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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lastly certain drugs and prescription medications can lead to eyelash hair loss.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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…
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:
Benefits of using over the counter lash serums:
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.
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 🙂
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.
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
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:
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.
Overall rating:
Overall Quality
High quality products combined with anti-aging ingredients
Price
Moderately priced compared to other brands
Why I Love it
Better for woman over the age of 35 not using anti-aging serum
Complete ingredient list:
Next on the list is Lashfood by phyto-medic.
This is included in the list because it is not only a luxury product it is also VERY well tolerated.
This eyelash growth serum should be considered if you have SUPER sensitive skin or if you have multiple food allergies.
I’m talking to the fair skinned people out there who get red skin when leaves gently fall and braise their skin.
In a consumer study (I know they are generally not very reliable) Lashfood showed the following results:
A consumer study is when people are chosen by the company who produces the product and given the product (usually free) for a 6-12 week test.
They then send them a questionnaire and ask them a list of questions and then use the results to “prove” that their product works.
Obviously this isn’t the best way to tell if something works, BUT it does provide some insight into IF a product is likely to work.
In this case we do know that the product will work but we are more concerned about how well it was tolerated.
If you have a gluten intolerance, autoimmune disease or lots of food allergies then lashfood should be your go-to product for beautiful lashes.
What else makes lashfood special?
Lashfood contains more natural ingredients based on herbs, proteins and fats that are designed to nourish and strengthen your existing brows.
One of the reasons that people tend to tolerate lashfood so well is because they use more natural ingredients, but this also may be why it’s not QUITE as effective as other eyelash growth serums.
Another benefit is that lashfood can be used with EXISTING eyelash extensions to provide growth to your brows so you don’t have to keep up with the extensions.
Overall rating:
Overall Quality
Contains more natural ingredients like amino acids and soy
Price
Good price for the product
Why I Love it
Works better for patients with super sensitive skin and food allergies
You can find more information about the ingredient list of lashfood below:
If you are dying to grow your lashes out but can’t afford any of the other products then I have also included a cheaper priced product (the best of the lower range products) that you can use.
Whenever possible it’s ALWAYS better to use high quality products from trusted brands because they include higher quality ingredients.
Having said that I realize that $50-100 per vial of serum isn’t always in the price range of everyone…
With that in mind the best in the lower price range is the rapidlash eyelash and eyebrow serum:
Overall rating:
Cheaper products are tempting to purchase, but they almost always result in sup par results when compared to higher quality products.
Generally the price of these products is less due to skipping steps in the concentration of the ingredients and using cheaper but more irritating inactive ingredients.
You might notice that hardly anyone lists exactly HOW MUCH of an ingredient they use, and it’s because they don’t actually have to.
This means you can purchase the same product with the same ingredient but it might only be 1/10th as much as other products leading to less results.
If you are in a pinch you can consider this product.
While using lash growth serums is a great idea (and one I recommend for lasting results) you also should consider making several other changes to help improve the quality and density of your eyelashes.
These tips will also potentially help you have better and longer lasting hair! That means eyebrows and hair on your head 🙂
I’ve included a complete list of other reasons that might cause your lashes to fall out.
If you want to regrow your lashes, then you will need to treat the underlying cause of what is making your lashes fall out.
In some cases this may be difficult, but it’s always worth exploring.
If you can’t get your lashes to grow back, then you might need to consider using lash extensions for a short period of time while you get checked out by a physician (preferably a dermatologist).
What causes your eyelashes to fall out:
Even if you aren’t sure what is causing your lashes to fall out you can still use the follow tips and tricks to help grow them back!
First on the list is high quality supplements.
Certain nutrients like zinc, iron, choline, silica and biotin are REQUIRED for optimal hair growth.
If you pay attention to the ingredients inside hair, skin and nails supplements you will find that these nutrients are ALWAYS inside (or should be at least).
What you may not know is that in order to get the benefits of taking these supplements you need to make sure you are taking a high enough dose.
That generally means NOT taking one supplement that has everything in it, and instead taking a couple of supplements with high concentrations of the supplements you need.
Another very important factor to consider when evaluating your hair loss or eyelash loss is how much iron you have.
Low iron levels (even if you don’t have anemia) can cause hair loss all over your body.
