Treatment For Loss Of Eyelashes And Eyebrows (Madarosis)

Losing eyebrow or lash hair, in patches or entirely, at an alarming rate may indicate madarosis disease. This issue can occur in two forms: a madarosis that makes your eyebrows fall out (superciliary madarosis) or one that only affects the eyelashes (ciliary madarosis).

Understanding the possible causes, symptoms, and diagnostic methods to determine the right treatment for madarosis is necessary. This article will explain in detail all the relevant information.

Many medical conditions cause eyebrow or lash hair loss that is either permanent (scarring madarosis) or non-permanent (non-scarring). Some of the common ones are:

Skin conditions

Your skin surrounding your eyes may get affected, causing hair loss. The most common skin conditions that cause madarosis include:

• Blepharitis (Eyelid inflammation)
• Seborrheic dermatitis (Oily, flaky skin inflammation)
• Contact dermatitis (Skin allergy)
• Eczema (Inflamed, itchy skin)
• Psoriasis (Chronic scaly patches)
• Ocular rosacea (Eye redness inflammation)

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases can cause eyelash or eyebrow hair loss. Such diseases occur when your immune system accidentally starts attacking your body instead of protecting it. Some autoimmune causes of madarosis include:

• Alopecia areata (Patchy hair loss)
• Lupus (Inflammatory disease)
• Scleroderma (Autoimmune connective disorder)
• Sarcoidosis (Inflammatory disease)

Infections

Some infections that attack the hair follicles or cause skin inflammation cause madarosis.

• Hansen’s disease/Leprosy (Chronic infectious disease)
• Herpes zoster (Shingles outbreak)
• Syphilis (Sexually transmitted)
• HIV & AIDS
• Certain types of fungal infections.

Side Effects And Reactions

Certain health conditions, drugs, or cosmetic products used for skincare can result in madarosis as a side effect.

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Allergic reactions
• Prescription drugs (side effect), such as acitretin, a retinoid drug, used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis.
• Illegal drug use, like cocaine or barbiturate abuse.

Other Causes of Madarosis

Health conditions that affect your hair, eyes, or body systems, that support your hair follicles can cause madarosis, including:

• Trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)
• Issues in your tear system like meibomian gland dysfunction or dacryoadenitis.
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Certain types of cancer

The most prominent symptom of madarosis include;

• Losing hair on your eyebrows and eyelashes
• Redness
• Itching
• Swelling
• Scaling and crusting
• Skin color changes
• Loss of hair from other areas
• Changes in skin texture

An accurate diagnosis can go a long way toward the perfect treatment for loss of eyelashes and eyebrows. Madarosis is easily diagnosed through careful examination and various methods, such as:

• An initial physical exam.
• Trichoscopy, hair scalp examination, also called dermoscopy.
• Skin swabs to test for bacterial infections.
• Skin scraping to test for fungal infections.
• Skin biopsy.
• Blood tests (e.g., for thyroid function and vitamin A levels).

Typically, madarosis itself is untreatable. The doctors treat the cause of madarosis, preventing further loss of the lash or brow hair.

Medications

You can use various topical solutions or tablets for better hair growth of the eyebrows and eyelashes.

• • Minoxidil Solution is a topical treatment generally used for hair growth in patients suffering from alopecia areata.
  • Latanoprost in the eyes improves eyelash growth.
  • Bimatoprost Ophthalmic Solution is (FDA-approved) effective in inducing eyelash hair growth.
  • Applying Steroid (Corticosteroids) creams or ointments can slow hair loss.

Note:- Combining minoxidil with corticosteroids may produce better results during the treatment for loss of eyelashes and eyebrows.

Surgical Methods

Madarosis caused by leprosy and alopecia areata results in permanent damage (scarring madarosis). Thus, surgical treatment becomes necessary when the damage is severe.

Hair transplanting or microblading does not enable hair regrowth, but it can give the eyebrows a fuller appearance.

Note:- Eyelash and eyebrow grafting are generally highly effective in restoring permanently lost eyelashes.

Cosmetic Methods

Many people use aesthetic camouflage for eyelashes and eyebrows. Some madarosis patients go for makeup like mascara, fake eyelashes, and using a brow pencil to create false eyebrows. Others may opt for tattooing eyebrows or eyelashes.