Forum Discussion
Eyelashes/brows going, going .....
My eyes have been really sensitive for a few days now which I was hoping was just a reaction to the cold, windy conditions. BUT on closer inspection I am pretty sure that I am losing my eyelashes. My lids are very red and there are definitely less and less hairs there. Everytime I touch my irritated eyes I come away with a few hairs!
Having got through 4 of 6 chemos I was hoping that I was going to escape with eyelashes and brows intact but maybe not. I know this is really minor in the scheme of things but I think this is actually worse than losing the hair on my head because it is not so easy to cover! My eyes are very sensitive at the best of times and I can't imagine putting make-up on to help with the naked eye look. I guess the soreness will settle and maybe I will be able to do it then. I did go to a LGFB workshop so I know what to do. I have never worn much make-up so this will be a bit of something different for me.
The eyebrows are definitely looking on the thin side too!
Oh well, after landing in hospital with neutropenia this week I might just go into hibernation for the next few weeks until I get through that last Chemo.
Can anyone tell me how long it takes for eyebrows/lashes to grow again after chemo finishes?
Sorry to be going on about a minor issue but sometimes it helps to know how long you have to expect to have these side effects.
Deanne xxx
22 Replies
8 years post surgery but hair growth still only 1cm in two or 3 months. Seem to need to wash it alternate days now wheras only needed every 4th or 5thday when longer b4 surgery in 06. Guess we all are different. btw still no arm hair and virtually no leg hair yay!
The fastest things to grow back, were the eyebrows and eyelashes. Healthy hair grows at a rate of 1cm per month by the way. You could get saline too to flush out the hairs that fall in, remember not to touch your eyes with fingers, because of your immune system!
- I have a very trendy right eyebrow this morning with a gap just past the arch part. I look like some of the young trendy people who deliberately shave gaps in their brows! Eyelashes keep getting stuck in my eyes as they are coming out, ouch! :-) Deanne xx
Systane eye drops, several times a day until the eyelashes grow back. When you put makeup on ( including eyebrows). remove the foundation with a wet cotton bud before you start, in the shape of your eyebrow. (trace your eyebrow, if you have time onto tracing paper, or make a stencil). Then use a small makeup brush, and eyeshadow in the brown close to your colour, a shade lighter better than dark. Brush eyeshadow onto eyebrow area. Pencils are second, Use light short strokes to create a feathered brow, avoid a line if you can. If its too dark, I use translucent powder over the top to soften result. I used the eye shadow most of the time. Check my blogs out to see when they left. They are all fully back now, but I lost every hair on my body. Now, dammit, I am back to shaving legs again! A 6 month time frame, I lost all hair, and it came back. Good Luck, XX Bel
- My focus is definitely on getting to that 'new normal' now. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can't wait to get there with or without eyelashes/brows. Then I hope to recover from all this and do all that I can to stay healthy! As you say it is all put in perspective when you think about what others are going through. Deanne xx
- Hope my hair starts to grow back around last Chemo as this is only 4 weeks away. That sounds not so bad! xx Deanne
- Thanks for helping me feel better. It will be interesting to see what happens post chemo. At least I only have 2 to go! Deanne xx
- I guess as long as my hair starts to grow back pretty quickly I will feel better about the lack of eyelashes/brows. I had really thick hair before so hopefully it will grow back quickly! Deanne xx
- Hi Kat My 18 year old daughter has given me some great tips on make-up this afternoon. My worry has been that my right eyebrow was disappearing more than the left! She has some great powder that she uses to define her brows and it has helped to even me up. Hopefully my hair will start to return fairly quickly after I finish my last Chemo in about 4 weeks. Fingers crossed! Deanne xx
- Great way of looking at the issue of hair loss. It really is impossible to work out how it really works! I had a theory that my hair loss was from the areas on my body that were the hottest. This explained why the hair on my head, pubic hair and hair under my arms stopped growing but the hair on my legs and arms was still mostly there. I was hoping that this meant the eyelashes and brows would be ok too, maybe not! Thanks for helping me to keep smiling! Deanne xx
