Are your eyelashes getting thinner and you don’t know why? The cause of the loss may be one of the following.
Trichotillomania
A psychiatric condition in which the sufferer pulls or rubs the lashes causing them to fall out. More evident at times of stress.
Alopecia Areata (AA)
An autoimmune disease characterized by areas of hair loss involving any hair bearing part of the body. AA confined solely to the eyelashes is extremely rare.
Blepharitis
A chronic disease with no known cure but can be kept under control with regular long term treatment.
Symptoms include any combination of redness, excessive watering, burning, itching, light sensitivity and a gritty irritation.
These symptoms can cause the sufferer to excessively rub the eyelids resulting in damage to the eyelash follicles and consequent eyelash loss.
Some forms of treatment particularly those that are recommended to remove the occurrence of crusting of the eyelids in severe cases can also damage the lashes unless carried out with extreme care.
Contact Allergic Dermatitis
A condition caused by an allergic reaction to a substance most likely of which is one or more of the products used in eye makeup. This condition should not be confused with blepharitis as it easy to remove the cause of the discomfort.
Eyelash Loss Treatment and Prognosis
Trichtillomania
Psychiatric help should be sought as soon as possible.
The eyelash follicles will recover and growth should become evident unless the pulling of the lashes is continued over a long period of time.
There may be some thinning. The sooner the problem is recognized and treatment is started the less damage is likely to occur.
Alopecia Areata (AA)
Seek the advice of a dermatologist as soon as any areas of hair loss on the body are observed. If the diagnosis is AA then the condition is treatable possibly with systematic steroids. If the eyelashes have become affected then regrowth can usually be expected within three months.
Blepharitis
The bacteria causing this common eye problem can be hard to treat.
There are three different forms of this condition so it is important that your medical adviser investigates which type you are suffering from in order to prescribe the best possible treatment to control the problem and alleviate the symptoms.
Contact Allergic Dermatitis
Although it is possible for the sufferer to discover the source of the allergy by trial and error it is better by far to seek the advice of a qualified dermatologist as soon as the problem becomes evident. Changing your make up may simply prolong the discomfort as the same ingredient which is causing the allergic reaction may be present in other makeup products. The longer the condition persists the more damage you may be doing to the follicles, which may result in noticeable thinning of the lashes.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m Mike/26, I’ve had Trichotillomania for over 12 years now,I’m missing most of my lashes and eyebrows,they aren’t growing back since the follicles are gone.
I need some serious help,anybody out here that can help me or lead me towards ideas,or products that can help me?
I’m Rebecca and I’m 14, the age where most girls enjoy puting on their make-up. i, however suffer from trichotillomania and i have sparsly populated eyelashes. can anybody help me?
I’m Michele, I’m 45 and pulled out my top lashes from age 8 till age early 20’s. I noticed by that age that my lashes were thinning and thankfully was able to stop. I used to have very long think lashes. There are now only just enough to coat with loads of mascara to make them appear almost normal. I had cosmetic eyeliner tatooing on my top eyelid and was very happy but it’s 5 years on and need a retouch. I am concerned though that tatooing may damage the few precious follicles I have left. Anyone aware of this?
Rebecca, please try to find some relief/help for yourself as I would hate to see you too lose/damage follicles and be permanently disfigured as you get older.
I’m so sorry that I cant do more to help other than offer advice.
Have you been to a doctor because there are now so many treatments for this kind of problem?
Also, permanent makeup may help