What happens if you lose your lashes?

Your eyelashes fall out naturally, just like if the hair on your head fell out, but it can be disturbing to see several eyelashes on your cheek or pillow. Abnormal eyelash loss is known as a condition called madarosis.

What happens if you lose your lashes?

Your eyelashes fall out naturally, just like if the hair on your head fell out, but it can be disturbing to see several eyelashes on your cheek or pillow. Abnormal eyelash loss is known as a condition called madarosis. And if you see an extreme amount, you should see your doctor. Eyelashes are more than just cosmetic bangs.

The eyelashes protect the eye from debris that can obstruct vision or cause infections or injuries. Eyelashes grow, fall out and replace themselves in a natural cycle every six to 10 weeks, as does the hair on the upper part of the head. Sometimes, the cause of eyelash loss is as simple as a faulty beauty routine. Sleeping with eye makeup, especially heavy mascara, can cause eyelashes to fall out and can also cause a bacterial infection.

Conversely, rubbing too hard when you remove eye makeup can also cause your eyelashes to fall out, especially when you scrub waterproof products vigorously. To avoid the problem, use a gentle but effective eye makeup remover to clean the delicate eye area without the need to scrub hard. According to Clementina Richardson, a famous eyelash expert and founder of Envious Lashes, a sleep mask can cause eyelash extensions to tilt and lose their shape when pressed against the eyes throughout the night. Frank points out that you should pay special attention to the expiration dates of your eye products, as this can often lead to bacterial infection.

Like head hair, eyelashes fall out naturally and replace themselves in a natural cycle every six to 10 weeks, so it's totally normal to lose between one and five lashes a day. It's not uncommon to find a stubborn eyelash here and there (some even dare to say it could be lucky), but if you experience more hair loss than usual and see your eyelashes become sparse as a result, it can be disturbing and, in some cases, cause a change or a closer look.

Roxanne Fava
Roxanne Fava

Lifelong web maven. Certified tv fan. Incurable web aficionado. Passionate coffee evangelist. Hipster-friendly food junkie. General bacon buff.