Eyelashes grow, fall out and replace themselves in a natural cycle every six to 10 weeks, just like the hair on top of your head. It's normal to lose between one and five eyelashes each day.
Why Are My Eyelashes Falling Out? Eyelashes naturally fall out, just as you'd shed hair from your head, but it could be unsettling to see multiple eyelashes on your cheek or pillow. An abnormal loss of eyelashes is known as a condition called madarosis. And if you see an extreme amount, you should consult your doctor.
While it's normal to lose one to five eyelashes a day as they naturally fall out on their own, if you start noticing rapid eyelash loss, it might be time to investigate. Everything from your overall health to your daily skincare routine and even stress could be behind your sparse lash line.
In general, lashes have a lifespan of about three months but can last more than 100 days before the lash falls out, and a new one begins to grow. Because each individual lash is in its own phase of the growing cycle, it's normal for a few lashes to fall out most days.
As an adult, you might be less excited to notice your eyelashes falling out. It's natural to wonder if they will ever grow back. But, just like hair on your head, eyelashes grow, fall out, and regrow again in a natural cycle.
There are however seasons throughout the year, specifically spring and autumn, where lashes will shed more noticeably. This is exactly like the process that animals go through, where they shed their summer and winter coats, ready for the next season.
Common reasons include both an overactive and underactive thyroid gland, as well as other hormonal changes. Additionally, alopecia areata—an immune disorder in which cells attack the hair follicles—causes lashes to fall out. This condition can affect eyelashes, brows, the scalp and other places where hair grows.
Catagen (Transition) Phase
This stage lasts for 2 – 3 weeks. If an eyelash unnaturally falls out (or is pulled out) during this phase, that follicle stays empty while it completes this phase and moves on to Telogen. That means you'll have an empty spot until that follicle reaches the Anagen phase again.
The first thing that may help your eyelashes from falling out is using a lash-strengthening primer. “Use an eyelash primer that contains ingredients like keratin, vitamin E and castor oil — these will all benefit growth of the eyelashes and help protect them from mascara,” says Velazquez.
"It's common to see excessive hair shedding when we're experiencing a surge in stress," Mraz Robinson tells Allure, and hair can include eyelashes. She says this type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium, often correlated to a stressful event like an illness, surgery, or emotional stress.
Do lashes grow back? The short answer is yes. Eyelashes can and do typically grow back following most of the causes mentioned above. Just like the hair on top of your head, eyelash hairs grow, fall out, and regrow—this process takes about 4–16 weeks (Aumond, 2018).
Vaseline is an occlusive moisturizer that can be used effectively on dry skin and eyelashes. It can't make eyelashes grow faster or longer, but it can moisturize them, making them look fuller and lusher. It isn't right for everyone, though.
"Mascara can cause your lashes to fall out due to clogging the hair shaft," explains Phillips. "The hair shaft needs to be clean and filled with nutrients to stop it from getting dry or becoming clogged with excessive oil."
Our bodies react to the drop in temperature and we shed lashes faster than normal, which is known as the Autumn Lash Shed. One eye has between 90 – 150 eyelashes and we lose around 2-5 lashes per day on average, during our lash life cycle.
The short answer is that it can take between one and six months, depending on how the eyelashes came out in the first place. If it was because of natural shedding, regrowth will take around six weeks. If, however, your eyelashes fell out with force, the regeneration will take a lot longer.
The average person loses up to 20% of their natural lashes every two weeks and new hair growth is constant. Lash cycles occur every 2-3 months. As you start seeing your lash artist regularly, by your third or fourth fill you may noticeably see fewer lashes because you are nearing the end of your lash cycle.
Because each individual lash is in its own phase of the cycle, it's normal for a few lashes to fall out every day. It usually takes 4-8 weeks to fully replace a lash.
Lash loss with redness, itchiness or flaking on the eyelids. Eyelash loss and vision changes. Lash loss and a feeling of pressure around the eyes. Loss of eyelashes, in addition to hair on the scalp or eyebrows.
Eyelashes can grow back if pulled out, but it may take longer than 6 weeks or longer. This is because pulling an eyelash slows down the process of regrowth.
Your eyelashes naturally thin as you age. For the most part, you shouldn't be overly concerned with it. Your lashes are like the hair on your head. It grows, rests, shed's, and regrows.
If you think a colorless mascara will do nothing for your lashes, think again. Katie Mellinger, celebrity makeup artist, says that a clear formula gives lashes a glossy finish, helps lashes hold a curl, and can even act as a primer for colored mascaras.