All You Need to Know About Eyebrow Loss
Loss of eyebrows can be a symptom of various diseases or genetic predispositions. The problem occurs extremely rarely and is mostly of a purely cosmetic nature. The most effective means of treatment is prevention.
What does eyebrow loss mean?
Eyebrow loss is defined as excessive hair loss on the eyebrows, which leads to severe thinning of the eyebrows. The causes of the disease are diverse and range from a simple hypersensitivity to certain substances to mineral deficiencies and vitamin deficiencies to side effects of drugs and psychological stress.
The treatment methods are just as varied, ranging from dietary measures to medication and a wide variety of home remedies. Preventive measures against eyebrow loss can be achieved through a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet and sufficient exercise. If the eyebrows fail anyway, a doctor should always be consulted, who can determine the cause based on the symptoms and initiate adequate treatment.
Causes
If the eyebrows fall out, this is often due to hereditary or hormonal reasons. If the eyebrow loss occurs around the menopause, the falling estrogen level may be the cause. During pregnancy, the loss of eyebrows is often due to hormonal changes, the so-called postpartum effluvium.
In addition, severe infections or poisoning as well as metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus can weaken the hair roots. The number one trigger, however, is stress, often in connection with nutritional deficiencies or nutritional deficiencies.
Medicines for high blood pressure, high blood lipid levels (ACE inhibitors, beta blockers) or cancer are also possible triggers. Otherwise, eyebrow loss can also be caused by allergies to cosmetic products, contact with irritating substances or a dysfunction of the thyroid gland. Also, chemotherapy can, among other side effects lead to a failure of the hair and the eyebrows.
Symptoms, ailments & signs
Eyebrow loss is shown by the fact that the hair becomes thinner in certain areas of the eyebrows and the hair density generally decreases. Often the hair only falls out on one side or in a certain area or becomes brittle and dull at first. Those affected can usually observe this directly and thus diagnose the hair loss themselves.
It can also be determined that the hair loss only affects the eyebrows, while the hair on the head and other body hair grows as usual. The complaints are mostly of a purely visual nature. However, depending on the underlying cause, various side effects can occur.
Itching, redness and the appearance of deficiency symptoms are typical. With chronic occurrence, the loss of eyebrow hair can lead to a reduced self-esteem and possibly also to depressive thoughts.
Diagnosis & course
Most of the time, the pattern of the eyebrow loss already gives clues about the possible cause. The actual diagnosis can be made by a doctor with the help of various examinations, such as blood and hair analyzes, anamnesis and, in rare cases, a scalp biopsy. The doctor will first examine the eyebrows, scalp hair and nails in detail to determine whether there is a skin disease.
The pattern of eyebrow loss allows for a first suspicion. Then the doctor will perform a clinical epilation test or a pull test, depending on the suspicion. Does the hair come loose just by gently plucking it? Is the eyebrow hair brittle? Does the hair fall out evenly or do the light spots only appear on one eyebrow?
All of these questions not only provide information about the diagnosis, but also about the prognosis. If, for example, scarring hair loss is found, the hair may no longer grow evenly. If, on the other hand, the hair falls out without any noticeable redness or discomfort, it usually grows back again.
Furthermore, individual hairs and their structure can be viewed more closely under the microscope. Finally, a tissue sample is taken from the scalp under local anesthesia (scalp biopsy) in order to be able to clearly confirm the initial suspicion. In conjunction with a blood test, inflammation levels, the level of iron in the blood, immune phenomena and other factors can be determined.
Men may also have sex hormones tested if androgenic alopecia is suspected. Provided a quick and clear diagnosis is made, eyebrow loss can be treated without long-term consequences. The symptoms are mostly of a purely cosmetic nature and appear in attacks. Only symptoms accompanying the underlying disease can, depending on the cause, take a negative course and lead, for example, to inflammation that must be treated independently.
Complications
In most cases, eyebrow loss does not lead to medical complications that could be dangerous to the body. However, after the eyebrow loss, the patient no longer finds himself aesthetically pleasing. This can lead to depression and feelings of stress afterwards, as the affected person is no longer satisfied with their appearance.
There is a reduction in self-esteem and thus often a depressed mood. Should these psychological problems arise, a psychologist should be consulted. The eyebrow loss itself cannot be prevented, but the psychological thoughts are curbed.
Direct treatment is not possible. However, it is possible to use cosmetics to draw the eyebrows back over the eyes. Most of the time, the eyebrow loss is only caused by a shampoo or an improper diet, so that it can be combated again very easily and the disease progresses positively.
If the hair falls out in addition to the eyebrows, a doctor should be consulted. A doctor must also be consulted if the eyebrow loss occurs alongside another disease. It is not uncommon for the body to lack iron and protein when the eyebrows fall out, so that the patient should take in more of these ingredients through food. Most of the time, the eyebrows grow back completely after several weeks.
