Menopause Month: Why Are My Eyelashes Falling Out?

As a woman, reaching peri-menopause or menopause can be a shock for our bodies, both physically and mentally. As well as experiencing a number of common menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, issues with sleeping and mood swings, it’s likely that a change in hair texture or hair loss could be added to the list.
Over 50% of women report hair loss during menopause - this could involve not only the hair on our heads but also eyebrow hair and eyelashes too. But why does menopause cause lash loss? 
Here at UKLASH, we aim to be here for you when it comes to all types of hair loss through every age and every stage, answering your questions and equipping you with the tips and tricks needed to prevent the effects of lash loss and helping you bounce back with longer, thicker and fuller-looking lashes than ever before!

Why Are My Eyelashes Falling Out During Menopause?

There are a couple of causes of eyelash loss in menopause. One simple reason is that, much like the rest of our bodies, hair matures and with that the number of hair follicles we have reduces. Therefore, when it comes to your eyelashes, it could be that as a general part of ageing your hair follicles have reduced and your eyelashes have followed suit.
Another reason could be related to hormones. Sadly, hormonal changes and eyelash loss go hand in hand, and during the menopause your levels of oestrogen; a hormone that plays a pivotal role in female functionality and health, start to reduce. This reduction of oestrogen can affect the oils that are produced to make hair smooth and silky and the hair growth cycle by shortening the Anagen Phase, which is also known as the growth phase, and lengthening the end of the Telogen phase, when hair detaches from the root. Ultimately this gives your lashes less time to grow, and more time to fall out, leading to an increase in eyelash loss.

Common Eye Problems Caused By Menopause

Having good eye health is extremely important if you’re looking to achieve longer, thicker and fuller-looking lashes. There are certain symptoms that people associate with the menopause as we previously mentioned, but eye health doesn’t seem to be one of them (even though it is!). In fact, a recent study showed that 86% of women didn’t know there was a connection between menopause and eye health. Luckily, the experts at UKLASH are here to set the record straight and let you in on all of the symptoms you may be experiencing around the eyes and why they’re happening:

○ Dry Eye Syndrome - One of the most common eye problems linked to menopause is Dry Eye Syndrome or Hormonal Dry Eye (HDE). Your tears are made up of a combination of water, oils and lipids which decrease in line with the falling levels of oestrogen which happens during menopause. This can often cause dryness in the eyes which can lead to irritation, inflammation and, in some cases, Blepharitis. If you’re experiencing this, you can try using eye drops to increase the moisture in your eyes or consider speaking with an Optician if the issue persists.

○ Stress - As we get older, we tend to take on a lot of stress in our day to day lives, whether it be caring for children or grandchildren, the looming thought of retirement, or from dealing with different health issues; stress is a symptom that can often be overlooked but can have a domino effect on other elements of our wellbeing, including our eye health. It’s important to keep stress levels low where possible and to find an outlet for that works for you, whether it be by reading a book, going for a walk or indulging in a skincare routine, whatever works for you to keep stress at bay will help to keep your eyes and eyelashes healthy and avoid issues such as eye strain, eye fatigue and headaches.

○ Nutrition - During such a tumultuous time in our lives it’s easy for a balanced diet to fall by the wayside on our list of priorities, although it’s so important to make sure your body is getting all it needs to stay fit and healthy and to keep your hormones in check, which can in turn minimise your menopausal symptoms. If you’re looking to improve your eyelash health during menopause, it’s good to up your intake of whole grain cereals, eggs, fish and sweet potatoes which can provide a good source of Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) to help strengthen your lashes whilst foods such as cheese, milk and leafy vegetables can provide Vitamin A, which promotes hair regeneration and conditions the follicle, preventing lashes from becoming brittle and breaking. Alongside eating well, why not try our UKHAIR Hair Vitamins, which are specially formulated with Vitamins C and A and Biotin, all of which are vital when trying to achieve long and healthy eyelash growth.

○ Underlying Medical Condition - If none of the above issues seem to be the reason for your eyelash loss during menopause, you could be experiencing lash loss due to an undiagnosed medical condition that has been brought on by menopause. It’s common for women to experience an under or overactive thyroid during mid-life and it can be hard to distinguish as the symptoms are very similar to common menopausal symptoms. Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate hair growth, therefore if the gland is producing too much or too little of that hormone, it can have a knock on effect on your lash growth cycle which can lead to lash loss. If you think this may be the case for you, it’s important to contact your local GP for more information on receiving a diagnosis.

How To Prevent Lash Loss During Menopause

Keep Them Clean - If you’re wondering how to prevent eyelash loss during menopause, one of the best ways is by keeping your eyes clean. This can help prevent problems such as Blepharitis, an inflamed eyelid condition which occurs when the lash line becomes clogged. Not only is this painful, it also gets in the way of natural lash growth and can cause thinning eyelashes during menopause and lash loss. Making sure to use a gentle cleanser, such as our UKLASH Lash & Brow Wash, is key to maintaining long, strong and healthy eyelashes. It’s formulated with gentle micelles that calmly work to remove daily build-up and restore the skin’s natural moisture barrier whilst also being fragrance, SLS and sulphate-free, meaning it’s safe for the most sensitive of skin types.

Forget The Falsies - If you’ve been an avid fan of false lashes and extensions throughout your life, now might be the time to say goodbye to them! There’s two main reasons why they are particularly harmful during menopause. The first is due to their weight - lash extensions and false lashes can weigh down on even the strongest of eyelashes, so during menopause when they are at their most vulnerable, they can really take their toll and cause lash loss and breakage. The second reason is due to the chemical-filled lash glues that are used to adhere them. If not removed properly, any lash glue that gets left behind can clog your lash line, prevent healthy lash growth and even cause conditions such as Blepharitis. As previously mentioned, during menopause it’s important to keep your eyes clean to promote long and healthy lash growth, but using harmful glues and heavy lash extensions can easily get in the way of that.

Consider Medical Solutions - HRT has risen in popularity over the last few years, with a recent statistic showing that around 2.3 million women in the UK are prescribed it each year. Standing for Hormone Replacement Therapy, it works to increase the levels of oestrogen in your body and therefore can help to regulate your hair and lash growth cycles back to what they once were, balancing out the Growth Phase and the Shedding Phase to reduce lash loss and improve hair texture. However, it does need to be prescribed by a medical professional so please reach out to your local GP for more assistance.

Use Eyelash Serum - Our range of Eyelash Serum’s have already helped thousands of women during menopause to maintain long and healthy natural lashes. Our range of three means there’s a perfect serum for everyone, depending on your needs. Our #1-rated Eyelash Serum is built for speed, helping to grow longer, fuller and thicker-looking lashes fast. If you’re interested in applying skincare science to lash growth, you could opt for our Complex Peptide Eyelash Serum, whose industry-leading formula contains a record-breaking six powerful peptides which work to strengthen and fortify your lashes whilst promoting healthy lash growth. Or, if you’re looking to take a gentler approach to growing long and healthy lashes, you could go for our Sensitive Eyelash Serum, which is packed with 99% natural ingredients to promote stronger, healthier and fuller-looking lashes.

We understand how experiencing lash loss can have a knock-on effect on your confidence and self-image during menopause, which is a time that is already so hard to navigate. Hopefully, by taking on board some of the above tips and tricks, you can prevent excessive lash loss and grow your lashes back to full health, leading you to feel healthier, bolder and stronger, both on the inside and out.