Have you ever woken up one morning and noticed a lot of eyelashes on your pillow, or noticed a lot of hair falling out of your eyebrows when you washed your face? Is this normal, or is it something we should be concerned about? It is actually normal to lose a few eyelashes a day. However, if you notice that this amount is more than normal, and that it looks like it is empty in places, it is not a good situation to ignore. Today we are talking about this condition, which is known in medical science as Madarosis .
Simply put, what is Madarosis?
Madarosis is a condition in which your eyebrows or eyelashes fall out more than normal due to a medical condition or other reason. It's not a disease, it's a symptom. It's like having a fever. A fever is a symptom, and it can be caused by some other infection. This is the same.
We have eyebrows and eyelashes not only for beauty. Eyebrows protect the bones above our eyes. They also act as a natural barrier that prevents sweat from dripping directly into our eyes when we sweat from our foreheads. Eyelashes act like a filter. They protect our eyes from things like dust and small insects.
Normally, every hair on our body goes through a growth cycle. Old hairs fall out and new hairs grow in their place. In Madarosis, this hair loss rate is too high for new hairs to grow.
Are there main types of Madarosis?
Yes, this can be divided into two main categories. That will give you some idea of the severity of the situation.
1. Scarring Madarosis: Some medical conditions can cause permanent damage to your skin's hair follicles. This can leave scars and prevent hair from growing back in those areas. This is a condition that requires some care.
2. Non-scarring Madarosis: This is how Madarosis most often occurs. In this case, there is no permanent damage to the hair follicles. This means that once you have properly treated the condition that caused the hair loss, your eyebrows and eyelashes will grow back . This is a temporary condition.
Also, the loss of eyebrows is called ``Superciliary madarosis`` and the loss of eyelashes is called ``Ciliary madarosis`` separately.
Why are my eyebrows and eyelashes falling out like this?
There are many things that can cause this. Some are very minor, but some can be serious health issues that we need to pay attention to. Let's take a look at the main causes.
| The category to which the reason belongs | Description and examples |
|---|---|
| Skin Conditions | |
| Skin diseases around the eyes | This is often the case. Diseases that affect the skin around the eyes can damage the hair follicles. Examples:
|
| Immune system problems (Autoimmune Diseases) | |
| The body attacks itself | In these diseases, our own immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body, in this case hair follicles. Examples:
|
| Infections | |
| Bacteria, viruses, or fungi | Some infections directly affect the hair follicles. Examples:
|
| Side effects of treatments and other things | |
| Medical treatment and practices | This condition can also occur as a side effect of some treatments.
|
| Other health problems | |
| Hormonal and psychological problems |
|
How is this treated? When should I see a doctor?
This is the most important thing. If you notice that your eyebrows or eyelashes are falling out more than usual, don't ignore it . Especially if you have itching, redness, pain, or other symptoms, be sure to see a doctor .
Remember, doctors don't treat Madarosis. They treat the underlying condition that caused Madarosis.
When you see a doctor, they will examine you. They may refer you to a dermatologist or an eye specialist. They will examine the skin around your eyes and your eyes carefully, and if necessary, do things like blood tests, to find the real cause.
Once the cause is identified and treated properly, your eyebrows and eyelashes will often start growing back normally. However, in cases like the scarring madarosis we discussed earlier, hair may not grow back. In such cases, you can talk to your doctor about options such as hair transplants.
When should you go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU)?
This is usually not an emergency. However, if you suddenly lose your vision or are unable to move your eyes along with your eyebrow or eyelash falling out, it could be serious. In such a case, go to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately.
You may have also heard these words: Hertoghe's sign and Milphosis
You may come across these two words when you search for this.
- Hertoghe's sign: This is also a type of Madarosis. However, in this case, the hair falls out, especially in the outer third of the eyebrow (the part towards the ear). This is often a symptom of hypothyroidism.
- Milphosis: This is a term sometimes used instead of Madarosis, especially when it refers to the shedding of eyelashes.
However, no matter what the name, the important thing is to find the cause and seek treatment if you are experiencing hair loss.
Take-Home Message
- Madarosis is not a disease, but a symptom of another underlying health problem.
- If your eyebrows or eyelashes are falling out more than usual, don't ignore it, especially if there are other symptoms, such as itching or pain.
- It is very important to see a doctor immediately and find the exact cause.
- In most cases , the hair will grow back after the cause (non-scarring) is treated, so don't worry.
- Be careful when using new beauty products to avoid allergic reactions.
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