When should you go to the doctor?
If eyebrow hairs fall occasionally, this is not a reason for a doctor’s visit. The cause is usually stress, an intolerance or hormonal changes – factors that should return to normal after a while. However, if the complaints persist for several months or become alarming, medical help is required. The light spots in the eyebrows are then possibly due to a serious metabolic disease (e.g. diabetes mellitus). Often, an underlying cause of eyebrow loss is malnutrition, which needs to be diagnosed and treated.
A visit to a doctor is recommended if other symptoms such as fatigue, dandruff or reddening of the eyebrows develop. If the eyebrow loss persists for no apparent reason or side effects, you should also speak to your doctor.
There may be an undetected allergy to cosmetic products or an allergy that must be dealt with accordingly. The causes of the hair loss should always be determined in order to rule out further complications. At the latest when the eyebrow loss is associated with physical or psychological complaints, the causes must be clarified.
Treatment & Therapy
Eyebrow loss is treated depending on the cause. Often the causes are relatively harmless, such as an irritating shampoo or poor diet, which can usually be dealt with by simple measures. Allergies and intolerances of all kinds can be treated by simply avoiding the allergens and pollutants. An early visit to the doctor will help prevent further hair from falling out.
Outlook & forecast
The prognosis for eyebrow loss depends on the underlying causes of the disease. If the loss of the eyebrows was the result of a contact allergy, it is usually sufficient to consistently avoid the substance to which you are hypersensitive. The eyebrows then usually grow back within a few weeks.
The same applies in the case of a food intolerance. A negative prognosis is only to be expected if the allergen cannot be identified or is difficult to avoid for professional or practical reasons.
Even in cases in which the brow loss can be attributed to malnutrition, the person affected can assume that the eyebrows will grow back as soon as the missing nutrient has been identified and is replenished in sufficient quantities. A problematic course can only be expected if the nutritional deficiency is the result of an eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia.
Then very often psychotherapeutic treatment of the underlying disease is necessary in order to permanently eliminate the deficiency. Loss of eyebrows can also be the result of drug treatment. In these cases, too, the hair usually grows back after stopping the medication.
A permanent loss of the eyebrows is usually only to be expected if there has been injuries to the face, for example chemical burns or burns. In these cases, cosmetic or plastic surgery may be required to reconstruct the eyebrows.
Prevention
The eyebrow loss can only be prevented to a limited extent, as it is usually hereditary. However, the risk can be minimized by leading a healthy lifestyle with a varied diet and plenty of exercise.
This can at least prevent a lack of protein and iron, which can lead to hair loss. At the first sign of eyebrow loss, introspection can often determine what may weaken or irritate the hair roots.
Aftercare
After successful treatment of eyebrow loss, no follow-up care is usually necessary. That’s because the typical symptoms don’t come back. Only in rare and severe cases can it be useful to consult a doctor again. Blood tests, which can be used to determine a protein and iron deficiency, are particularly suitable.
As a rule, a prolonged and incorrect diet is the reason for the weakening of the hair roots. Loss of the eyebrows is not a life-threatening disease; rather, those affected suffer from the psychological consequences of hair loss. Once shame and reduced self-esteem have set in, often only accompanying psychotherapy can help. This allows patients to return to their natural everyday life.
A recurrence of the symptoms can usually only be countered inadequately. This is due to the fact that the eyebrow loss is hereditary or comes from the professional and private environment. Such factors cannot be adequately eliminated.
In practice, eating a healthy and adequate diet, as well as avoiding certain triggers, can mitigate the effects. The cosmetics industry can also help prevent the failure from becoming visible. However, after a medical briefing, no follow-up care is absolutely necessary.
You can do that yourself
The eyebrow loss is an unpleasant symptom and usually brings with it aesthetic problems. While a steady slight loss of hair and brows is considered normal, a doctor should be consulted in the event of increased hair loss.
A balanced diet that supplies the body with sufficient nutrients is considered self-help against stressful hair loss. If you supply the body with all the nutrients it needs, you can avoid deficiencies and thus prevent further symptoms. Furthermore, the use of mild cosmetic and washing products is recommended, as aggressive shampoos, make-ups, etc. can trigger hair loss.
Since hair and eyebrow loss can often be triggered by stress and psychological stress, sufficient relaxation in everyday life is also important. With relaxation exercises, meditations, yoga etc. the mind can calm down and leave the stresses of everyday life behind.
Some people also need exercise in order to regenerate and compensate for stress. The little tips for self-help can easily be incorporated into everyday life and thus counteract the loss of eyebrows. If the self-help tips show little or no effect, a doctor should find out the background to the eyebrow loss and treat the patient accordingly.