Introduction
Eyelashes not only add to the beauty of your eyes but also protect them from dirt and debris. Therefore, losing them can make you panic, especially if you shed multiple eyelashes a day. However, the good news is that losing a few strands of lashes daily is quite normal! If you have been noticing fallen lashes on your cheeks and pillowcases, you may wonder, do eyelashes grow back? The answer is that as long as the follicle is healthy, your eyelashes will grow back. To further address your concerns, let us dive into the lash growth cycle and what causes eyelash loss.
All About Eyelash Growth
Just like the hair on our scalp, our eyelashes grow from follicles and have a growth and shedding cycle. This natural cycle usually spans 6 to 10 weeks. Therefore, each eyelash will fall off and regrow after 6-10 weeks. Moreover, various lashes are at different stages of growth at any given point, and hence they shed on different days. So, even if you see a few eyelashes falling daily, you don’t have to worry about being left with no eyelashes. However, if you notice your eyelashes falling out in clumps, you may need to investigate eyelash loss causes as it could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
The Common Causes For Eyelashes To Fall Out
- Alopecia – This is an autoimmune condition causing hair to fall from the scalp. It also affects eyelashes and is one of the common causes of eyelash loss. While there is no cure for Alopecia, you may try a lash loss treatment if the follicles are still alive.
- Burn Accidents – These are painful and unfortunate and may leave you with eyelash loss in one or both eyes, depending on the incident. However, burns usually do not damage the lash follicle, so your eyelashes should grow back in around six weeks.
- Chemotherapy – The medicines used in chemotherapy can cause hair and eyelash loss. You may notice this loss throughout chemotherapy and even a few weeks after it. Do eyelashes grow back after chemotherapy? Yes, your lashes should grow back a few weeks after chemotherapy ends.
- Infection and Inflammation – These are common reasons for eyelash loss in one eye. These can be caused by poor hygiene leading to clogging of the oil glands on the lids, affecting the follicles. Apart from lash loss, it can also cause redness, itching, and irritation. Therefore, you must remove eye makeup thoroughly and clean your eyes and eyelids to prevent infections.
- Thyroid Disease – Studies indicate[1] that eyelash loss can be related to thyroid disease. The thyroid gland controls hormones that can affect hair growth and hair loss. Therefore, any imbalances of these hormones can lead to eyelash loss.
- Trichotillomania – An impulse disorder also known as the “hair-pulling disorder”. It causes individuals to pull out their hair and eyelashes in large clumps, thereby causing eyelash loss. How long it takes for eyelashes to grow back would depend on the health of the follicles. If the follicles are not damaged while pulling out the lashes, they should grow back in 6-10 weeks.
Other Causes Of Eyelash Loss
- Hormonal Changes – Hormonal changes that accompany aging can be one of the eyelash loss causes. During perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels in the body dip, resulting in collagen loss and thinning of the hair and may cause your lashes to be weaker and thinner.
- Nutritional Deficiencies – Apart from looking into lash loss treatment, you must also pay attention to your diet if you are losing eyelashes. A vitamin or protein deficiency can be the reason behind the lash loss. So, include these essential nutrients in your diet.
- Chronic Stress – This condition can cause hormonal imbalances resulting in eyelash loss. You may also have the habit of rubbing your eyes when stressed, further causing lash loss.How long it takes for eyelashes to grow back would depend on follicle health and the duration of stress.
- Cancer – Some forms of cancer may affect the eyelids, while treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also cause lash loss. Do eyelashes grow back after the cancer is treated? In most cases, yes, but the hair texture or color may be different.
How Long Does It Take For Eyelashes To Grow Back?
The actual time your lashes will take to grow back depends on the reason for the lash loss and the health of the follicles and eyelids. The typical growth cycle for eyelashes takes about six weeks as long as there is no follicle damage or eyelid. However, if you pull an eyelash out, it can take longer for it to grow back since doing so can slow down the replacement process. If you are recovering from no eyelashes, it may take up to 3 months for your lashes to grow back completely. You can also consider certain treatment options to accelerate eyelash growth.
What Is The Typical Eyelash Growth Cycle?
- 1. Anagen Phase – This is when the lashes are actively growing and usually lasts 2-4 weeks. It is also important to know that not all your lashes are in the anagen phase at the same time.
- 2. Catagen Phase – The lashes reach their maximum length of around 12 mm and stop growing further during this phase. This phase also lasts for 2-3 weeks.
