Have you ever found yourself absentmindedly rubbing or brushing your eyebrows, only to be alarmed by the amount of eyebrow hairs that end up falling out?
If so, you may be wondering why do my eyebrows fall out when I rub them? In this article, I’ll share why rubbing or brushing your eyebrows can cause them to fall out and what steps you can take to prevent it from happening.
What Is The Eyebrow Hair Growth Cycle?
Eyebrow hair growth cycle is a natural process that occurs as your body replaces older hairs with new ones.
Depending on individuals, it can take anywhere from four to eight weeks for a full eyebrow hair cycle.
The cycle begins when an individual loses eyebrow hair, after which their follicle starts producing new cells at the side of the follicle and those cells move up in the form of a club hair – this is called the anagen phase of the cycle.
During these phases, eyebrow hairs will grow and lengthen at one-eighth to a quarter inch per month.
Eventually, the follicle will enter the catagen phase, where it shrinks, and its depth fades away, signaling the end of active growth.
To finish off the cycle, eyebrows enter into the telogen stage where they eventually fall out while being replaced by follicles already in the anagen stage with new eyebrow hairs sprouting in their place.
Understanding how this natural process works can help you determine when to shape or pluck your eyebrows and how often you should do so.
Why Do My Eyebrows Fall Out When I Rub Them?
Rubbing your eyebrows too hard can cause eyebrow hairs to fall out. This is because when the skin of your forehead and around the eyes becomes itchy, you tend to rub them in an attempt to relieve the itchiness. However, this can damage individual eyebrow hairs, resulting in them falling out.
If you are usually rub or pluck your eyebrows regularly, it may result in permanent thinning or bald patches over time and should be avoided. Not only does this lead to thinning brows, but it also affects the overall shape of the eyebrows, which will take longer for them to regrow due to frequent rubbing or plucking.
Another reason why our eyebrows fall out when we rub them is seborrheic dermatitis, which results in inflammation and itching around certain areas such as the brows. When trying to alleviate this discomfort, some people may over scratch these areas, leading to hair loss due to damages sustained by their own fingers.
- Rubbing your eyebrows too hard causes individual eyebrow hairs to become damaged, resulting in their eventual hair loss;
- Frequent rubbing or plucking leads to thinning brows that are difficult for them to regrow
- Seborrheic dermatitis may lead to people scratching their brows excessively, resulting in damages sustained by their own fingers;
- Itchiness from conditions like eczema can also encourage one to touch and scratch their brows more than necessary, thus damaging surrounding hairs
Why Are Eyebrow Hairs So Delicate?
Not only do eyebrows enhance our facial expressions, eyebrows also play an important role in providing us with protection from airborne particles, dust and sweat.
Unfortunately, due to their fine nature, eyebrow hairs can be very delicate. This is because these hairs are much thinner than other hairs on the body and have a finer texture as well.
As a result, these hairs are prone to breakage or damage if not taken care of properly – for example, by avoiding rubbing or styling them too often.
What Causes Eyebrow Hairs To Fall Out?
Eyebrow hairs falling out can be a bothersome occurrence for many people, yet the cause of brow hair loss, may vary greatly from person to person.
One of the most common reasons for you to notice thinning hair within your brows, is due to overplucking or waxing, – too much or too often, and it causes damage to the follicles.
Particular medications can damage hair follicles and affect the eyebrows, leading to eyebrow shedding.
Another reason could be hormonal changes in the body during pregnancy, menopause, thyroid issues and diseases, as well as other medical related concerns.
Lastly, poor diet leading to poor nutrition can cause temporary hair loss, such as with eyebrows.
If you find yourself dealing with eyebrow hairs falling out more than normal, or thinner brows, take a look at your lifestyle and habits and make adjustments where necessary.
Which Health Conditions Can Influence The Amount Of Brow Hairs We Lose?
Every day, up to 100 of our brows can fall out as part of our hair follicle growth cycle.
But for some people, the shedding can be more than that, sometimes so dramatic that bare patches form on the brow area, giving you sparse brows.
This can be worrying or even embarrassing – but the reason behind it can often be traced to an underlying health condition.
