Have you ever noticed your eyelashes falling out at a quicker rate than normal? I know, it can be very alarming.
One of the most timeless beauty looks is having long thick lashes. There is a world of beauty products designed with the purpose of enhancing your lashes.
That is why it feels so traumatic when you suddenly start losing eyelashes. The thing is, as stressful as eyelash fallout feels, you shouldn’t panic.
There are actually a number of reasons that could be causing your lashes to fall out. Let’s look at the most common reasons for losing eyelashes as well as some tips for caring for your lashes.
Why Are You Losing Eyelashes
Don’t get into a panic every time you see a lash falling out. Healthy lashes naturally shed on their own.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the natural life-cycle of eyelashes in which they grow, fall out, and replace themselves is between six and ten weeks. It is considered completely normal to lose between one and five eyelashes every day.
This rate of losing lashes is actually the same as the rate at which the hair on your head naturally cycles, too. That is another frustrating fact of life when you start growing your hair out and why it feels like the process is so slow.
At the same time, this can be good news. If you have damaged your lashes from using your eyelash curler after putting on mascara, the damage isn’t permanent. You just have to wait about three months for the damaged lashes to fall out and be replaced.
However, if you’ve noticed that you are consistently losing a lot more lashes than average, it could be a signal of a larger, underlying health problem. This could be either in the eye or elsewhere in the body.
I know, losing lashes stresses me out as well, but that is my vanity speaking. As stressful as it is to our appearance, losing eyelashes can also leave our eyes vulnerable.
In addition to their aesthetic value, your eyelashes are also necessary to help protect your eye from things like debris, which can cause infection or injury.
So, what causes eyelashes to fall out at a quicker rate than normal? According to the AAO, it could be any of the following reasons.
General Irritation From Cosmetics
The potential for eyelash loss is yet another reason to never, ever sleep with your makeup on.
According to the AAO, leaving eye makeup on for too long can cause harm to your lashes and speed up their natural shedding cycle. A faster shedding cycle equals shorter lashes
So, always remove your eye makeup at the end of the day. By this, I mean all of your eye makeup.
Your eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, and concealer, take it all off. If you need a quick option to do so, try using micellar water. I always use micellar water to start the process of removing my eye makeup.
After removing your makeup, you can apply a nourishing and conditioning lash serum.
The AAO also recommends practicing smart eye makeup safety measures, which include never sharing your eye makeup with anyone. This includes not lending out your eye makeup or using anyone else’s eye makeup.
Ideally, you should replace eye makeup products every three months since infection-causing bacteria can grow in creamy and liquid eye makeup formulas.
Allergic Reaction To Certain Cosmetics
Another type of irritation leading to eyelash loss can be allergic. According to the AAO, eyelash loss can also be caused by allergies to mascara or the glue you use to apply your eyelash extensions.
I have a sensitive skin and am prone to allergic reactions to some cosmetics. I find that it is even worse when I mix cosmetics of different brands together. It feels like they react with each other with bad results – especially around my eyes.
Trial-and-error have lead me to only use L’Oréal cosmetic products (available on Amazon). None of their products have ever given me an adverse reaction.
A Medical Condition
If your eyelash loss is accompanied by itchiness or burning, as well as redness or swelling of the eyelids, you could be suffering from a condition called blepharitis.
According to the Mayo Clinic, this condition is marked by inflammation of the eyelids. While blepharitis doesn’t cause permanent damage to eyesight, it is best to make an appointment with your doctor ASAP.
Less Common Causes Of Eyelash Loss
Additionally, there are many other conditions that can cause you to lose eyelashes, although they are rarer.
These include alopecia, an auto-immune disease that causes the body to attack its own hair follicles, as well as thyroid disorders.
Eyelash loss can also be caused by chronic inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
We mustn’t forget that there are some factors that can cause eyelash loss that are not linked to serious medical conditions. Here are the ones that can easily affect girls in transition:
- Chronic stress.
- Nutritional deficiencies.
- Hormone changes such as when HRT doses are changed.
When Should You See A Doctor About Eyelashes Falling Out
With all of these possible causes, it can be very confusing to figure out which eyelash loss symptoms need an appointment with your doctor.
According to the AAO, you should consult your doctor immediately if the lash loss is happening on both eyelids (upper and lower), you’re also experiencing hair loss on your scalp or eyebrows, you have other skin changes like itching or redness, you have a feeling of pressure around your eyes, or you’re experiencing any vision loss.
However, in the end, I would always err on the side of caution. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
If you have any concerns about your health, make a doctor’s appointment as soon as you are able.