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Eyelashes falling out? 7 reasons why plus treatment tips

Eyelashes Falling Out? 7 Reasons Why + Treatment Tips

Are your eyelashes falling out?

Believe it or not a small amount of lash loss can lead to big changes in your appearance.

If you are losing your lashes then read this guide which will discuss the major causes of eyelash hair loss and discuss potential treatment options:

More…

Help! My Lashes are Falling out!

The official name for eyelash hair loss is known as milphosis (if it occurs by itself).

Another term often used to describe eyelash hair loss is Madarosis which can be used to identify both eyelash and eyebrow hair loss.

These terms are not necessarily important because they don’t tell you why you have hair loss – but they are the official terms.

There are many reasons why your lashes may be falling out and most of them can be identified relatively easily.

What you need to understand is that eyelash hair loss is usually the RESULT of some other condition that your body is currently dealing with.

This problem is almost always on the inside (but not always).

In addition to eyelash hair loss you can also present with eyelash breakage or simply just slow growing lashes.

These are all conditions that fit under the same umbrella – disordered eyelash growth!

Like anything there are degrees to which this can occur.

Some people may experience a complete loss of their eyelashes while others may experience only 50% of lash loss.

The goal with addressing your lashes is to find the underlying cause and then treat or prevent that!

Many of the same issues that cause eyebrow hair loss ALSO cause eyelash hair loss.

This means if you are suffering from one you may be suffering from the other.

7 Causes of Eyelash Hair Loss

I’ve previously discussed several causes of eyebrow hair loss and many of the same issues that cause eyebrow hair loss ALSO cause eyelash hair loss.

Generally these conditions tend to go together (but not always).

If you are also suffering from eyebrow hair loss then I would recommend you read this article as well.

#1. Alopecia

Perhaps one of the most important causes of eyelash hair loss is a condition known as alopecia.

There are different categories of alopecia but the two we will focus on today are alopecia areata and alopecia adnata.

You are probably familiar with alopecia areata because it is often the cause of isolated patches of hair loss on the head.

What you may not realize is that alopecia can also cause hair loss of both your eyelashes and eyebrows.

Alopecia is the result of an autoimmune condition which means that your body is attacking itself and that attack results in hair loss.

Doctors and scientists aren’t really sure what causes alopecia at this point, but it can sometimes be treated with certain medications.

Another form of alopecia is known as alopecia adnata.

This is a condition that is used to describe eyelash hair loss but it most often refers to a condition in which your eyelashes are underdeveloped or simply do not grow to their maximum capacity.

Those with this condition may have SOME eyelashes but they are often smaller or shorter than usual.

If you have eyelash hair loss you will most likely need to see a Doctor for treatment.

#2. Hormone Imbalance

Another VERY common reason for eyelash hair loss is hormone imbalance.

Hormone imbalance can actually refer to several conditions, all of which may impact your lashes.

The most common hormone imbalances that alter eyelash growth are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Your thyroid helps to regulate the function of your skin, eyelashes, nails, metabolism and so on.

Pretty much any thyroid condition can result in damaged or broken hair loss – this includes on your head and on your brows/lashes.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition which results in excessive thyroid hormone production while hypothyroidism is a condition which results in insufficient thyroid hormone production.

BOTH conditions may cause lash breakage.

And these conditions are very common.

Up to 10-20% of people in the United States may suffer from some sort of thyroid disease, so if you have lash problems there’s a good chance your thyroid may be related.

If you suffer from thyroid problems you will need to treat that issue to grow back your lashes/brows.

#3. Direct Skin Conditions

Many of the conditions that cause eyelash hair loss have to do with what is happening INSIDE your body and not necessarily on the outside.

This isn’t true for all conditions, though.

Some direct skin conditions can also cause eyelash hair loss.

What do I mean by direct skin conditions?

I mean anything that causes problems to the skin UNDERNEATH your eyelashes.

Skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, skin infections and eye conditions such as blepharitis can all cause disordered eyelash hair growth.

The good news about these conditions is that they are often easier to spot.

It’s easier to identify a problem on your skin than it is a hormone problem in your blood.

The treatment for these types of problems is usually ointments and creams which can help treat the skin problem and reduce inflammation.

#4. Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is an impulse disease that is not quite as common as some of the other diseases mentioned here.

In trichotillomania patients may inadvertently pull out or break their own hairs.

These hairs may be those on their head, on their eyebrows and even their own eyelashes.

This behavior is usually driven by stress or anxiety and can be treated by managing those conditions.

