Why Do Eyelashes Fall Out? 5 Surprising Reasons for Eyelash Loss

Losing hair is considered a fairly normal bodily process, and just like the hair on our head, our eyelashes are known to fall out as a part of the regular hair growth cycle. 
However, if you’re noticing an unusual amount of sudden eyelash loss, there could be an underlying reason for this. Luckily, our hair experts at UKLASH are here to break down how the eyelash growth cycle works, the top five causes of eyelash loss and the best ways to prevent lash loss.

Why Do Eyelashes Fall Out?

Your eyelashes grow and fall out as a part of the eyelash growth cycle. Consisting of three main phases, it explains the entire lifespan of your lashes and why you may experience lash loss.

Understanding the Lash Growth Cycle

Anagen Phase - This is the first step in the cycle. This is when the lashes are growing, hence it being referred to as The Growth Phase. They then move into…
Catagen Phase - This is also known as the Transitional Phase as it is when the lashes have been disconnected from the blood supply and stop growing.
Telogen Phase - This is the final phase which is also referred to as the Resting Phase, which is when the hairs stay in their follicles and eventually detach, resulting in a small amount of lash loss.

If you’re wondering ‘Is it normal to lose eyelashes every day?’, the answer is yes! Remember that each eyelash experiences the hair growth cycle in its own time, meaning your lashes will all be in the final Telogen Phase at different points. On average you should expect to lose around one to five lashes per day, so if this is the number you’re seeing, know that you have good eyelash health!

Understanding Eyelash Shedding

Lash shedding season happens twice a year, more prominently in the autumn and then once in the spring, when environmental factors collide with the Telogen Phase of the lash growth cycle and result in an increased amount of eyelash loss. Factors such as changes in daylight and temperature can have an effect on our bodies and in turn trigger The Telogen Phase to start early, forcing more hairs to fall out at the same time, resulting in considerable lash loss.

Top 5 Reasons For Lash Loss

1. Expired Make-Up - We pay attention to the expiration dates on our food, but for some reason don’t consider it as important for our beauty products, even though both have direct contact with our bodies! It’s super important to keep tabs on the expiration dates of our make-up and skincare, and more specifically any product that comes in contact with our eyes as, if it’s expired, it can cause potential eye infections that may result in lash loss. 

2. Lash Lifts & Extensions - You might have guessed that getting lash lifts and eyelash extensions aren’t the healthiest habit for your lash health. A lash lift uses chemicals that break down and reorganise the bonds in your lashes to create a curled effect, which over time can weaken your lashes, causing eyelash breakage and fall out. Eyelash extensions and lash loss are commonly linked for two reasons; one being that the glue can cause irritation on your lashes over time and leads to excess rubbing of the eyes which results in lash loss and fall out. The second reason is that eyelash extensions can weigh down your natural lashes, helping to weaken them and eventually lead to your lashes breaking and falling out.

3. Incorrect Cleansing - Our lashes are delicate so if you’re vigorously cleaning your lashes with harsh cleansers, you could be causing damage which may result in lash loss and fall out. Alternatively, forgetting to remove make-up and daily build-up at the end of the day could also be causing more damage to your eyelashes than you realise. By leaving make-up, and more specifically mascara, on overnight you could be causing your lashes to dry out and encouraging excessive lash breakage and fall out. 

4. Lack of Nutrition - Our hairs are made up of around 80-85% of a protein called Keratin, which helps to build strength and elasticity in our hair, skin and nails. Therefore, if your diet lacks protein, you could be noticing that your nails and hair become weak and are prone to breakage - and this includes your lashes. 

5. Underlying Medical Issue - There are a number of medical reasons that could be the cause of your lash loss. If you are experiencing any of the below symptoms, please contact a medical professional:
- Thyroid Disorders - Our thyroid glands help to control our bodies hormones, so if you’re dealing with either an overactive or under-active thyroid, this can have adverse effects on lash growth. Other symptoms to look out for include increased anxiety levels, drastic weight loss or gain, and a difficulty in controlling your bodily temperature. 
- Blepharitis - If you’re noticing an inflamed or itchy lash line, it could be that you’re experiencing Blepharitis. It’s the most common reason for excessive lash loss and is caused by the blocking of the oil glands near the lash line. The best way to treat the issue is by gently cleansing your lashes twice a day and avoiding using any products around the eyes until your symptoms subside. 
- Alopecia - If you’re noticing complete loss of your lashes, it could be this autoimmune disease which occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation and hair loss.

How To Keep Your Eyelashes Healthy

Lengthen Your Lashes With Eyelash Serum - If you love the look of long lashes and are afraid of losing the lash extensions, our lash serums might be just what you need. Using a combination of ingredients that help to encourage growth from the root whilst nourishing and strengthening the lashes that are already there, they have the potential to provide visibly thicker, fuller and longer-looking lashes. Opt for our original Eyelash Serum if you’re looking for fast growth, our Sensitive Eyelash Serum if you’re working with sensitive skin or our Complex Peptide Eyelash Serum if you’re passionate about the pro’s of peptides and want to apply them to your lashes to encourage lash growth!

Gently Cleanse Everyday - Using a make-up remover that’s kind to your skin and lashes can help in preventing eyelash loss and to achieve fuller-looking lashes. Our Lash & Brow Wash is packed with active ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Fennel Seed Extract and Citric Acid, which work as anti-inflammatories and gentle exfoliators to softly melt away make-up and mascara and leave you feeling nourished and moisturised, resulting in healthier, longer and fuller-looking lashes.

Keep Your Beauty Bag Fresh - We already know that expired make-up or skincare products can have adverse effects on your lash health. To avoid using these, set a reminder in your phone to check every three months to make sure everything in your make-up bag is within its use-by date, and if not, make sure to throw away and replenish.

Eat a Whole Food Diet - A great way to keep up your eyelash health is by making sure your body is getting all the vitamins and nutrients it needs through a balanced diet. Consuming biotin and protein can stimulate Keratin production, and in-turn stimulate eyelash growth, so are an essential part of your balanced diet. Eggs contain high levels of biotin and protein and are important to work into your diet, as well as lean meats, legumes, dairy products and dairy alternatives.

Take Vitamins - Alongside a balanced diet, taking vitamin supplements can be a great way to ensure you’re consuming all the vitamins and nutrients you need. Our UKHAIR Hair Vitamins are suitable for all as they are naturally flavoured, vegan-friendly and free from dairy, gelatin and gluten. They are specially formulated to include Biotin, Vitamins C and E and Folic Acid; all of which play a key role in stimulating lash growth.