What causes eyelash loss?

There are numerous causes for eyelash loss. The most common cause is Blepharitis, and other causes are trauma, thrichotillomania, alopecia areata, and discoid lupus.

To a man, eyelash loss might seem like no big deal. However, women desire full, long luminous eyelashes like the models have in mascara commercials, and it can be very upsetting to a woman if she begins to lose her lashes. The medical term for eyelash loss is madarosis. There are a few possible causes for eyelash loss, and there are a range of possible solutions as well.

One of the most common culprits for eyelash loss is a condition called blepharitis. Blepharitis, which is much more likely to affect adults than children, is characterized by chronic swelling of the eyelid, and it can also cause redness, itching, burning, and light sensitivity. Unfortunately, there is no cure for blepharitis, but there are long-term treatment options that can greatly reduce the appearance and intensity of symptoms. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications are often used in conjunction with eyelid scrubs, antioxidants, and massages.

Alopecia areata is another possible cause of madarosis. This condition is actually an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack hair follicles. The hair loss caused by this affliction usually occurs in round patches at first, but in can progress to complete baldness and hairlessness, eyelashes included. While this is not a life-threatening ailment and there is no physical pain associated with it, it is very emotionally disturbing to sufferers and can cause a great deal of stress, especially in social situations. Unfortunately, this condition cannot be cured, and there are no approved treatments. However, there are some medications and treatments that are designed for other hair loss conditions that can sometimes help to re-grow the hair, such as Minoxidil, Anthralin, Sulfasalazine, topical sensitizers, oral cyclosporine, and photochemotherapy.

In rare instances, madarosis can be caused by discoid lupus. If you begin losing your lashes, you should seek help from a dermatologist or ophthalmologist so that you can pinpoint the cause for your eyelash loss. If your eyelids are red or irritated, you should stop using any cosmetics or lotions on the eye area until you have consulted a doctor because these substances could be aggravating your condition. If there is no irritation, women with eyelash loss can create an illusion of eyelashes by using eyeliner on their top eyelids and wearing false lashes.