Eyelashes may be thought of as a beauty attribute, but they serve a practical purpose by keeping debris out of your eyes. Losing your eyelashes, or having a lack of eyelashes, is called hypotrichosis of the eyelashes. Some people are born without hair or patches of hair, a condition called congenital hypotrichosis. This medical condition can extend to the eyelashes as well, when a person is born with bare eyelids. Eye infections, medical treatments and manual pulling may all contribute to the loss of eyelashes.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid that often results from a bacterial infection, or allergic reactions such as dermatitis, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Symptoms of blepharitis include burning, redness, swelling and crusting of the eyes. Loss of eyelashes may be both a symptom and a complication that results from blepharitis.
Chemotherapy
People who undergo chemotherapy treatments may experience hair loss as a side effect of the powerful anti-cancer drugs, explain the medical researchers at the Mayo Clinic. People who have not been personally affected by cancer may not realize that scalp baldness is just a part of the hair loss side effect. Losing eyelashes and eyebrows may also occur, but in most cases is temporary. Eyelashes usually grow back after the chemo regimen has been completed.
Pulling
Pulling on your eyelashes, whether intentional or not, can weaken the hair follicles and cause the lashes to fall out. Heavy use of eye products that require abrasive removal products or moderate scrubbing, such as the application and removal of false eyelashes, may contribute to eyelash loss. Pulling on your eyelashes as a nervous habit can lead to eyelash loss as well.
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