While most people with trichotillomania may know that they have a problem it can be VERY difficult to stop the behavior – especially if the trigger cannot be identified.

#5. Trauma

Trauma is a term used to describe a condition which causes damage.

When you think about trauma the first thing that may come to mind is something like a cut or a bruise.

And this type of trauma can definitely cause issues with eyelash hair growth.

Think about a cut or laceration to your eye area that may cause scar tissue. Once there is scar tissue covering the normal hair follicles it is unlikely that any hair will grow in that area.

So pretty much any damage to the skin over your eyelashes may result in lash loss.

But trauma also includes other conditions such as radiation therapy, surgery, intense hot/cold therapies and even eyelid tattooing.

Any condition which damages the overlying skin may cause hair loss.

But just because you have trauma doesn’t mean that you will lose your hair.

Many people do just fine with some minor trauma while others may experience a significant amount of hair loss from the event.

#6. Inflammation & Infection

Inflammation and infection can also cause lash loss.

Skin infections such as topical fungal infections or viral infections such as shingles or herpes can damage hair follicles and lead to hair loss.

These type of conditions usually don’t go unnoticed, though!

So it’s good to know if your eyelash loss is due to infection because it is usually quite treatable with certain medications.

#7. Drugs & Medications

Lastly certain drugs and prescription medications can lead to eyelash hair loss.

Among this group of medications that can cause hair loss is the commonly prescribed SSRI escitalopram.

This a medication used to treat depression and anxiety and it is very commonly prescribed!

While these types of reactions are not very common they are definitely worth considering.

Especially if you have a case of eyelash hair loss in which every other cause has been ruled out.

If you fit into this category then you may want to start looking at your prescription drug list to determine if they may be causing some issues.

Usually you can determine if a medication is causing your lash loss because the hair loss tends to start around the time that you started your medication – so there is a link.

In some cases, however, the hair loss can be delayed by months.

How to Grow your Lashes

So what are you supposed to do if you are losing your lashes?

The best approach to treatment is to try and identify what is causing your lashes to fall out and then treat that problem.

For instance:

It doesn’t matter what you do or what you put on your lashes to help them grow if you are suffering from thyroid disease and you completely neglect that problem.

But even if you do find the problem and then treat that issue it can still take MONTHS for your lashes to grow back.

This is where you might find the opportunity to use certain growth serums that can actually help your lashes grow back.

I’ve included one of my favorites (I use it to help my lashes grow and I don’t have any lash growth issues) below:

Learn more about RevitaLash here

Lash growth serum can potentially help you grow back your lashes at a faster rate than usual and can even be used to help grow your lashes even if you don’t have any problems.

Will it work for everyone?

No, not necessarily.

But it may be worth a try especially if you are self conscious about your lashes.

In addition to using growth serum I also have some other suggestions which can really help your lashes grow back quickly:

Don’t pick or tweeze your existing lashes!

While your lashes are growing back it may be tempting to try and tweeze them, especially if some are not quite as long as others.

Do your best to avoid doing this!

You may stunt the growth phase of your lashes and trick your body into thinking there is more trauma to the hair follicles.

Be patient and let them grow out.

Only use high quality make-up with very few inactive fillers/dyes

While your lashes are growing back it’s best to avoid putting any excessive or unnecessary chemicals, dyes or fillers on your lashes.

These type of low quality ingredients can limit eyelash growth and even cause damage to your skin.

The best thing you can do is buy high quality make-up or use even LESS make-up during this time period.

I like using organic skin care products which tend not to cause any issues on the skin.

Make sure you are taking a hair, skin and nails vitamin

Another important way you can boost your results is by taking a high quality hair, skin and nails supplement.

These supplements provide your body with the necessary building blocks to help hair growth.

Ingredients like Zinc, biotin and silica can help the growth phase of your lashes.

I recommend a product like this one.

Avoid using fake lashes while they grow back

You will also want to avoid putting on fake lashes while your lashes are growing out.

Fake lashes may cause trauma to your skin and slow down the growth process, and they also may potentially cause trauma!

Even though it’s tough, try to stick it out and be patient while your lashes grow back.

Back to you!

The bottom line?

There are many medical conditions which may result in damage or eyelash hair loss.

The key is figuring out what the main issue is and focusing your efforts and treatment on that problem.

Along the way, and as your lashes start to grow back, you might be able to boost the growth phase by using certain serums and by taking certain supplements.

Now I want to hear from you:

Are you suffering from lash loss?

If so, what do you think is causing the problem?

Have you been able to grow back your lashes?

Leave your comments below!

