Eyelashes are special for a girl and it is never nice to see too many of them fall out, but that may happen at times. The only way to keep yourself from worrying too much over fallen eyelashes would be to know all there is to know about both growing and losing them.
Is It Natural to Lose Eyelashes?
When you see a bunch of your lashes fall out at once, it can be a bit worrying. However, rest assured that in most cases, it’s part of the natural cycle and doesn’t indicate anything is wrong. Just like the rest of the hair on our body, lashes are shed periodically. They then grow back automatically, which is a natural process.
The Natural Growth Cycle of Your Eyelashes
There are three progressive phases in the growth and lifecycle of human eyelashes. These are called the anagen phase, the catagen phase, and the telogen phase respectively.
The anagen phase can last for roughly 4 – 6 weeks. During this time, the lash remains connected to the dermal papilla, growing actively.
The catagen phase is also called the transitional phase, as it is during these 2 – 3 weeksthat the hair follicles shrink, signaling the end of the growth cycle.
The longest of the three phases, the telogen phase, lasts for at least four months, up to a maximum of nine months, but at the end of it, the lash finally falls out.
The lashes on your eyelids do not start these phases at the same time, whichis why we see a lash or two falling off almost every other day.
Can You Speed Up Your Eyelash Growth Cycle?
This one is actually quite a common question and the good news is that the answer is yes. It is possible to accelerate the growth of your eyelashes with the help of the following methods.
Growth Serum
You can promote eyelash growth with the help of specialized growth serums. Even if your lashes are not falling out, promoting growth in brittle or tiny lashes with a high-quality serum is possible.
Eating Food Rich in Biotin
Biotin (vitamin H) is not that hard to find in natural foods, and since it directly promotes keratin growth, it is possible to accelerate the growth rate of your lashes with a diet rich in nuts, green veggies (broccoli, kale, etc.), cauliflowers, onions and whole grains in general.
The Other Nutrients that Help
Vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin,protein,and iron are the other nutrients the human body needs to accelerate hair growth in general, which includes the lashes as well. Take a look at the following chart to see how you can receive each of these nutrients from natural food sources. Adding a multivitamin to the list can also be helpful.
- Protein and niacin: Meat, poultry, fish, chickpeas, beans, seitan, lentils, etc.
- Vitamins A and C: Berries, avocado, animal liver, fish liver, dairy, sweet potato, kale, papaya, watermelon, cherry, guava, Kakadu plum, etc.
- Iron: Spinach, poultry, seafood, beans, dry fruits, etc.
Unnatural Causes Responsible for Losing Eyelashes
While losing a few eyelashes on a daily basis is expected, it is time to worry if you notice your lash density is thinning visibly. One of the prime causes for this is usingan old tube of mascara full of bacteria or a product that contains ingredients that you are allergic to. Switch to something else and see if the situation improves.
Unfortunately, certain medical conditions can also be responsible for making people lose their eyelashes, which include alopecia areata, scleroderma, blepharitis, lupus, and hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism. Only a doctor can confirm if you have any of those diseases, so get yourself checked out to be sure. If someone is going through chemotherapy, all hair, including the eyelashes may fall off partially or even completely, but in most cases, the hair and the lashes slowly grow back after the chemotherapy sessions have ended.
How to Avoid Self-Harm to your Lashes
Unfortunately, those of us that use makeup on a fairly regular basis, often end up damaging our eyelashes unwittingly. To avoid such self-inflicted damage to your eyelashes, keep the following tips in mind.
- Do not pull on your lashes hard, especially when removing mascara
- Use a remover and pull gently when you are trying to remove glued lash extensions
- Keep the use of eyelash curlers to a minimum
- If you have itchy eyelids, you probably have an allergy, so get it checked out by a dermatologist
That’s about all you need to know about losing and growing eyelashes. While it isn’t the most comprehensive guide, if you pay attention to everything we just discussed, you will probably never have to worry about your eyelashes ever again.
Have you had a problem with your eyelashes? Let us know in the comments.