Thyroid disease is one of the most frequent causes of excessive loss of brow hair; a person’s thyroid gland helps regulate hormones which directly influence hair growth and loss – hyperthyroidism disorders in particular can lead to more hair going AWOL than normal.
Autoimmune disease or autoimmune conditions (affecting our immune system) such as alopecia areata and lupus, both contributing to patchy skin problems, can also affect whether we lose eyebrow follicles and hair thinning during flare-ups.
Anemia and hormonal imbalances, such as menopause, can also throw off our equilibrium between losing and growing eyebrow hairs.
Although thankfully this type of hair loss is a type of natural process that should eventually stabilize over time, once we get the adequate nutrients, and normal hair regrowth will occur.
Which Vitamin Deficiencies Can Affect Brow Hair Loss?
While some people may experience a thinning of the brows due to genetics and age, in other cases, vitamin deficiencies and nutrient deficiency could be the underlying cause.
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked closely with eyebrow thinning, as well as deficiencies in Vitamin B complex, iron, and biotin.
So if you’ve been experiencing this issue and are looking for ways to naturally restore your eyebrows, incorporating supplements or foods that have high levels of these vitamins into your diet may help in restoring the brows.
Lastly, it is important to note that relying solely on supplements will not solve everything; practicing good health habits such as moisturizing your brows and avoiding harsh chemicals are also key steps to regaining fuller natural growth.
How Many Eyebrow Hairs Do We Lose Per Day?
Many of us may not realize it, but the average person loses about four to five eyebrow hairs per day.
This is completely normal – we all lose upwards of 100 scalp hairs a day, so our brows are no different.
In fact, since there is more movement around our eyebrows as we speak and make facial expressions, it stands to reason that some hair loss would occur.
While this can be concerning if you suddenly notice a large patch of missing eyebrow hairs, chances are they will soon regrow.
Of course, if the hair loss becomes excessive or is accompanied by other symptoms such as redness and inflammation, then it could indicate an underlying condition and should be checked out by a medical professional.
My Eyebrows Are Thinning – How To Improve Eyebrow Health?
The shape of our eyebrows often frames our face and adds to our overall appearance, but it’s important to remember that they need to be properly cared for to maintain their health.
Grooming them regularly is one way to improve eyebrow health; using tweezers, scissors or brow razors regularly will help keep strays in check and ensure they maintain the correct shape.
If you use any kind of salon treatment like waxing or threading, make sure it’s done by an experienced technician who takes good care not to damage your brows.
Regular moisturizing also helps; apply some oil or moisturizer every day or night for added nourishment. Like coconut oil, which conditions the skin, and brow hairs.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and incorporating certain vitamins like C, E and biotin, as well as fatty acids into your routine can also contribute to the health of your brows.
Can Skin Conditions Like Psoriasis Or Eczema Affect Eyebrow Loss?
Skin conditions such as psoriasis, dermatitis or eczema can have adverse effects not only on the skin, but also on other parts of the human body, like our eyelashes.
One of these unexpected effects is hair loss, including eyebrow hair loss, which some sufferers experience with these conditions.
Although the exact cause of this is still not known, some theories suggest that it could be caused by a combination of the medications used to treat both conditions and inflammation in the affected areas.
Oftentimes, once treatment for a skin condition has stopped and inflammation reduced, then normal growth can resume, and eyebrows will re-grow.
Can Eyebrow Makeup Products Cause Our Eyebrow Follicles To Fall Out?
It is a common concern that eyebrow makeup products may lead to eyebrow hairs falling out.
Fortunately, such fears are largely unfounded. While it is true that overusing certain products or applying them roughly can lead to some breakage of existing eyebrow hairs.
There is no evidence to suggest that the presence of those products will result in the growth of new hairs.
Furthermore, avoiding any product altogether is not likely to make a difference in the rate of eyebrows falling out.
The rate of hair loss due to aging and hormone changes is essentially the same regardless of cosmetic usage.
Therefore, if you are using eyebrow makeup products and find that your brows are losing hair, the problem may lie in the manner of usage, rather than the presence of the product itself.
As such, it is important to practice moderation, avoid applying too much pressure or using harsh products, and be gentle when using makeup near your brows.