And as a woman you are at increased risk for developing iron deficiency due to your monthly cycle!
This explains why so many woman who start taking a pre natal vitamin start to grow their hair back.
It’s not because there is something magical in the pill, it’s because it contains iron!
Here is my favorite hair, skin and nails supplement that I use almost daily.
This might go without saying, but it’s worth mentioning.
Another huge reason for lash loss, hair loss, etc. is due to slight reactions to inactive ingredients in low quality make up products.
This reaction can result in inflammation JUST at the level of your skin and epidermis which results in low grade inflammation in your hair follicles.
The result of this inflammation is early signs of aging, pale discoloration to your skin, loss of eyelashes/eyebrows/hair and even some other signs such as redness or irritation.
You can avoid these reactions by monitoring how you react to certain make up products and only using high quality products that have FEW inactive ingredients.
If you are very sensitive then you may need to make sure you use pure organic products that would be considered edible.
Believe me when I say that one of the single best things you can do for your eyebrows or eyelashes is to LEAVE THEM ALONE!
Some people have a nervous habit of simply picking at their skin or hair, others have the need to be a perfectionist which leads to almost no brows.
Even if it means going without makeup for a while (few weeks) it’s worth it, just leave your eyelashes alone while they grow.
Don’t go near them and don’t tweeze your brows while they are growing either!
Mechanical trauma from tweezing or pulling can actually irritate the follicle and blunt hair growth.
Do. Not. Do. It.
This is an extension of #3.
While you are using lash serum it’s best if you avoid putting ANYTHING on your lashes.
While certain lash serums CAN be used with lash extensions (I’m talking about lashfood) doesn’t mean that you should.
Adding lash extensions to your face counts as a minor trauma as far as your poor little eyelashes are concerned.
In addition, as the lash extensions come out they may pull some of your native eyelashes out along with them – not good!
If you can help it, avoid using lash extensions while you are using lash growth serum.
Choline is a critical part of the hair follicle matrix and adequate choline helps give your hair (and eyelashes) a glow or sheen.
You can increase your consumption of choline rich foods to help boost your hair growth naturally.
Focus on these food groups:
Remember to also take a choline supplement as well!
A huge cause of poor hair growth is due exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.
You’ve heard of detox but you probably don’t know WHY it’s so important.
Well, your body comes into contact with these endocrine disruptors on a DAILY basis.
Even touching receipts or eating out of plastic containers can result in contact with these chemicals.
Under normal circumstances your body doesn’t have a problem getting rid of them, but sometimes they can build up and cause problems.
To make sure that you get rid of these chemicals consider taking a milk thistle, MSM or curcumin to help boost your liver’s ability to detox naturally.
Here is a supplement you can try that works well.
Next up:
Your hormones.
Whether you realize it or not your hormones play a huge role in hair growth, the quality of your skin and how quickly you age.
Because of their important role it’s ALWAYS important to make sure that you have your hormones under control when dealing with your hair or skin.
One of the biggest culprits is hypothyroidism.
Your thyroid directly regulates how quickly your hair grows and if it falls out or not.
Low thyroid states (but also high thyroid states) can lead to hair breakage, your eyebrows to fall out (especially the outer third) and changes to how your hair looks (curly, wavy, etc.).
Make sure you find a thyroid literate doctor to help you out!
Lastly, and one of the more important steps, is to remember to wait patiently!
Growing back your lashes takes TIME.
Don’t give up, just remember to follow these recommendations, use your lash serum and you will have beautiful lashes within 4-6 weeks 🙂
Here is another trick that you might find helpful.
You can actually use your eyelash serum on your brows to help boost your eyebrow growth.
I will write another post on how to grow back your eyebrows, but just realize that you can take a small amount of your growth serum and apply it directly to your eyebrows as well.
Apply at the same time that you apply to your lashes and make sure your brows are dry before application.
Phew!
Eyelash growth serums can and do actually work, it’s just a matter of finding the right type of serum for YOUR body and YOUR skin.
Spend some time looking at my recommendations and find out which one works best for you.
But remember:
Stick to the high quality brands and look for brands that have the “professional beauty” or “luxury beauty” designation.
Now it’s your turn:
Have you tried to grow back your lashes?
What has worked for you? What hasn’t?
Leave your comments below!