What Causes Eyebrow Loss?
Everyone loves lush and full eyebrow, however, not many people have this. Since beautiful eyebrows is one of our prized physical possessions, it would hurt a lot if we had to lose them right? Yet, this is almost always the case.
Eyebrow loss has become the worst nightmare for many individuals. One day, you’re brushing lush and thick eyebrow hair; the next day, you’re struggling to fill up scanty brows with different types of eye pencils. In this article, we`ll discuss how to identify and prevent symptoms of eyebrow loss. First, let’s find out the causes of this condition.
6 Causes of Eyebrow Loss
The first thing to note is that eyebrow loss is entirely normal. Humans lose a couple of strands of eyebrow hair daily, in fact, you can lose as many as 10 strands of an eyebrow in a day. However, this only becomes something to worry about when you lose so much that there are obvious hairless patches around the eyebrow area.
There are different causes of eyebrow loss in humans. While some of them are the result of our habits, others can be linked to genetics. Let’s examine six of them.
Skin Infections
Skin infections like eczema and dermatitis can also lead to eyebrow loss, especially when these occur around the eyebrow area. This can lead to redness and inflammation of the skin. Usually, the infected area becomes tender and itchy, and the hair around this area falls off when you rub it repeatedly.
Eyebrow loss caused by skin infections is usually temporary and you can regain the lost hair in a few weeks.
Thyroid Inactivity
The thyroid gland secretes hormones that regulate a majority of the body’s functions, including hair growth. As a result, when there is any disruption to the activities of the thyroid gland, it can result in eyebrow loss. In chronic cases, thyroid inactivity can result in one losing almost a third of the outer eyebrow hair.
The good thing is that this condition is treatable. However, you may not regain the lost hair. If you are losing eyebrow from the outer side, ensure that you consult your physician as this could be a sign of acute or chronic thyroid conditions.
Plucking
In an attempt to make their brows appear more attractive, many people often resort to plucking them. Unfortunately, plucking your eyebrow hair does more damage than good. This is because it destroys the hair follicles. If you do this frequently, you may damage the hair follicles to the extent that they cannot produce any new hair anymore.
Stress
Here’s yet another reason to avoid all kinds of stress, whether physical or emotional. When you are stressed, your body secretes more stress-induced hormones like telogen effluvium. This can lead to eyebrow loss. Also, stress can trigger conditions like trichotillomania which push an individual to pull off their own eyebrow.
Inadequate Body Nutrients
For healthy eyebrow growth, you need to continuously enrich your body with the necessary nutrients. Nutrients like iron, zinc, protein and vitamin D help your eyebrow hair to remain thick and attractive. If your regular diet lacks these nutrients and more, it would be no surprise if you suffer eyebrow loss.
Aging
Eyebrow loss is one of the common changes that come with aging. As you age, your hair follicles may not regenerate as quickly as they used to. This can result in permanent eyebrow loss as the years go by.
6 Ways to Prevent Eyebrow Loss
Eyebrow loss can be a nightmare, and you don`t have to continue suffering it. The good thing is that there are various natural remedies for this condition. Let’s examine six methods that can bring back the glory days of your eyebrow.
Castor Oil
This is a natural ointment that has been used to treat different health conditions for decades. It contains a number of properties that can help your eyebrow grow thicker and lusher in no time.
The properties in castor oil work directly on the hair follicles and strengthen them from within. To use this wonder oil for your hair, all you have to do is apply it gently over the eyebrow area using a cotton swab. Next, massage the oil into your eyebrow slowly for about 15 minutes. Leave the ointment on your eyebrow for about an hour then rinse it off with cold water. Do this every night for the best result. You can also mix it with other substances like vaseline, aloe vera or glycerin.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is another ointment that can restore your eyebrow hair to glory. Olive oil is rich in oleic acid and vitamin E. Oleic acid is a nutrient that locks in moisture in your hair follicles. On the other hand, vitamin E helps your eyebrow to become full and thick by improving blood circulation to the hair follicles.
To get the best result, heat half a teaspoon of pure olive oil in the microwave for a few seconds. Next, massage your eyebrows deeply with the heated liquid then leave it in for about 30 minutes. Finally, wash it off with lukewarm water.
Aloe Vera
For years, aloe vera and its extracts have been used to stimulate hair growth and healthier hair. For this treatment, all you have to do is extract some quantity of aloe vera gel from the aloe vera plant. You can also make use of natural aloe vera gel extract sold in supermarkets and stores.
Next, carefully rub the gel over all parts of your eyebrow hair then leave it in for 30 minutes. Finally, wash it off with warm water.
As a result of its moisturizing properties, aloe vera can trigger eyebrow hair growth by stimulating your hair follicles.
Milk
I can almost hear the excitement in your voice following this mention. We already know that milk works perfectly for our health. Now, let’s find out how it can help your eyebrow too. Interestingly, you don’t even have to drink milk to make it work for your hair. Milk is a natural hair conditioner that is packed with essential vitamins and minerals for your hair’s growth.
So how does it work for the eyebrow hair? It’s really easy. First, dip a cotton swab in some milk then rub it over your eyebrow. Next, leave it to dry for about 20 minutes. Finally, wash it off with warm water. Repeat this treatment twice a day to get your eyebrows back on track.
Onion Juice
I know onion has a strong, pungent smell and you’re probably thinking of how to tolerate this on your skin. Well, it’s really easy. All you have to do is think of the end result when you would have the full, lush brows you’ve always wanted.
Onion juice is rich in sulfur and flavonols that can help to rejuvenate dead hair follicles. To make this mixture, grind a medium-sized onion then use a sieve to strain out the juice. Thoroughly massage your brows with the juice then leave it to dry. Finally, rinse it off with water. Experts recommend using this treatment twice daily.
Egg Yolk
Egg yolk is rich in proteins and sulfur which are essential nutrients that help you maintain healthy hair. Its deep conditioning properties work great for your eyebrow too.
For this treatment, you only need 1 or 2 egg(s). Neatly separate the egg white from the yoke. Beat the yoke thoroughly until it becomes thick and creamy. Next, apply the thick mixture over your eyebrow hair using a cotton swab then leave it for another 20 minutes. Finally, rinse it off with cold water.
4 Habits that Can Prevent Eyebrow Loss
As stated earlier, there are certain habits that contribute to loss of eyebrow. As such, letting go of these habits while embracing hair-friendly behaviors can help you protect your eyebrows. Here are 4 habits that can help your eyebrow get even healthier.
- Avoid plucking your eyebrows.
- Eat foods that are rich in proteins and other essential hair nutrients.
- Drink a lot of water daily.
- Have a good moisturizing routine for your skin as poor skin health can also trigger eyebrow loss.
Now that you Know…
There’s no need to lose sleep over your scanty eyebrows anymore. Now you know what makes them scanty, and better still, how to prevent all of these. Remember to embrace the right habits and treatments that can help you grow your dream eyebrows.