Chemo Side Effect: Loss of Eyelashes—Tips & Tricks to Get You Through
Most of us know we may lose our hair during chemotherapy. What we may not be prepared for is losing hair in other places—like on our eyes!
“I am 4 weeks out from my last chemo, and my eyelashes are still leaving,” says survivor katyg.
“My eyelashes and brows did not fall out until AFTER chemo was over, around six weeks,” says survivor Cheryl G. “The eyebrows seem to grow faster than the lashes (per eye doctor, it takes about six to eight weeks for a new set of eyelashes).”
Chemo drugs can cause you to lose your hair just about anywhere, but eyelashes may arguably be the most difficult to deal with. “I had the chemo and in the process lost all my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes etc.,” says survivor Em. “Within 3 months of finishing the treatment they had grown back…. Well, it’s now 5 months since I finished chemo and my eyebrows and eyelashes are falling out all over again!”
The good news is that eyelashes usually do grow back, so the change is temporary. Meanwhile, what can you do? First, you can use false eyelashes, but check with your doctors and nurses. You could have an allergic reaction to the glue, and there’s also a risk of increased infection. The second option is to use make-up to re-create the look of full, healthy lashes.
To do the latter, just line the upper lash line and smudge it. Then apply a gentle mascara, like non-toxic Afterglow Cosmetics mascara. It’s okay to use an eyelash curler on occasion but overuse can cause breakage and eyelash loss, so be careful. Find one with a rounded rubber. We love Shu Umera’s lash curler.
There may be a time, however, when you feel like you really need false lashes, like for a special event. If you know your immune system (and your sensitive skin) can handle it, and you’ve gotten your doctor’s approval, go for it! They can quickly transform your look. Today’s brands tend to look more natural than they did decades ago.
When putting on the lashes, measure them against your eyelid, and trim with a pair of sharp scissors so they fit just right. They should fall just short of the inner corner of your eye. It’s best to line the upper lid first—a liquid liner is preferable as it lasts longer and will help create a smooth line. Hold the lashes with a pair of tweezers (make sure they’re not sharp ones), then use a toothpick to apply a thin coat of eyelash glue to the base of the fake lashes. Wait a minute to allow the blue to become sticky. (Be sure to get clear clue, not black.) Position the lashes as close to your own as you can, and gently press down, starting with the inner corner and working outward. Hold the lash on your lid for 20-30 seconds (smooth as necessary). If you have lashes of your own, apply mascara to blend them with the false lashes. When you’re ready to take the false ones off, gently pull them, then use eye makeup remover to take off the glue and liner.
Some brands of false eyelashes are made especially for cancer patients, and come complete with eyeliner. Blinkies is one such brand, and their eyelashes are made of 100% sterilized human hair. Check out the pictures. They look really natural! Madame Madeline offers a 15% discount to cancer patients or survivors, and has several brands of false eyelashes. Headcovers also has 100% human hair lashes designed for cancer survivors. If the glue causes you too much trouble, you may want to try the self-adhesive lashes, which don’t require application of glue. (Revlon has some here.) If you use these, be sure to put lash adhesive on your hand first and apply your strip or individual lashes there before putting on your eye.
To help prevent lash loss, refrain from rubbing your eyes too vigorously. Use a natural eye makeup remover to gently clean your eyes. (One of our fave’s—Jasmine eye make-up remover). Heavy mascara—particularly waterproof brands—can also be too harsh on delicate lashes, so you may want to go with a more natural look for awhile. (Be sure to throw away old mascara that has gone bad, as it can also cause lashes to fall out.)
Did you lose your eyelashes during or after cancer treatment? How did you cope?
Photo courtesy of Snap Village.
I lost all my eyelashes and eyebrows about 5-6 weeks after chemotherapy was finished. I did not grow them back until radiation treatments were complete. Then, it took about 6 weeks to get a full set of lashes and eyebrows.
Now I am going into the 6th month from completion of chemotherapy and I am again losing my eyebrows and lashes. I have a call into the oncologist to find out if there is a legitimate reason why this is happening again.
Hi Karyn, I’m so sorry to hear about this side effect after treatment has been over. I am very curious as to what your doctors said. Now that you are not in treatment, if is safer to use false lashes, perhaps that is a good alternative for you until the lashes grow back. Please keep me posted on this and I will look into it myself as well. – Britta
I have just completed my last cycle of chemotherapy and I lost my eyelashes and eyebrows about 4 or 5 weeks ago.
