There’s more to it than meets the eye when it comes to the role of our eyelashes. Our eyelashes shield our eyes from dust and other particles that could obstruct our vision or cause infection or physical harm. Like the hair on our heads, eyelashes go through a growth phase, a shedding phase, and a regrowth phase every six to ten weeks.
Losing anywhere from one to five eyelashes every day is typical. Loss of eyelashes can be an indicator of systemic health issues or issues specific to the eyes.
Why Your Eyelashes May Be Falling Out
Many factors contribute to abnormally high rates of lash loss. Loss of individual eyelashes, in the absence of systemic hair thinning, may have a localized origin, such as
Sensitivity to cosmetics and medical interventions
Using eyelash extensions, eyelash curlers, and sleeping with eye makeup on can all damage lashes and hasten their loss. Mascara and eyelash extension glue have been linked to eyelash loss in certain people.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is characterized by red, swollen lids and symptoms include itching, pain, and burning in the eyes. Eyelash follicles and development and retention are both negatively impacted by lid inflammation. Loss of eyelashes due to blepharitis requires treatment of the underlying cause, which may be a bacterial or fungal illness or an infestation of mites.
Trichotillomania
This disorder manifests itself when a person, often in response to stress or anxiety, makes a practice of compulsively pulling off their own eyelashes. Hair pulling is an obsessive-compulsive disease, and there may be underlying signs of depression, so it’s important to take care of the eyes and lashes, but it’s also important to treat the underlying mental health issue.
Ovarian cancer
Eyelid skin cancer rarely manifests with localized lash loss because cancer cells impede normal eyelash growth. Cancer of the eyelid may not present with clear symptoms or may seem like blepharitis, a style, or a chalazion, necessitating a doctor’s expertise to diagnose and cure.
Hair Loss Including Eyelashes
Loss of eyelashes, eyebrows, and/or scalp hair could be an indication of a more serious underlying health issue. Loss of all hair, including eyelashes, can be attributed to one of two main causes:
Alopecia
Hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp and the face, when the immune system mistakenly targets hair follicles. Causes of acute alopecia, or transient hair loss, include trauma to the scalp, illness (both short- and long-term), anemia, pregnancy, childbirth, and old age.
Causes of widespread hair loss that are less prevalent include:
Problems with the thyroid, include hyper- and hypothyroidism;
Psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma are examples of chronic inflammatory illnesses;
Persistent anxiety;
Deficiencies in the diet;
Endocrine disruptions like menopause; and
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy;
Loss of hair, brow hair, or eyelashes is a common adverse effect of numerous drugs.
How to Avoid Eyelash Loss?
Maintaining healthy eyelashes requires little more than a nightly routine of washing your face and eyes with a mild cleanser and water. Eyelash conditioners and lotions are unnecessary because the lashes are naturally lubricated by glands in the eyelids. Your eyelashes, like the rest of your body, will benefit from a balanced diet that includes plenty of protein, green vegetables, and critical vitamins and minerals. You can use Genuine Careprost for Eyelashes growth.
It is always worthwhile to contact your eye doctor to determine whether there is an underlying and treatable cause of your eyelash loss after you have addressed any aesthetic causes.