. The doctor thought it was ringworm at first but after two months it didn't go away. Then he said he wasn't ringworm but didnt know what it was. I then thought it was my body wash or lotions but I have always used them. I stopped anyway but nothing happened. It didn't occur to me that all of this had started after taking vitamin D a year ago. I was taking 5000iu daily which im told is way too much [Kerri's note: this is not 'way too much'. This is an excellent maintenance dose for the average person]. This was the only thing different that I was doing. I have just now stopped taking Vit D. We will see what happens. [Kerri's note: Vitamin D is made with lanolin. Some people are allergic to lanolin and that is the problem. Also most vitamin d preparations are made with 'vegetable oils' that are often rancid. As I've said before in these threads, for the VAST VAST majority of people, their allergy is not to the vitamin d itself, but to the lanolin or the rancid vegetable oils. So even if you stop the vitamin d and your rash goes away, that does not mean that you are allergic to vitamin d. It is more likely to mean that you are allergic to one of the ingredients in your vitamin d preparation. And again, 5000 IU's is NOT 'way too much' unless you are also getting heavy sun exposure as well. The research is quite clear that the dosage you are taking was probably perfect for good long term health such as cancer prevention].

Vitamin D3 Rash
by: Anonymous

I am convinced that my 5000mg dosage of Vit D3 is what is causing my rash on my back. I have been taking Vit D3 for years but only 1000 mg a day. The last few years I have taken 5000mg/day starting in October until about April. I live in the northeast and my D levels were low. But about January my back gets a rash and is itchy. This all started when I increased my dosage. I also take 50mg of amitriptyline during that same period of time and think that could be a possibility that the combination is not good. I have just stopped the vitamin D 2 days ago and already the rash is better. I am convinced that the D did it. Also, 3 out of the last 4 years about April my eyelids would start itching. I will see what happens this coming April when I am not taking the D

for VieT by anonymous
by: Anonymous

For the person mystified by the circular rashes on armed and legs. Seriously consider one of the tick bourne diseases. Lyme disease has the aches and pains you mentioned.Several other tick bourne diseases have been identified.
There are blood tests and treatments!
Speak to your doctor or an allergist.

Itchy and Swollen Eyes from Vit D
by: Anonymous

I am glad I found all these comments! I woke up with itchy, swollen eyes this morning. Yesterday afternoon I had taken several drops of liquid Vitamin D. My legs have been very itchy too.

I have been attributing my symptoms off and on for several weeks to face creams and make-up. I have been low on Vitamin D and need to supplement my diet but I need to find a different type than the oil based kind I took yesterday!

Swollen itchy eyes and eyelids
by: Anonymous

Yes I was allergic to D3 Gel caps. I tried different brands. I fooled around and went to the eye dr etc etc. for almost a year I suffered with swollen eyes. Thinking it was just a bad year for allergies. I finally figured out that when I stopped the D3 gel caps and took D3 tablets my eyes were back to normal. I feel for you all that have suffered with this eye problem! So glad for the internet. Spread the word about the gel caps.!!

I definitely itch from Vitamin D
by: Patcmo

I have stopped and started Vitamin D 50,000 many times over the last three years and EVERY time I start I ITCH. I itch in my eyelids but I don't swell or get crusty. I itch in my scalp so bad I get sores. I itch all over my skin. It keeps me up at night. I finish the four pills, one a week because I have a severe deficiency and I don't refill for a while. All the itching goes away until I decide to refill again. Same symptoms every single time. So obviously some people DO have this itching reaction. You are not alone.

Try Vegan Vitamin D3 from Algae
by: Kerri Knox, RN, The Immune Queen

Before you give up and blame your sleepiness on the Vitamin D, I STILL believe that almost no one is truly allergic to 'Vitamin D' and that the sleepiness is also a problem that will pass when you are vitamin d sufficient and sufficient in all of the other cofactors necessary to process vitamin D.

Many people that I have talked to are allergic to lanolin or do fine on a non-lanolin formula because they have a sensitivity to lanolin that they were unaware of, and virtually all Vitamin D preparations are made from lanolin.

In this case, there is now an excellent non-lanolin Vitamin D3 made from algae, you can see it here at this Lanolin Free Vegan Vitamin D3 Supplement Made from Algae. Try it out.