My eyebrows are growing back quite well and my lashes are getting quite long again now too. However, when this happened, I spent quite a lot of time researching it and found that several women had suffered repeated loss of their eyelashes or eyebrows following the completion of their treatment. There seemed to be a pattern of 3 monthly (ish) cycles. A few women reported that after a few times, their lashes and brows did stay.
It seems that this is down to the fact that although the hairs do grow back, the follicles are of course still damaged and will take time to recover. Although there is regrowth, the follicles are not strong enough for the hairs to remain permanently and so they fall out again only to be replaced by another set. I assume that the amount of times this cycle happens depends on the patient and their particular treatment.
What we need to remember is that we have survived cancer! I’d rather be here with dodgy eyelashes for the next year than not be here at all!! Good luck with everything!!
Thank you for the great information Vicky. I appreciate your comments and positive outlook. You are right. Let’s be thankful for dodgy eyelashes and grateful that we are still here on earth to complain about them
. Love and light and congratulations on your survivorship. – Britta
5 months after chemo and I am losing my eyebrows again. I just need reassurance that they will be back permanently someday. What are the chances that I will retain the eyelashes that are intact so far? No one ever told me I might lose them again! How about the hair one my head that I am so proud of…all one inch of it? Is that going to go to? Any insight would be helpful. Also, what do the oncologists say about this?
Hi Lona. Losing your hair, let alone your eyebrows, can be very hard while going through treatment and I totally understand how you feel. You can rest assured that they will grow back after treatments are over as well as the hair on your head. Here is a great post I did about hair growth after treatments http://blog.cincovidas.com/treatments-are-over-and-my-hair%E2%80%99s-coming-back-curly-will-it-stay-this-way I am not sure if you will be able to keep the lashes you have while undergoing chemo, it depends on your treatment and your body (mine did not fall out all the way) It’s important that you detox after chemo, follow a great nutrition plan (to give you all essential vitamins to help hair growth) and take care of your health after treatment to promote the best healing environment for your hair, skin and nails. Please feel free to shoot me an email through our “Contact Us” page and I can provide you with some resources. Best, Britta
Hi all – just wanted to say thanks for the info and feedback. I have my last round of chemo in 4 days (yeah!) and I have lost about half of my eyelashes and my eyebrows have thinned out a lot. They were pretty light to begin with so I definitely enjoyed wearing mascara – now, I think it’s actually more noticeable when I try to wear mascara so I’ve been holding off. I’m glad I read some of the stories about eyelashes falling out again once they’ve grown in, just in case that happens to me…at least I’ll be somewhat prepared.
God bless all of us survivors : ) Stay healthy!!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Rebecca! My prayers and love to you as you finish chemo and enter into your survivorship! I’m so glad that the posts have been helpful to you. I’m always here as a resource so if you need any resources or information please reach out to me. Love, strength and survival – Britta
I have had recurring basal cell cancer in the eye since I was 25. I am now 57. It has been years of Moh’s surgery and reconstruction of the eye. In 2005, I had radiation. I lost my
eyebrow and most of the eyelashes. The problem now is that some eyelashes are literally
stabbing me in the eye and scratching my cornea. I continually have to go to the doctor
to have them tweezed out. I cannot do it myself. He needs the eye magnification machine
to do it and states it would be impossible to do myself because the lashes are under the
lid. Since they were radiated on reconstructed eye lids they come in growing in all directions.
I sometimes am in so much pain, become light sensitive and have emergency eye visits
monthly. No one has an answer to this. I cannot get laser because I am blond and it doesn’t work if there is no or little pigment. Does anyone have a solution for me??
I feel for you deeply Pat. I know that this experience has been extremely difficult for you. I am so proud that you are not giving up on finding a solution for yourself. Let my team and I look into some resources and if there is anything that we come across that may be an option we will surely let you know. Stay positive. Love and light – Britta
I was thrilled to read the comments about the recurring eyelash loss. I finished extensive chemo and radiation for a rare form of uterine cancer a year ago. I loss all my hair on my body and it all grew back except for under my arms. My lashes came back, thick and long, but fall out about every three months. I’m so happy to not be alone and to find out I have a reason. I know that my treatment had been very severe due to the type of cancer. It left behind lots of inside damage, so it makes sense that my lashes should also be damaged. Thanks so much!
Hi,
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2010. I had chemo and radiation and lost all my hair including my eyelashes and eyebrows. I finished my last radiation treatment in July 2011. My hair, eyelashes and eyebrows grew back, however, my eyelashes have started to thin out again. Is there anything that I can use to help their growth? God Bless all the survivors out there, may we stay strong. Reading others stories has helped me so much, Thanks to all.