The Best Eyelash Growth Serum: Get Goddess Like Lashes (2018 Edition)

Is it possible to actually grow your eyelashes quickly and safely?

The answer is absolutely.

Modern science has brought up (accidentally) some amazing serums that actually boost eyelash hair growth…

BUT, and this is a big but, not all products are created equally.

That means in order to get the best results you need to make sure you are using high quality products with high quality ingredients.

In this post I will walk you through the best eye lash growth serums including how to properly use them to get goddess like lashes in as little as 6 weeks.

Do Eyelash Growth Serums Actually Work?

Let’s answer this question so we can get it out of the way…

YES, eyelash serums can absolutely help you grow your lashes back.

You have to realize that your poor eyelashes, while important to you, are not very important as far as your body is concerned.

That means that your lashes are one of the FIRST things to go if you have any sort of medical condition or hormone imbalance (I’m talking to you thyroid – more on that below).

Not only are your lashes the first thing to go, they are also one of the last things to grow BACK.

Why?

Because all of the nutrients required for eyelash growth are usually better spent making hormones so you can survive and keep on kicking.

This is good news for your heart and lungs, but bad news for your lashes.

But don’t worry:

By using certain ingredients and nutrients we can basically bypass this system and provide your eyelashes with the vital components they need to GROW and to look beautiful.

If your eyelashes are looking like this (sorry for the picture!):

Then you know you are in serious need of some lash love…

Prescription Serums vs OTC serums

Before we talk about over the counter eyelash growth serums we really should at least mention one of (if not THE best) lash serums on the market: Latisse.

Latisse is actually a prescription medication that is used to treat glaucoma.

Doctors accidentally realized that patients using this medication (normally for the EYEBALLS) actually dramatically increased eyelash hair growth.

This is because the medication is actually a prostaglandin which is involved in hair growth stimulation.

And since the makers of the original medication wanted to make some more money they patented the medication has a cash only prescription designed specifically for growing back your eyelashes and Latisse was born.

One of the big problems with latisse is that it requires a prescription from an MD, dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

So while the cost the this medication is only around $50 ($44.17 if you live in Arizona), the cost of actually getting the prescription will be a lot more considering you need an appointment and you will have to pay a co-pay etc.

If you happen to have a personal Dermatologist or Plastic surgeon on speed dial then you can always grab a quick prescription and be on your way, but if you aren’t so lucky then you will want to consider using over the counter products.

Why?

Because they can work JUST as well as Latisse and come with much less hassle.

Benefits of using prescription lash serums like Latisse:

PROS

FDA approved for eyelash growth
Works quickly (within 6 weeks)
Purchased from a pharmacy which means you are getting the SAME product each and every time

CONS

Must be prescribed by a Doctor
Hassle to get refills (have to pay for doctors visit each and every time)
Family practice doctors or general practitioners may not know how to dose/prescribe the medication appropriately which means you may need a specialist

Benefits of using over the counter lash serums:

PROS

Works just as well as Latisse long term
Easier to purchase (can be purchased over the counter)
High quality brands like Vichy and Phyto-medic produce high quality lash growth products
Include more natural ingredients

CONS

May be slightly more expensive initially but ends up being about the same price as Latisse after Physicians cost are factored in
Risk of buying fraudulent or fake products if you don’t know where to shop or look (I will go over this below)

Because you can get the same benefits when using over the counter eyelash growth serums I almost always recommend that you start with these products FIRST.

It’s important to realize that some people may NEED the prescription latisse depending on what caused their eyelashes to fall out to begin with.

If you have multiple medical conditions and/or multiple hormone imbalances (like hypothyroidism) then you might want to consider using Latisse initially.

High Quality Eyelash Growth Serums

As I already mentioned you if you decide to purchase over the counter products you need to make sure you are buying high quality products.

Look for products that have the term “Luxury Beauty” and a “Professional Beauty” tag to certain products to indicate that they are legitimate.

You can find this tag under real products right below the price tag in a black and teal headline which indicates that this it the legitimate product.

If you don’t see this tag then avoid purchasing from that seller because it means you may be getting a fake product.

All of the products I have listed below are products that I have personally tried (at one point or another) and can verify that they are indeed high quality products that WORK.

As always, I include the product that I LOVE the most as #1 🙂

#1. RevitaLash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner

First up on the list is Revitalash advanced eyelash conditioner.

In my opinion this is probably the BEST of the over the counter products and should probably be the FIRST eyelash growth serum that you try.

Here’s why:

Revitalash contains a combination of nutrients and vitamins that have been shown to help nourish eyelashes and hair follicles.

Among the list of ingredients is biotin, green tea extract and Ginseng.

