Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Eyelashes GrowCauses of LossEncouraging GrowthPreventing Loss

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Eyelashes Grow

Causes of Loss

Encouraging Growth

Preventing Loss

Like the hair on the rest of your body, your eyelashes can fall out. Thankfully, they also grow back. It takes a couple of months for lashes to grow back under normal circumstances. However, your lashes don’t typically all fall out at once, so you won’t notice that they’re in the process of growing back.

Sometimes, lashes can fall out due to an underlying condition. If there’s a medical issue causing your lashes to fall out, they may take longer to grow back. Sometimes, they won’t grow back at all.

Verywell / Laura Porter

Eyelashes go through a growth cycle. It comprises three distinct phases.

Stages of the Growth Cycle

Here are the three eyelash growth stages.

The Structure and Growth Cycle of Hair Follicles

Causes of Eyelash Loss

Lashes fall out for a variety of reasons. Your eyelashes fall out naturally, of course—like your hair—but there are other causes for eyelash loss.

Alopecia

An Overview of Alopecia Areata

Other Causes

Other causes of eyelash loss include:

When to See a Doctor

You should see a doctor if you notice eyelash loss is:

How to Encourage Growth

Many products on the market claim to give people longer, more beautiful lashes. But there are only a few proven ways to encourage eyelash growth.

Latisse (bimatoprost)is a research-backed, FDA-approved treatment.Latisseincreases the number of eyelashes that are simultaneously in the growth phase. There’s also evidence that it produces thicker, darker lashes.

There are a few side effects that can occur, such as:

In addition to some of the causes listed above, eyelash loss can also happen due to nutritional deficiencies. However, there’s no conclusive evidence that diet and vitamins can encourage eyelash growth. If you have a deficiency that’s causing hair loss of some kind, rectifying that deficiency can obviously help stop additional hair or lash loss.

Does Vaseline Help Your Eyelashes Grow Longer and Thicker?

Preventing Eyelash Loss

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends sticking to good hygiene to prevent eyelash loss. This includes washing your face every day, using gentle products that don’t irritate the skin, and avoiding moisturizers around the eyes. The AAO also suggests eating a healthy diet with fruit, vegetables, and protein.

A Word From Verywell

Did you recently notice a stray lash and panic? Don’t worry. It’s normal for your eyelashes to fall out. Falling out is part of the growth process. When an eyelash falls out, a new one will usually regrow in its place.

However, if you’re noticing more hair loss than usual. It can be a sign of an underlying condition. It might also even be a reaction to a cosmetic product you’re using. If you start to experience increased irritation or you feel anxious about how many lashes you’re losing, don’t hesitate to speak to a medical professional for advice.

14 Causes of White Eyelashes (and Is Reversal Possible?)

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003Mukamal R.Why are my eyelashes falling out?American Academy of Ophthalmology. February 12, 2019.Cohen J L. Enhancing the growth of natural eyelashes:The mechanism of bimatoprost-induced eyelash growth.Dermatol Surg.2010;36(9):1361-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2010.01522.xJones D.Enhanced eyelashes: Prescription and over-the-counter options.Aesthetic Plast Surg.2011;35(1):116-121. doi:10.1007/s00266-010-9561-3Alonson M R, Damonte S P, Anesini C.Jarilla-coffea extract: A natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2019;12:47-55. Doi: 10.2147/CCID.S182497

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003Mukamal R.Why are my eyelashes falling out?American Academy of Ophthalmology. February 12, 2019.Cohen J L. Enhancing the growth of natural eyelashes:The mechanism of bimatoprost-induced eyelash growth.Dermatol Surg.2010;36(9):1361-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2010.01522.xJones D.Enhanced eyelashes: Prescription and over-the-counter options.Aesthetic Plast Surg.2011;35(1):116-121. doi:10.1007/s00266-010-9561-3Alonson M R, Damonte S P, Anesini C.Jarilla-coffea extract: A natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2019;12:47-55. Doi: 10.2147/CCID.S182497

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003Mukamal R.Why are my eyelashes falling out?American Academy of Ophthalmology. February 12, 2019.Cohen J L. Enhancing the growth of natural eyelashes:The mechanism of bimatoprost-induced eyelash growth.Dermatol Surg.2010;36(9):1361-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2010.01522.xJones D.Enhanced eyelashes: Prescription and over-the-counter options.Aesthetic Plast Surg.2011;35(1):116-121. doi:10.1007/s00266-010-9561-3Alonson M R, Damonte S P, Anesini C.Jarilla-coffea extract: A natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2019;12:47-55. Doi: 10.2147/CCID.S182497

Aumond S, Bitton E.The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review.Journal of Optometry.2018;11(4):211-222. doi: 10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003

Mukamal R.Why are my eyelashes falling out?American Academy of Ophthalmology. February 12, 2019.

Cohen J L. Enhancing the growth of natural eyelashes:The mechanism of bimatoprost-induced eyelash growth.Dermatol Surg.2010;36(9):1361-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2010.01522.x

Jones D.Enhanced eyelashes: Prescription and over-the-counter options.Aesthetic Plast Surg.2011;35(1):116-121. doi:10.1007/s00266-010-9561-3

Alonson M R, Damonte S P, Anesini C.Jarilla-coffea extract: A natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.2019;12:47-55. Doi: 10.2147/CCID.S182497

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?