Glad to find this group!  I have the same thing....has been an ongoing problem for 3 years.  I am 60 years old, live in Ohio, do not drink, smoke or wear contacts. My eyelids would sometimes get so dry & flaky, that they would crack & be extremely painful.  The first time, it lasted for almost a year.  My doctor told me it was just "dry skin" and to put cream on it.  Well...that only aggravated it!  Then I read somewhere to use steroid cream on it.  I got some OTC & it did help...but I have to be extremely careful not to get any in my eye (which is difficult, and I can't use it all the time as it will eventually irritate my eyelids if I use to much.  It went away for about a year & now it's back again.  I HATE this!  It makes my eyes itchy, & red & wrinkley, and my eyelids feel very puffy & heavy all the time.  I've eliminated makeup which didn't help at all. It is now gravitating to the outsides of my eyes & under as well as my entire eyelids. I wish I could find some answers.  :-(