Do You Lose Your Eyelashes From Chemo?
Drugs used in chemotherapy aim to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. Hair cells that generate hair growth are typically injured or destroyed during treatment because these medications cannot distinguish between cancer cells and other fast-developing cells in the body. This results in baldness.
It’s normal to lose between one and five eyelashes each day. Sometimes, the more rapid lash loss can be a symptom of an underlying health problem in the eye or in another part of the body. The degree to which you lose your hair during chemotherapy treatment might vary widely among different chemotherapy medicines. Some chemotherapy medications produce just localized hair loss, while others cause complete body baldness. Eyebrows and lash hairs are examples.
Eyelashes are vulnerable to shedding after cancer therapy, just like the hair on the head. Hairs that develop in the corner of the eyelid are used to create eyelashes. This hair helps to keep dust and other particles out of our eyes. Many women believe that long, thick eyelashes are a symbol of attractiveness, and therefore they go to great lengths to achieve this effect through the use of cosmetics.
Tips for Preventing Eyelash Loss
Calm down! It’s fairly uncommon for chemotherapy to cause patients to lose their eyelashes. However, when dealing with thinning eyelashes, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have about your hair thinning. You should also tell your doctor if you’re experiencing any pain or irritation as a result of your eyelashes falling out. Do not put on eye cosmetics, eye creams, or fake lashes before talking to your doctor.
Try not to rub your eyes and keep your lashes intact. Keep your eyelids from being irritated by letting your eyelashes fall out on their own. Use caution when putting on or taking off fake eyelashes. As an additional precaution, many experts advise putting away the eyelash curler until after your period has ended.
What is the Experience of Eyelash Loss Like?
While it’s true that some women may not mind their lashes falling out, others may find the experience irritating. In most cases, you won’t feel any pain, although you can get an itchy feeling. After the eyelashes have been removed, this sensation typically fades.
After the hair has fallen out, if your eyelids still feel irritating or itching, you should see a doctor. The dehydration brought on by chemotherapy might irritate the skin around your eyes. Your doctor can suggest treatment options, such as moisturizing eye drops or mild skin lotions, if necessary. When your skin is irritated, it’s advisable to go without makeup, lash glue, and other cosmetics until the discomfort subsides.
When Another Hair Loss Occurs Along with Eyelash Loss
Hair loss on the eyelids, eyebrows, and/or scalp may indicate a more serious underlying health issue. Loss of all hair, including eyelashes, is a common symptom of some more serious conditions.
Full, partial, or temporary hair loss can occur anywhere on the body, including the head and face, when the immune system mistakenly targets hair follicles. Most cases of persistent hair loss run in families. Surgery, chronic disease, fever, flu, anemia, childbirth, or aging can all lead to acute alopecia, or sudden, temporary hair loss.
The thyroid gland, located in the neck, regulates the production of hormones in the body. Loss of eyelashes and other hair can be a symptom of both hyperthyroidism (an excess of hormones) and hypothyroidism (insufficient hormones). Weight gain, heart rate acceleration, and high or low blood pressure are all additional signs of a thyroid issue.
As soon as my chemo is through, I want my eyelashes to grow back
The loss of your eyelash hair is just temporary, so that’s good news. The growth cycle of eyelashes mirrors that of your head hair. Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen are the three stages they pass through. Eyelash hairs shed and regrow according to growth, transition, and resting cycle that leaves some lashes in situ at all times. In a healthy individual, new eyelashes will replace the old ones within a day or two.
Loss of eyelashes can occur at a considerably faster rate in people undergoing hair loss due to chemotherapy, though this varies from person to person. Usually, eyelash hairs will shed alongside your head hair. Eyelash loss has been reported by some patients to occur exclusively at the end of treatment.
Your eyelashes may take a little longer to regrow than your head hair if you lose them during therapy. In most cases, regrowing eyelashes requires between six and eight weeks. They will likely start out thin and sparse then fill out over time.
While some people may lose all of their lashes following chemotherapy, this is not the case for others. For some, thinning lashes might be all they encounter instead of a complete loss. After therapy is finished, your eyelashes should gradually get full again.
Preventing and Treating Eyelash Thinning
The loss of eyelashes is a problem that many women would like to hide. When undergoing chemotherapy, it might be helpful to feel more like yourself by using makeup or artificial lashes to accentuate the eyes despite the loss of eyelashes. Before applying anything to your eyes during chemotherapy, check with your doctor.
Careprost Eye Drops are a popular option for ladies who have experienced lash loss. False lash application may have a slight learning curve, but with some exercise, you’ll be ready to rock your new appearance in no time! Our fake eyelashes for women experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy are made to seem completely natural. If you want a full upper and lower eyelash set, we can help with that, too.
False lashes allow you to try out many styles, from dramatic and bold to subtle and natural. False eyelashes can give you the appearance of thicker lashes if you are just beginning to notice a loss of natural lashes. When your eyelashes have fully recovered, they can still be worn for special occasions. False eyelashes can be worn with or without mascara, depending on the desired effect.