Reasons Your EyeLashes Fall Out

Long lush eyelashes make beautiful eyes that can make a woman feel more attractive. In fact, achieving them is part of the routine of many women each morning. It is no wonder many women who seek longer and thicker eyelashes are worried about their eyelashes fall out.

Purpose of Eyelashes

Beyond beauty, eyelashes protect your eyelashes from “particles in the air” such as dust and grains of sand that can get into your eyes and be harmful. Eyelashes work to “sweep” particles away. They also force moisture away from your eyes including sweat, tears, and rain.

In addition, eyelashes are similar to the “whiskers of a cat” (Health Unlocked). Eyelashes are sensitive enough to alert your eyes to danger so your eyes close before small insects or other dangers particulates land in your eyes. They also protect a person’s eyes from the sun.

It’s no wonder women are especially concerned when their eyelashes falling out. Here are some common reasons your eyelashes are falling out.

Allergies to Mascara and Eye Makeup 

It is not as common to have allergies mascaras nowadays but it is an issue for some women. Many mascara brands take allergies to their products seriously and make mascaras that are hypoallergenic. However, there are chemicals within certain mascaras and eye makeup that cause allergies. If you are allergic to dust and other allergens that affect your eyes, you’re probably more prone to chemical reactions from mascara.

A solution is to try mascara or other eye makeup products that are mineral based and/or vegan. Some great mascara’s to try if you are allergic to your current mascara is Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Flashes, Statement Mascara made with mineral pigments ground into a fine powder. You can also try Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara made from moisturizing and natural Amazonian clay that” hydrates eyelashes making them “healthier” and “stronger,” giving your eyelashes a volumized appearance. Tarte’s natural or vegan based eyeshadow palettes such as Tarte’s Limited Edition Make Magic Happen Eyeshadow Palette made from Amazonian Clay are also worth a look thank women with eye makeup allergies.

Dermatitis and Conjunctivitis

Mascaras can cause “dermatitis and conjunctivitis” (Health Unlocked). Contact dermatitis occurs when allergens touch the skin around the eyes. “Conjunctivitis” occurs when allergens from your mascara “flake off” (Health Unlocked). They irritate the “conjunctiva” or “the thin, moist membrane covering the surface of your” eyes and may cause your eyelashes to fall out if you do not stop using certain mascaras or eye products such as certain eyeshadows, certain mascaras, and even eye primers (Health Unlocked).

If you find yourself suffering from dermatitis or conjunctivitis you might want to take a break from wearing eye makeup products until you are healed. Then, look at wearing more natural or vegan based products as those mentioned above from Tarte Makeup.

Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata is a “disorder of the immune system” that results in hair loss (Heath Unlocked). Immune cells will attack hair follicles and for this reason hair and eyelashes fall out. Alopecia Areata can result in hair loss all over the body or hair loss in only one place such as your eyelashes or on your head. There is currently no cure for this immune system disorder but it can be treated with topical products (Health Unlocked).

Blepharitis

Blepharitis happens when your eyelids are “inflamm[ed] due to the “excessive growth” of a bacteria on the skin (Health Unlocked). This can occur because the eyelid’s “oil glands” are blocked due to allergies to products such as mascara and eyeshadow. This can cause your eyelids to be red, itchy, and swollen. Blepharitis can cause eyelash loss and if it is happening to you a lot, try switching mascara and eye makeup brands to something less harsh. Always look for hypoallergenic products.

Another solution is buying a new tube of the brand of the mascara you already use. Using a mascara for longer than three months is not recommended because of bacterial growth that occurs inside a mascara tube. This bacteria occurs when a woman dips the mascara wand in and out of her mascara tube and then uses the mascara wand on her lashes before putting the wand back in the tube. Blepharitis can be avoided by wiping off your eyeliners with a facial wet wipe and your eyeshadows with Kleenex every so often. If you have Bleparitis, cleaning your makeup products along with your makeup brushes before reusing them is a must. You do not want to become re-inefected.

Chemotherapy

One of the terrible side effects of having chemotherapy to combat cancer is having your eyelashes (and the other hair on your body) fall out. Losing your hair and eyelashes as a woman can be especially difficult as both are signs of beauty and being a woman. Some women do no feel themselves without their hair and eyelashes.

Hair loss can be for a little while or for a long time but in many cases, a person’s eyelashes and hair will return. A wonderful solution for women going through cancer with chemotherapy is eyelash extensions as they can help a woman feel better about her appearance and often help with self-esteem at the same time.

Prevent Losing your Lashes, use a Gentle MakeUp Removal 

Further recommendations to prevent the loss of your eyelashes include removing your eye makeup every night with a gentle makeup remover, one that is not too harsh on your eyelashes. Leaving your makeup on before you go to sleep is hard on your lashes and on the skin around your eyes. Both your lashes and your skin need to breath when you are sleeping. You can try Tarte’s Fresh Eyes Maracuja Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Wipes for a small price. They are “infused with maracuja.” They are also biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

 Loss of Natural Eyelashes

Just as your hair falls out and regrows, so do your eyelashes. Your eyelashes can naturally fall out for various reasons including the environment you are in and rubbing your eyes with your hands. It is essential to not rub your eyes with dirty hands as this not only causes your lashes to fall out but can cause your eyes to become infected. It takes from “one month to six weeks” for eyelashes to grow back after falling out. However, your eyelashes fall out less often than strands of hair do.

Sunlight, Tugging On Your Eyelashes, Eyelash Curlers

Since eyelashes protect your eyes from sunlight, the radiation from too much sunlight may cause your eyelashes to fall out. Wearing sunglasses whenever you are spending a great deal of time in the sun is recommended. As well it is vital to not pull and tug on your eyelashes as it can cause your eyelashes to fall out.

One easy fix to your makeup routine is to avoid using your eyelash curler except for on special occasions. Eyelash curlers tug and pull on your eyelashes. Also if you do not change the small rubber pad on your eyelash curler, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria and cause eye infections.

Trichotillomania Tangle 

Trichotillomania Tangle is condition caused due to a persons’ psychological state (Health Unlocked). It is an “impulse control disorder” where a person pulls out their own, hair, eyebrows, and/or eyelashes (Health Unlocked). Generally, people who have trichotillomania will pluck each hair out by the roots but some who will pull out “handfuls” or large amounts of hair out at a time (Health Unlocked).

Trichotillomania Tangle usually starts in “childhood or adolescence” (Health Unlocked). Sometimes it occurs at the “onset of puberty” and some children develop “hair-pulling habits” lessen with age (Health Unlocked). Other people continue this psychologically based behavior all through adulthood.

Thyroid Conditions

Around “59 million” Americans suffer from thyroid conditions (Consumer Health Digest). Bother “overactive” and “underactive” thyroids can cause eyelash loss.

Thyroid Conditions: Overactive Thyroid

If your thyroid is overactive your body can lose the ability to “tolerate heat, [have] difficulty sleeping,” experience “weight loss,” have “swelling of the lower neck,” and experience “headaches” (Health Unlocked). When this occurs your hair break offs resulting in “bald patches” and this may occur in the loss of eyelashes.

Thyroid Conditions: Underactive Thyroid

Conversely, when a person has an ‘underactive thyroid gland” it results in “intolerance to cold, dry skin, constipation and weight gain” (Health Unlocked). This means that your eyebrows and eyelashes will likely become “sparse” as your hair becomes “thin, dry and brittle” (Heath Unlocked).

For more information read 9 Eyelash Growing Hacks for Fuller, Longer Lashes and Will My Eyelashes Regrow After Extensions.