Although excessive grooming can damage eyebrow follicles, it is often considered more than what is effective. Other factors such as infections, diet, skin conditions, hormonal changes, or an overactive immune system can cause partial or complete eyebrow hair loss. Identifying the cause of eyebrow hair loss is very helpful in its treatment.
Eyebrow hair loss, medically known as *hypotrichosis* or eyebrow *madarosis*, leads to thinning or patchy loss of eyebrow hair. Typically, eyebrow hair loss is not serious, but if the underlying causes are not addressed in time, the only treatment and way to restore eyebrow hair is through various eyebrow transplant methods. This article will explain the different causes and symptoms of eyebrow hair loss.
The most important causes of eyebrow hair loss include:
1. lopecia Areata and Its Impact on Eyebrow Hair Loss
Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly identifies a part of the body as a threat and attacks it. This condition targets hair follicles, slowing or stopping hair and eyebrow growth.
Alopecia has various types, such as:
- Alopecia Areata, which causes patchy hair and eyebrow loss.
- Alopecia Universalis, which results in the loss of all body hair.
- Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, which causes scarring on the scalp along with acne and eyebrow hair loss.
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, doctors are unsure what causes hair growth or loss in individuals with this condition, but hair can grow back when the disease is inactive. Alopecia can also affect the growth of fingernails and toenails.
2. Nutrient Deficiency and Eyebrow Hair Loss
The human body requires nutrients, including energy sources (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, to function properly. Some of these nutrients affect hair growth and maintenance, so a deficiency in any of them can lead to eyebrow hair loss. For example, a deficiency in vitamin A or zinc can slow cell growth and hinder sebum production, while deficiencies in vitamins D and B can also cause hair and eyebrow loss. Other vitamins and nutrients that impact hair growth and strength, and whose deficiencies may contribute to eyebrow hair loss, include:
- Biotin (Vitamin B-7)
- Vitamin C (collagen development)
- Iron
- Vitamins E and B-12
- Cysteine
- Omega-3 fatty acids
3. Impact of Eczema on Eyebrow Hair Loss
Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes itching, redness, and irritation, triggered by an overactive immune system. Since hair follicles are embedded in the skin, eczema may interfere with hair growth and lead to eyebrow hair loss.
4. Psoriasis and Eyebrow Hair Loss
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes rapid skin cell turnover, resulting in red, rough patches. While it does not directly cause eyebrow hair loss, if psoriasis affects the area around the eyebrows, it may cause inflammation. Excessive itching in this area can block and halt hair follicle growth, leading to eyebrow hair loss. Since this condition is temporary, eyebrow and hair transplants are possible for psoriasis patients.
5. Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis occurs due to exposure to an allergen or toxic irritant, causing itching or burning. If the affected area is near the eyebrows, inflammation may halt hair growth, resulting in eyebrow hair loss.
6. Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is typically a chronic condition. Scientists believe it is caused by a fungus or excessive oil production in the skin. This condition can even lead to dandruff on the scalp.
7. Impact of Ringworm on Eyebrow Hair Loss
Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes red, itchy, raised patches and blisters on the skin. When these patches appear on the eyebrows, they can cause eyebrow hair loss, leaving a bald spot.
8. Eyebrow Hair Loss Due to Thyroid Issues
The thyroid gland, located at the front of the neck, produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism. Thyroid disorders are a major cause of hair and eyebrow loss. When the thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism), producing too little or too much hormone, the body falls out of balance, disrupting several natural processes, including hair growth. Hypothyroidism can also cause fatigue and weight gain, while hyperthyroidism often leads to heart palpitations, bulging eyes, and weight loss.
9. Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy)
Hansen’s disease, caused by bacteria, manifests as sores across the skin. Lepromatous leprosy leads to sores, hair and eyebrow loss, numbness, and limb weakness.
10. Impact of Stress and Anxiety on Eyebrow Hair Loss
Excessive stress and anxiety can cause physiological changes, such as reduced oxygen supply to hair follicles and hormonal fluctuations, leading to eyebrow hair loss. Mental health issues contribute to eyebrow loss, and if you’ve recently experienced a traumatic event or significant lifestyle change, you may clearly notice the impact of stress on your hair and eyebrow loss.
11. Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pregnancy and childbirth can affect hormones and the body’s biochemical processes. These fluctuations may disrupt the hair growth cycle, causing hair and eyebrow loss.
12. Chemotherapy and Eyebrow Hair Loss
Chemotherapy, used to treat cancer, targets rapidly dividing cells, including hair follicles. This causes hair and eyebrow loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
13. Eyebrow Hair Loss Due to Aging
As people age, typically from their 40s, hair begins to thin, and hair and eyebrow loss increases due to declining estrogen levels in women and testosterone in men.
14. Overuse of Cosmetic Products
Excessive eyebrow makeup over a prolonged period can damage and cause eyebrow hair loss. Additionally, over-plucking eyebrows can cause minor trauma to the follicles, which, if repeated consistently, may prevent hair growth in those areas.
15. Telogen Effluvium
We have hundreds of thousands of hairs on our heads, and not all of them are growing at the same time. Hairs in the growth phase are in the *anagen* phase, while those in the resting phase are in the *telogen* phase, meaning their growth has stopped, but they remain on the scalp for a few months before falling out. In individuals with *telogen effluvium*, more hairs shift from the anagen phase to the telogen phase, resulting in greater-than-normal hair loss. This abnormal hair loss occurs when the natural hair growth cycle is disrupted by hormonal changes or other bodily changes.
Treatment for Eyebrow Hair Loss
Once the causes and factors of eyebrow hair loss are identified, the most appropriate treatment can be selected, depending on whether the cause is permanent or temporary. Eyebrow transplantation is a solution for restoring eyebrow hair. This method involves harvesting hair follicles from a donor area with sufficient healthy hair and transplanting them to the recipient area, i.e., the eyebrows. Additionally, using nutritional supplements, minoxidil, or lifestyle changes can help promote hair and eyebrow growth.
