Eye Lash Growth

Eyelashes serve to protect the eye from foreign objects such as sand, dust, bugs and liquid. The hairs that make up the eyelashes are sensitive to motion, stimulating a reflex action to blink. Eyelashes grow to varying length and thicknesses. Some appear curved or curled, while others appear straight. Conditions can affect eyelash shedding and growth. Options are available to stimulate or enhance eyelashes for improved appearance and restored function.

Composition

• Eyelashes are similar to other hair in the body with the same hair color. Eyelashes grow from a hair follicle in the skin (dermis), which is also associated with muscles, glands and nerves, like the fine hair on arms.

Growth Cycle

• Eyelashes are shed, like other types of hair, from the follicle. Each eyelash has its own growth cycle (anaphase) that lasts six to eight weeks so that most eyelashes are present to maintain their collective protective mechanisms. Drugs, disease and irritation can stimulate shedding, shorten the growth cycle or pull eyelashes from the follicle.

Conditions

• Certain conditions and treatments affect eyelash growth. Loss of eyelashes is called ciliary madarosis or milphosis. Burns can destroy eyelashes and, depending on the degree of the burn, can impair the follicles and skin. Infection can cause eyelashes to be shed. Chemotherapy and hormonal imbalance (such as thyroid disease) can stimulate all hair to fall out and delay its regrowth. Allergies and irritation in the eye can induce rubbing, which may pull eyelashes out. Cosmetics such as false eyelashes may irritate the eyelid or clog follicles in the eyelid as well as pull out eyelashes during removal.

  Hypotrichosis is a condition of having not enough lashes.

Treatment

• If eyelashes are being shed, medical attention can determine any health issues that may cause the condition, and a physician can prescribe treatment. To enhance your present appearance, the physician may consider prescribing Latisse, which is bimatoprost, a medication that is also used for glaucoma. Latisse is applied to the base of the lashes to promote eyelash growth. Eyelash transplant surgery is an option that implants hair follicles from other areas of the body to the upper and lower eyelids.

Considerations

• Products applied to the eyes or near the eyes may cause irritation, because the skin around the eye (and eyelid) is thinner. The physician will supervise treatment and prescribe medications with any special considerations for other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer or thyroid disease. Eyelashes that are lost take approximately two months to regrow. During this time, cosmetics such as eye liner and mascara can enhance the appearance of the eyelashes and eyelid.