Eyelashes fall out - what to do?

definition

As eyelashes, Latin Cilia, we generally refer to the small, usually black or dark brown, slightly curved hairs that grow in a row along the edge of the eyelid rims above and below the eye.
They occur in all mammals. Their function is primarily to protect sensitive eyes from any substances that may penetrate, such as sand, dust, small dirt particles or wind.

In addition, they are of cosmetic importance for us humans, as long eyelashes have been associated with beauty for many centuries. Usually, the eyelash hairs have a lifespan of around 100-150 days. Then they fall out and a new eyelash grows in their place. The entire growth cycle of an average eyelash ranges from four weeks to six months, with only around ten percent of our eyelashes in the final growth phase, the rest in its growth phase.

But if the eyelashes fall out abnormally, this is referred to as Maradose and is to be assessed as an independent clinical picture. In this case, the entire eyelash hairs are missing, but there are also patients in whom the eyelashes are only partially lost, sometimes in combination with a fall out of the eyebrow hair.

Causes of Lash Falling Out

The causes of eyelash loss can be numerous. Often the triggering factors cannot be clearly identified in a specific case, but the most common causes can be clarified:

Inflammation of the eyelid (so-called Blepharitis; especially if they occur repeatedly), vitamin deficiency, various skin diseases, Alopecia areata (the so-called circular hair loss), congenital malalignment of the eyelids, other medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation treatment, stress of any kind, healing burns and traumatic processes in the eye such as a blow or bump.
The most common lid skin diseases are pigment disorders, Xanthelasma (= small superfluous fat deposits), infections with Herpes simplex and other skin inflammations that can often lead to persistent loss of eyelash hairs. The small glands on and in the eyelids can also become inflamed and thus disrupt the physiological development of the eyelash hair and lead to loss. Barley and hailstones should therefore, if they occur repeatedly, be examined and treated by a specialist, even if they are no longer painful. Also one Blepharitis (a painful eyelid disease) or painful conjunctivitis as well as an infestation of the eyelids with parasites can cause the eyelashes to fall out. However, one of the most common is eyelash loss, which is caused by incorrect or excessive makeup on the eyelashes themselves. Some care products can attack the eyelashes or by removing make-up, eyelashes can be torn out continuously and unnoticed. Eyelash curlers or paint for coloring the hair can also hinder the growth of the lashes.

Read more on the topic: Causes of hair loss

Nutrient deficiency as a cause

Because eyelashes on sufficient Supply of nutrients and minerals are required to grow steadily and vigorously, a deficiency in these nutrients can in rare cases lead to eyelashes falling out. The main vitamins required for hair production are those Vitamins B, A, E, H (also Biotin called) as well as the trace elements iron and magnesium. All the vitamins and trace elements mentioned are consumed by healthy people through a balanced diet. Vitamin supplements are only recommended in exceptional cases. A balanced diet includes, for example, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, dried fruit, nuts and foods with omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon. If you eat some of these foods regularly, it is unlikely that the cause of eyelash loss is nutritional deficiency.

Lash loss due to mascara

Of all things, mascara, which is supposed to make the lashes look stronger, can lead to eyelash loss. This is because the mascara color contains ingredients that chemically react very aggressively with the surface of the eyelashes. That is why it is important in the evening to thoroughly remove mascara residues from your eyelashes before going to bed. To do this, it is advisable to moisten the eyelashes with lukewarm water and leave them on for about two minutes. Then you can easily wipe off the paint with a damp cloth. If rubbed too roughly, it can happen that you tear out individual eyelashes while cleaning them. In general, care should be taken to only use cosmetic products that have been dermatologically tested and found to be skin-friendly.

Lash loss due to eyelash extensions

Professional eyelash extensions are also offered in Germany. These do not have to be carried out by doctors such as cosmetic surgeons, but are also offered in beauty salons, cosmetic studios or even hairdressers. The eyelash extensions themselves usually take between 1-3 hours, depending on the workload. About 40-80 individual artificial eyelash hairs are glued onto the natural eyelashes, which ensures that the eyelashes appear longer, fuller and have more volume. This technique is called "one on one" designated.

Such a treatment not only leads to additional weight and tension on the lash line, but also attacks the lashes due to the adhesive used. In the long term, this leads to increased loss and causes those affected to have their eyelashes glued more and more often. The result is a vicious circle that is best broken by stopping the cosmetic treatment of the eyelashes and leaving them alone for a while so that they can regenerate.

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Lash loss during pregnancy

Pregnancy leads to serious hormonal changes throughout the body, which also affect the hair and eyelashes. Numerous pregnant women observe that their hair initially becomes thinner and thinner and then falls out completely during or after pregnancy. Many women suffer very badly from these bald spots, even if it is not dangerous.

Read more on the subject at: Hair loss during pregnancy

In addition to the stressful hormonal changes, the absence of periods leads to an accumulation of acids and toxins in the female body. This can be counteracted by following a gentle, alkaline body care routine and a balanced diet. The lymphatic drainage, which is difficult during pregnancy, should also be promoted through regular massages.

A tried and tested remedy for eyelash loss is to rub the eyelashes and eyelash roots with castor oil. This is rich in vitamin E and supports the strong growth of the eyelashes. Applied twice a day with a small cotton ball, it should prevent failure.