In clinical studies the use of biotin has been shown to increase hair growth even if taken ORALLY.

And it’s important to remember that we are talking about SERUMS here that go directly on your lashes and get VERY high absorption rates.

Compare that to oral supplements that have to be digested, absorbed and transported to your EYELASHES to have any sort of effect.

In addition to these ingredients Revitalash also includes Saw palmetto which helps block androgen receptors on your lashes which prevents lashes from falling out (especially if you have PCOS or high testosterone levels).

Along with these nutrients come other powerful amino acids and fat complexes that actually help nourish and “condition” existing lashes.

The combination of these ingredients results in nutreints to promote growth, nutrients to stop lash loss and nutrients to nourish existing lashes.

If you look at studies you can see that prostaglandin derivatives increase lash length, thickness and darkness (all associated with the subjective sense of beauty).

And revitalash contains ingredients that help act to boost these effects.

How quickly will it start working?

One of the benefits of using growth serums is that most will start to work almost immediately.

I don’t mean that your eyelashes will magically start growing within one day, but I do mean that you will notice a difference in terms of the texture and QUALITY of your eyelashes.

This immediate change stems from special ingredients that act almost like shampoo and condition for your little lashes.

They nourish your lashes and condition them so they look shinier, healthier and more full almost immediately.

The actual growth of your eyelashes will occur within about 4-6 weeks and you will notice a change in the thickness, darkness and even the length of your lashes.

In most cases the average INCREASE in lash thickness is as much as double what it was previously.

Is Revitalash well tolerated or will I react when I use it?

This particular product is considered to be hypoallergenic (meaning it doesn’t exacerbate or cause allergies), non-irritating and clinically tested on real life people.

How to Use RevitaLash Conditioner

Overall rating:

Overall Quality

Contains well studied ingredients

Price

High price, but high quality

Why I Love it

Works well for women of ALL ages

Who should use it:

Ingredients:

Anyone who wants longer and more beautiful lashes
Women with big events (wedding, birthday, bridal showers, event pictures/videos, etc.)
People with hormone imbalances like hypothyroidism that may result in lash damage or lack of lash growth
Women of all ages

Biopetin complex (contains biotin + green tea extract)
Ginseng and Swetia Japonica (both plants high in anti-oxidants to reduce inflammation and protect against free radical damage)
Saw palmetto (helps reduce androgen activation locally to reduce lash loss)
Wheat protein (healthy amino acids that promote lash growth and help condition existing lashes)

How to use it:

Why it works

After cleansing your entire face and after your face is dry, apply a thin (one pass) of the serum across the top of your upper eyelid/eyelashes – this will allow proper absorption of all ingredients

Active ingredients promote eyelash growth through stimulation of hair follicles while other nutrients (saw palmetto) prevent lash loss and finally amino acids and fat complexes nourish existing lash volume and look

Recommended product:

See more reviews here

You can find the complete ingredient list in the image below.

Just realize that the ACTIVE ingredients are different from the INACTIVE ingredients that help dissolve the active products.

Complete Revitalash ingredient list:

#2. Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10

Next on the list is a Vichy product.

This eyelash serum is special because it does TWO different things (and means that it might be better for certain people over others)…

First:

Vichy liftactiv serum helps to promote eyelash hair growth by increasing the time that your eyelashes spend in the “growing phase”.

The special products of ceramides and hyaluronic acid help make this a reality.

This helps your lashes grow longer and stronger MORE of the time.

You can see an image of the elongation of the growth phase below:

Second:

In addition to also helping with your eyelash growth this product also helps reduce fine lines and WRINKLES by acting as an anti aging product.

So this product has a double whammy and is better suited for people who want beautiful lashes AND for women who also have some premature signs of aging.

This combination means that this particular product is better for women over the age of 35 to 40 years old.

Why?

Because after age 30-35 women start to lose elastin and collagen in their skin which results in wrinkles.

So how does vichy help this?

This product contains a special ingredient known as Rhamnose which is a special plant sugar which has been clinically proven to help with skin rejuvination (making your skin look younger).

This ingredient is combined with the age old and tested hyaluronic acid which also helps hydrate and promote plump skin – especially around your eyelids where skin tends to sag.

Who should use Vichy lift serum?

Consider this product your number one choice if you want to grow your lashes and have early signs of aging or are over the age of 35.

If younger, or also using another anti-aging serum (like Vitamin C serum) then you can use Revitalash instead.

Is it tolerated well?

Yes, Vichy liftactiv is suitable for sensitive skin and is considered hypoallergenic as well.