Hair loss is frequent during chemotherapy and may affect your scalp, body, and facial hair. Losing hair may be unpleasant, but knowing what to anticipate can help you feel more prepared.
Losing your eyelashes or eyebrows due to chemotherapy treatment may be shocking and unpleasant.
Hair loss is a typical adverse effect of several forms of chemotherapy. Though you may identify the loss with a bald head, the fact is you have hair all over your body, and any of it might fall out owing to the therapy.
Fortunately, if hair loss from chemotherapy affects your eyebrows or eyelashes, there are some things you may take to reduce the loss. It will also likely grow back following treatment.
How Many People Lose Their Eyebrows Or Eyelashes Due To Chemo?
The truth of chemotherapy is that it causes hair loss to some degree in most patients. Some studies claim incidence rates as high as 99.9 percent.
You may lose part of your eyebrows, giving them a thinning look, or you may lose both brows completely.
Losing body hair may be unpleasant, particularly if you didn’t expect it to happen.
How Long After Chemotherapy Do Eyebrows Or Lashes Fall Out?
If you lose your eyebrows or eyelashes, you’ll usually notice hair loss within two to three weeks after commencing therapy. Your eyebrows may seem thin, or they may fall out entirely.
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Most individuals notice their scalp hair starting to go out initially. Other places, such as the eyebrows or lashes, then follow this.
Why Does Chemotherapy Cause Hair Loss?
You may be unable to avoid hair loss, including eyebrows or eyelashes, during chemotherapy. Chemotherapy medications target fast-developing cells to restrict the proliferation of malignant cells. The drugs might cause damage to hair follicles, which leads to hair loss.
However, everyone’s body is different, and your body may react differently to chemotherapy than others.
Also, not all chemotherapy medicines induce hair loss as a side effect. You may wish to question a doctor about your alternatives in case you’re a good candidate for drugs that aren’t known for producing hair loss as a side effect.
How Can I Prevent Or Manage Eyebrow And Eyelash Loss During Chemotherapy?
Whether your eyebrows or eyelashes get thinner or disappear, you may take action to control the loss.
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Eyebrows
To control eyebrow thinning, you may wear eyebrow makeup matching your hair color. To achieve this, you can:
- Hold your eyebrow pencil vertically and against your nose in line with the inner corner of your eye. Make a mark above the eye where the eyebrow will start.
- Next, maintain the end of the pencil against the nose, move the tip in line with the center of your pupil, and create another mark. This will be where the arch of the brow will be.
- Line up the pencil with the outer corner of your eye and make a final mark where the eyebrow will finish.
- Use your chosen eyebrow makeup to join the dots and construct the eyebrow with small hair-like strokes.
There are a multitude of tools you may use to make an eyebrow, such as stencils. If you have difficulties sketching or constructing one, you may be able to have a cosmetic expert at a nearby shop provide you with instructions on how to apply the eyebrow. Some folks may prefer to put stick-on eyebrows.
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Eyelashes
You may opt to apply eyeliner to give the appearance of having eyelashes. You may match the hue and draw along the top of the eyelid.
Your eyelashes also play a part in safeguarding your eyes. You may discover that your eyes are more inflamed if they fall out. To address this, you might try utilizing moderate eye drops.
False eyelashes are another option. Like stick-on eyebrows, synthetic lashes cling to the skin using an adhesive. If you have sensitive skin, they may not be a suitable choice for you.
There are also prescription topical drugs like Latisse, which can help encourage eyelash development.
When Will My Eyelashes Or Eyebrows Grow Back?
The good news is that your eyelashes or eyebrows will normally start to grow back after therapy.
According to a 2019 study looking at women who received chemotherapy for breast cancer, scalp hair regrowth began to emerge after 3.3 months. They observed that more than 96 percent of patients had at least 70 percent regeneration of their scalp hair.
Experts mention that you should start to witness hair regrowth beginning within six to eight weeks following your therapy.
Though you may be tempted to attempt supplements to promote hair restoration, you should consider discussing with a doctor before beginning anything new. Your doctor will be able to let you know whether these supplements may interact poorly with the drugs you’re taking.
As you endure chemotherapy, you may have partial or complete hair loss. While some individuals only suffer hair loss on their scalp, it may also impact your eyebrows and eyelashes.
While hair may seem trivial while you’re enduring so many changes, hair loss may be unpleasant. Remember that whatever feelings you have are legitimate.