- 3. Telogen Phase – This is the final phase of the eyelash life cycle. The telogen phase is when the lashes stopped growing and start to fall, after which the anagen phase begins again. This phase can last up to 3 months.
Tips To Make Eyelashes Grow Back Faster
- Keep your eyelids clean – When dirt and oil accumulate on the eyelids, they can clog the glands present there. These clogged glands can cause bacterial infections and inflammation in the hair follicles, leading to eyelash loss. Thus, poor eye hygiene is one of the eyelash loss causes. So, make sure to keep the eyelids clean with a gentle cleanser.
- Remove your mascara – Improper mascara removal can cause itching and irritation around your lashes, leading to breakage. It can also cause eyelash loss in one eye, leading to an unflattering look. Therefore, make sure to properly remove your mascara before going to bed.
- Apply oils to your lashes – Applying hair growth stimulating oils to the lash roots may encourage faster lash growth. Castor oil is the most popular oil as a lash loss treatment. Some people also use coconut oil on their lashes for better lash health.
- Add essential nutrients to your diet – Including protein and biotin supplements in your diet may improve lash health and reduce breakage. You can also consume a multivitamin supplement for overall hair and lash health.
- Use lash serums – Lash serums contain hair growth-boosting ingredients and can encourage faster lash regrowth. These serums can be helpful in severe lash loss or no eyelashes after chemotherapy, burns, etc.
- Minimize stress – Stress leads to hormonal imbalances that cause hair fall and lash loss. Moreover, you may pluck your eyelashes or rub your eyelids under stress. To minimize lash loss due to stress, you can try stress relief techniques like meditation, gardening, and aromatherapy.
What Hampers The Growth Rate Of Lashes?
- Certain Medications – Certain medications, such as those used in chemotherapy and thyroid treatment, may cause lash loss due to a temporary disruption in the hair growth cycle. Do lashes grow back after the treatment? Yes, but their color or texture may vary.
- Damaged Follicles – The regular growth cycle of lashes continues if the follicles are healthy. However, if the follicles are damaged, lash growth may be slow or interrupted.
- Recovery – When the body is recovering from a physical injury or a medical condition, lash growth may be retarded.
How To Regrow Eyelashes Faster?
- Nutritional supplements – Multivitamin supplements contain essential nutrients like Vitamins B6, C, and E that may help your eyelashes grow faster. You can also try collagen supplements to improve hair and lash length.
- A healthy diet – How long does it take for eyelashes to grow back? The answer would heavily depend on your diet! Consuming healthy meals with adequate portions of protein, vitamins, and other essential nutrients can improve lash growth.
- Castor oil – Many people swear by castor oil as a lash growth remedy. You can apply it to your lash line with a cotton Q-tip at night as an overnight treatment. This remedy may help you grow back thicker and longer lashes.
- Lash Growth Serum – Lash growth serums contain hair growth actives that encourage better lash growth. Alternatively, studies suggest[2] that the medication bimatoprost can improve lash growth. You can consult your doctor about the same.
FAQs About Eyelash Loss
Yes, lashes tend to grow back naturally when pulled out, as long as you haven’t damaged the hair follicle. It will typically take six weeks for the lashes to grow back.
Coconut oil may not increase the lash growth rate, but it may make the lashes thicker and stronger. It may also improve the health of the skin around the lashes, encouraging better lash growth.
You can apply petroleum jelly or castor oil to nourish your lashes. Alternatively, you can also use a hydrating lash growth serum.
Lash extensions should not damage your natural lashes if applied correctly by a professional. Lash extensions should be stuck on individual lashes and applied to fully grown lashes to prevent lash damage.
Alopecia is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hair and eyelashes to fall. Madarosis is the condition in which eyebrows and eyelashes fall out. It can be caused by leprosy, trauma, infections, and Trichotillomania.
Takeaway
We all love the fluttery look that long lashes give to our eyes. Hence, losing eyelashes can be quite troubling. However, losing a few lashes every day is normal. Do eyelashes grow back? Absolutely! The natural growth cycle of lashes is about 6-10 weeks. So, even if your lashes fall out, they should grow back in a few weeks. However, if you are losing lashes in clumps, consult a doctor to check for any underlying health conditions that may cause lash loss. Unless you are suffering from a health issue, a good diet, a lash serum, and a stress-free lifestyle may help grow back your lashes quickly!
