Eyebrows give so much expression to the face. They help others determine your mood, they enhance your eyes and contribute to your overall look. This is why eyebrow loss is an upsetting experience for many people. Thankfully, there are treatments available that can restore the look of your eyebrows. Determining the cause of the hair loss is the first step in finding the right treatment.
Causes
There are many causes of eyebrow hair loss. Medical causes include local infection and systemic disease, especially autoimmune disease. Physical trauma from scarring or repeated tweezing can also cause the condition. There is even a psychological disorder known as trichotillomania -- compulsive hair plucking -- that can result in eyebrow loss.
Symptoms
Symptoms of eyebrow loss will vary depending on the cause. Symptoms include diffuse thinning, missing patches of hair and complete eyebrow hair loss. Hair loss can occur gradually or with a rapid onset of symptoms. When a skin infection is to blame, additional symptoms of redness, flaking or irritation often occur.
Cosmetic Treatments
Although cosmetic remedies do not actually restore hair growth, they can improve the look of your eyebrows. Cosmetic remedies are a good complement to other treatments. They are also valuable when the eyebrow loss is temporary, or when other treatments are contraindicated. Cosmetic treatments options include eyebrow pencils, powders and permanent make-up.
Hormone Therapy
Hypothyroidism is a common medical cause of eyebrow loss. According to Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Dr. Todd B. Nippoldt, severe hypothyroidism can cause hair loss to the outer part of the eyebrows. Restoring deficient thyroid hormones to their proper levels may restore eyebrow growth.
Hair-Stimulating Products
Prescription and over-the-counter products are available to stimulate eyebrow hair growth. Topical minoxidil is effective in stimulating eyebrow growth in some patients with alopecia areata, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It typically takes several weeks to see results from hair-stimulating products.
Transplant Surgery
Hair transplant surgery restores hair to the eyebrow area using micrografts to fill in missing hair. Doctors use small sections of skin containing just one or two hair follicles for this procedure. It typically takes two or more sessions to complete an eyebrow transplant. Hair will grow to the same length it did before the transplant. Doctors often use scalp hair for this procedure. Regular hair trimming sessions are necessary afterward.
Considerations
Getting a diagnosis by a medical professional before starting a treatment for eyebrow loss is important. Correcting the cause of the hair loss is necessary for effective treatment. Some eyebrow loss treatments can cause side effects such as an allergic reaction or infections. Immediately report any side effects to your doctor. You should not use minoxidil during pregnancy.
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