Read more on the topic: Homeopathy for hair loss after childbirth

Eyelashes fall out in the child

Eyelash loss can also affect babies and children. In such cases it is often an allergic or autoimmune event. Typically, people with neurodermatitis can have a so-called. Hertoghe sign determine (= absence of the outer eyebrows and eyelashes). If a person suffers from atopic dermatitis, eyelash hairs tend to fall out in childhood. Often these no longer grow back.

Another cause of eyelash loss in children is this Alopecia areata, the so-called circular hair loss. As the name suggests, this is a circular hair loss.The exact causes are still unexplained, and there is still no therapeutic option that has been proven to help. In some cases there is spontaneous healing, in others unfortunately not. However, this cannot be predicted.

Read more on the topic: Homeopathy for circular hair loss

The treatment of falling eyelashes

The treatment of eyelash loss must always be based on the cause.
If a vitamin deficiency is the cause of hair loss, a change in diet and monitoring of blood values ​​may help. If this does not help, vitamin preparations can remedy the nutrient deficiency in consultation with the doctor.

Some natural substances are also suitable for external use. For example, castor oil is rich in vitamin E and saturated fatty acids, which are said to strengthen and strengthen hair. Applied directly to the eyelashes concerned, it can prevent eyelash loss and also increase the natural growth of the eyelashes. Almond oil, on the other hand, is very suitable as a natural replacement for the sometimes aggressive make-up removers. Almond oil also contains valuable nutrients, minerals and antioxidants that care for the skin. Alternatively, you can also use olive oil, petroleum jelly or green tea, which can have a restorative effect on the eyelash hair.

You might also be interested in this topic: Eyelash serum

Make-up can damage the eyelashes through aggressive ingredients and thus promote hair loss. Therefore, you should always remove your make-up in the evening so that your eyelashes are not exposed to the make-up for an unnecessarily long time. If nothing helps with eyelash loss, hair transplantation is the last resort option. It works just like the scalp hair transplant, using the modern one I-FUE procedure. This can be used on both the upper and lower eyelids. Depending on the condition of the eyelids, between 80 and 150 eyelashes can be transplanted.

Read more on the topic: Hair loss therapy

Make-up removal as prophylaxis

It is very important to thoroughly remove make-up around the eyes in the evening. Most of the cosmetic products contain aggressive chemical substances that attack and damage the surface of the eyelashes overnight. Over a longer period of time, this initially leads to thinning and finally to complete loss of the eyelashes.

When removing make-up yourself, you should be careful not to pull out the eyelashes yourself accidentally by rubbing them too hard. It is also best not to use too strong care products for removing make-up, as these also contain chemical substances that have an effect on the skin and eyelashes. It is also sufficient to simply wet the eyelashes with lukewarm water and leave them on for about two minutes. Then make-up residues and mascara colors can easily be removed from the eyelashes.

Also read: Hair Transplant

How long does hair loss last?

Over what time periods the Eyelash loss can extend depends entirely on the cause and treatment. That is the decisive factor Eyelash growth itself, as this can drag on for a longer period of time after the cause has been eliminated.

In principle, the eyelash hair doesn't grow any differently than our scalp hair, just a little slower. The lifespan of eyelashes is also much shorter than that of scalp hair, which is why they do not get as long. The eyelash growth can be divided into three phases: the Anagen phase (Growth phase), the Catagen phase (Transition phase) and the Telogen phase (Rest and repulsion). How quickly a failed eyelash grows back also depends on the phase in which it failed. Eyelash hairs that are lost in one of the first two phases take longer to grow back because their growth cycle has been interrupted, so to speak. Until an eyelash has grown back completely, so it can Weeks to months pass away.

Lash loss in men

Men's eyelashes are no different from women's. As a result, the possible causes of eyelash loss are the same (with the exception of hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy). Men can also suffer from a lack of vitamins and minerals, from inflammation of the eyelid or other skin diseases such as circular hair loss (Alopecia areata). The eyelids may be congenitally deformed or the person concerned may take medication that can make the eyelashes fall out, such as chemotherapy. Stress, injuries to the eye or scalds / burns can also permanently damage the eyelashes. The treatment options for men are the same as for women.

Symptoms

The leading symptom of eyelash loss is that Loss of eyelashes. The resulting depilated eyelids represent one for most patients cosmetic impairment represent.
But there are also medical impairments. Since the eyelashes no longer protect the eyes, they irritate wind, little one foreign body and dust more than usual. That can be quicker Redness and inflammation of the eyes. The Eyes dry out fasterwhich can also negatively affect eyesight.

diagnosis

Most patients find that their eyelashes are falling out and contact their doctor. A distinction is made between a sudden loss of all eyelashes and a loss that lasts for some time. Your doctor will try to find out in the anamnesis (= patient survey).
In addition, the ophthalmologist can take a closer look at the eyelashes with a magnifying glass and assess the nature, structure and spacing between the individual eyelashes.
Is the eyelash loss more likely by one Lack of vitamins and minerals, the doctor will likely see more thin, weak eyelashes. Is the eyelash loss the result of about one Radiation or chemotherapy, often all lashes fall out at once.