The most common causes of overall hair loss, including eyelashes, are: Alopecia. This auto-immune disease causes the body to attack its own hair follicles, causing full, partial or episodic hair loss on the body, head or face. Long-term alopecia is often hereditary.
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.
Loss of eyelashes may occur with several conditions, including a variety of skin diseases, drug side effects, endocrine disorders, metabolic abnormalities, traumatic insults, inflammations, toxins, psychiatric disorders, and systemic disease.
But irregular functioning of T3 and T4 can cause that regrowth cycle to be disturbed — meaning you might notice thinning hair over time, without replacement. This could affect your eyebrows, body hair, and eyelashes, too. It might fall out in clumps or strands.
Just like the hair on the scalp, eyelashes have a natural growth cycle and frequently fall out. The loss of a few eyelashes is normal. However, extensive eyelash loss can occur for several reasons. In many cases, eyelashes will grow back without treatment.
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.
Causes of Short Eyelashes
Aging and menopause are considered to be one of the leading factors that cause shorter eyelashes due to certain hormonal imbalances that affect the growth cycle of hair follicles. Other factors include stress, lack of sleep, and allergic reactions to medications.
The best thing you can do at this point is to invest in a bottle of daily eyelash serum. Eyelash growth serum was what helped me nourish and repair my lashes, leaving them stronger, thicker and fuller in as little as 4-8 weeks.
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). However, there are some caveats and exceptions. Namely, as long as there is no trauma or lasting damage to the eyelid itself or the hair follicles, your lashes should grow back.
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.
Your lashes grow through your eye follicles. The older we get, the slower our growth process becomes. This is how your lashes start to thin out.
According to board-certified dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D., stress is very much a factor in eyelash loss. Just as stress can lead to increased hair shedding, an increase in anxiety can cause a similar effect on those tiny lash hairs.
You can consult an ophthalmologist (a doctor who specializes in eyes and vision), an oculoplastic surgeon (a specialist in ophthalmology and plastic surgery) or a dermatologist (a doctor who's an expert in skin, hair and nails). The good news is that in many cases you can get your lush lashes back eventually.
2. Wavering Hormones. Hormones affect eyelash growth just as they can affect your hair growth cycles and an imbalance may cause your eyelashes to fall out, along with other hair — something that can occur while pregnant or postpartum.
Currently, there is only one product proven effective for growth and thickness, which is Latisse. The FDA-approved serum is formulated with an active ingredient called bimatoprost, which not only causes existing lashes to become longer but also stimulates growth in hair follicles not currently producing lashes.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is known for stimulating new cell growth, essential for regrowing fallen lashes. For this reason, a biotin deficiency can be linked to hair loss and, in turn, lash fall. Biotin can be found in eggs, almonds, cauliflower and other vegetables, as well as Vitamin B supplements.
"It is possible to significantly increase the length and thickness of your eyelashes," says Brett King, MD, a dermatologist at Yale Medicine. Your eyelashes typically take around two months to grow.
There is no scientific research to support the theory that castor oil will make eyelashes grow longer or thicker. However, it may help increase the luster of eyelashes, making them appear thicker and glossier.
"Just like you condition your hair, you need to condition your lashes," Graf says. Her simple suggestion is to put a thin layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor over your lids at night. Over-the-counter lash conditioners can also help. They usually contain ingredients to strengthen and moisturize lashes.
Coconut oil does not help your eyelashes grow longer; instead, it enables them to grow to their full length and thickness. Coconut oil will not increase the rate your eyelashes grow, but it will prevent them from falling out as frequently. Coconut oil helps fight bacteria that can also lead to hair loss.
One of the best things you can do for your lashes is to use an eyelash serum. These serums typically contain ingredients like biotin, which promotes lash growth, or peptides, which help repair damaged lashes. Apply the serum directly to your lash line each night before bed, and you'll start seeing results in no time.