Kerri Knox RN

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System
Side Effects

Vitamin D and itchy rash
by: Ramzy

3 days back I had a 50000 u vitamin D tablets, 3 hours after I had some itching sensation, I slept then in the morning my whole body got full of red itchy rash, it's subsiding now but still itchy.

Eyelid inflammation and vitamin d
by: Peppy

After my well women's checkup I was told to take vitamin D. I started taking it and a small red line of inflammation appeared. In 6 months it changed to both eyelids red and swelled then places in my face started being inflamed. I went to 4 doctors. The dermatologist asked if I was taking any medicine. I said vitamin D and Omegas. She said those would not cause it. I had looked up vitamin d and inflammation and it stated vitamin d was good for helping inflammation so I added another capsule. The inflammation got worse. Then I looked up eyelid inflammation and vitamin d and it stated people had said that it could cause inflammation.

2 1/2 weeks of not taking it and I am almost fully cleared of it. I have read that it could be the oil. Praise God for relief. I still think vitamin d is good. I will have to get mine from the sun.

Red irritated eyes from vitamin D
by: Sam

Hi,

I have very irritated red eyes every time I have taken 5000 IU vitamin d for about three days. I have tried all the high quality brands, low quality brands, oil and dry based so I know for a fact that the cause is the vitamin D. I will have to test if it's the lanolin based D only or does lichen based D cause this too. I'm really hoping it's because lanolin because I get so good physical feeling from vitamin D, but the eye irritation is so bad that its unbearable.

Wow thank you
by: Anonymous

I gave been suffering with red rash around my eyes for almost a year.

I finally googled vitamins and eyelid dermstitis and found this thread.

I am anxious to see if stopping the vit d will help because thinking back to when this started, it may have coincided with adding vit d to my vitamin regimen.

allergic to vitamin d3
by: shawna

i am allergic to vitamins...i am pretty sure it is the base of them but im not sure. if i take d3, magnesium or zinc...my eyes itch and get red and i feel like im going crazy.this happens after one pill.

I have Hashimoto's disease and i wonder if it has something to do with that because my levothyroxine makes my eyes itch..but only on days that my thyroid is "UP" on "down" days i dont itch.the bad thing about Hashimoto's is that my thyroid levels go up and down... but i have to take the pills that make it go up every single day.

im not sure if magnesium and vit d also go up and down with those levels,thus the
itching

It's working(?)
by: Anonymous

Google Herxzeimer response. That's what it sounds like.

yes, vit D and itchy eyes
by: Susan, a scientist

I was prescribed a high dose of vitamin D2 because I tested low for vitamin D. It was 50,000 units once a week, which is standard. About an hour after the first dose, my eyes began to itch a lot. I'm pretty certain it was the vitamin D because i) the timing and ii) to check, a few days later, I took my regular dose of 400 units of D3 to see if that would make things better or worse. It made my eyes much worse. itchy and a bit crusty.

my question is this: has anyone figured out how to treat this problem, and what do you do regarding vitamin D in the future? I found that claritin helped, but made me sleepy. i'm not eating vit D now, just fish oil, but i'm a bit worried that my body needs vitamin D and it seems I can no longer take it - even at low doses. It has been 3 or 4 weeks since this happened, and my eyes still bother me a bit. Also, I can't see as well, words in particular are fuzzy and I have to wear grocery store glasses. Will my eyes recover??

thanks to anyone who answers.

[Kerri's note: perhaps you have a lanolin allergy. Most vitamin D supplements contain Lanolin. You can try Lanolin Free Vitamin D

Swollen eyes pulled tightly back
by: Anonymous

Yes, me too I bought vitamin d3 5000IU at the grocery store. And for 4 to 5 days straight I was taking it faithfully. I woke up on the 6th day and my eyes were pulled back slanted swollen. I first thought I had pink eye. But eyes weren't really red, just Swollen and itchy. The only reason I purchased the 5000IU was because I asked the pharmacist there if I should buy the 2000IU or the 5000iu. She said I should be fine with the 5000IU. It's been 2days since I stop taking them I'm gonna go to Dr. To see what they say. I PRAY it's gonna be ok In Jesus name and go back to normal.

Sounds like an allergic reaction
by: Kerri Knox

That sounds like an allergic reaction to something in the Vitamin D.

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