Your eyebrows are like your calling card to your face and are normally with us for the majority of our lives. So when they start to disappear, many people question why. Hair will be lost by a variety of situations that affect its growth cycle, or the area from which it grows.
So here are the three main reasons why you may lose them.
1. Infections
Infectious conditions can either directly affect the hair follicle, or hair shaft, or create such inflammation in the region that you literally scratch the hair out. Patchy hair loss is a good indication of problems like Syphilis. Infiltration of the infection deep within the skin such as what occurs with Hansen's Disease can squeeze the hair follicles out of the way.
Fungal infections: Just like those on the scalp, fungal infections can occur on hair bearing areas of the face as well and lead to typically temporary hair loss.
Lice: The itching and scratching cycle associated with lice of the brows and lashes can cause you to literally pull them out.
Hansen's Disease (aka Leprosy): Can infiltrate the brow region leading to thinning eyebrows.
Syphilis: Who thought that a venereal disease could cause hair loss? However, syphilis can cause "moth-eaten" hair loss in more advanced stages.
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2. Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune diseases turns the body turns on itself, mistakenly destroying healthy tissue . In other words, the body basically thinks that a germ is present and is out to get rid of it. Autoimmune diseases are a broad category and encompass a multitude of diagnoses. Here are a few that can lead to hair loss.
Lupus Erythematosus: All autoimmune diseases can put hair at risk. Inflammation of the skin due to a variety of lupus-like conditions may result in patchy hair loss.
Alopecia Areata: In this condition, hair is specifically targeted by the body for destruction. A random condition where any hair is potentially at risk.
This disease where the color-making cells of the skin are destroyed may cause enough inflammation to accidentally result in some hair loss as well.
3. Inflammation from "Common Skin Conditions"
That itch, scratch cycle can lead to more inflammation, and ultimately hair loss. Few people are aware that "routine" skin diseases can sometimes result in hair loss, but here they are:
Seborrhea - That red, itchy rash on your scalp that has flaky scales could be seborrheic dermatitis, or seborrhea. It's a common skin disease that looks similar to psoriasis, eczema, or an allergic reaction.
Psoriasis - Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. It typically affects the outside of the elbows, knees or scalp, though it can appear on any location.
Atopic Dermatitis/Eczema - It results in itchy, red, swollen, and cracked skin. Clear fluid may come from the affected areas, which often thicken over time.[1] The condition typically starts in childhood with changing severity over the years
Contact Dermatitis - Contact dermatitis is a localized rash or irritation of the skin caused by contact with a foreign substance. Only the superficial regions of the skin are affected in contact dermatitis. Inflammation of the affected tissue is present in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) and the outer dermis (the layer beneath the epidermis)
Natural remedies for eyebrow loss include:
- Petroleum jelly: Vaseline has been used for years for beauty needs, including hair growth. Cleanse your face before bed and apply a thin layer of Vaseline to your eyebrows. Let it set overnight and rinse with lukewarm water in the morning.
- Olive oil: Apply 2-5 drops of olive oil to your eyebrows after washing your face. Leave on for 5-10 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.
- Vitamin E oil: Vitamin E can reduce hair loss and promote hair growth.
One of the most common form of treatment is powerful anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress the immune system. These can be administered through local injections (most common), topical ointment application, or orally.
Other medications that can be prescribed that either promote hair growth or affect the immune system include Minoxidil, Anthralin, SADBE, and DPCP. Although some of these may help with the re-growth of hair, they cannot prevent the formation of new bald patches. Some people turn to alternative treatment methods such as acupuncture and aromatherapy, although there is little, if any, evidence to support these treatments.