Does Eyebrow Gel Cause Hair Loss For Our Brows?
When it comes to eyebrow gel, many people are unsure about the long-term effects on their brows.
While most products are relatively safe and effective, there is a possibility that eyebrow gel can cause some minimal hair loss in the brows over time when not used correctly or in excess.
It is important to read the label of your eyebrow gel and follow the instructions carefully.
If you can, take extra care to remove any leftover product from your brows before going to sleep, as leaving it on for too long can make them dry and brittle, leading to brow hairs breaking off.
Why Are My Eyebrows Falling out And Not Growing Back?
If you’ve noticed that your eyebrows are thinning or falling out and not growing back, you may be wondering what is causing it.
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question, as thinning eyebrows can be caused by a range of factors.
Common causes include certain medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, over-plucking, hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause, sun exposure and stress.
It is important to talk to a doctor if you are experiencing significant eyebrow loss, as this could be a sign of an underlying health issue that requires attention and treatment.
If the cause is simply excessive plucking or hormonal changes, then there are many ways to reduce the appearance of thinning including with makeup, topical treatments and eventually permanent solutions like microblading or tattooing.
What Hormonal Changes And Nutritional Deficiencies Can Influence Thinning Eyebrows?
Hair loss, including thinning eyebrows, can be caused by hormonal imbalances or nutritional deficiencies. Thyroid hormones are responsible for the health of our body’s metabolism and hair follicles.
When thyroid hormones are not at their optimal levels, it can lead to some degree of hair loss, including thinning eyebrows.
When we do not consume enough nutrients from our diets, the body is unable to replenish its stores and can cause nutritional deficiencies that also lead to thinning eyebrows and other types of hair loss.
A variety of causes and treatments exist for eyebrow thinning due to hormonal changes or nutritional deficiencies. It is important to consult a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment plan, since a single form of treatment will not work in all cases.
Treatment may include medications such as thyroid hormone replacement therapy or supplements designed to treat nutrient deficiencies.
Lifestyle changes such as improved diet and regular exercise may help normalize hormonal levels while providing essential nutrients necessary for healthy hair growth cycles.
How To Regrow Eyebrow Hair Loss?
Like the hair on your head, along with eyebrows and eyelashes, are indicators of health. Unfortunately, hair loss is a common problem for many people, including eyebrow hair loss.
Hair loss can be caused by hormonal imbalance, genetics, disease or even certain medications. While it may not seem like much of an issue to lose some eyebrow hairs, it can actually be quite distressing. Fortunately, there are ways to help regrow the lost brow hairs.
The first step in treating eyebrow hair loss is finding out what’s causing it. Your doctor may recommend tests to determine if you have an underlying medical condition that’s causing the hair thinning or balding patches of your eyebrows.
Once the cause is identified, appropriate treatments can be sought after, such as hormone therapy or medication for genetic problems and diseases affecting your thyroid levels.
Lifestyle changes such as cutting back on alcohol consumption and reducing stress levels have also been found to help restore normal eyebrow growth patterns in some cases.
Massaging the area with essential oils such as lavender oil before bedtime helps increase circulation and promote healthier-looking brows over time.
Similarly eating foods rich in vitamins A and E aids in restoring eyebrow hair thickness by improving follicular health, while using supplements like biotin strengthens individual strands against breakage and potential thinning caused by weather conditions or product use.
Lastly, applying products such as castor oil directly onto the skin near the eyebrows at night can improve natural hydration levels that stimulate new growth overtime when combined with a regular scalp massage routine focusing on this area specifically every night before sleeping for best results.
What To Do If We Develop A Bald Spot Within Our Eyebrows?
If you find yourself with a bald spot in your eyebrows, then the best course of action is to try using an eyebrow serum or balm.
These products are designed specifically to promote the growth of new hairs and can be used twice daily.
If that doesn’t do the trick, then consider a professional option such as microblading.
However, make sure to find an experienced and reputable brow tech, since these procedures carry risks if done improperly.
Summary
If your eyebrows are falling out when you rub them, then this may be due to over-plucking or using eyebrow gels in excess.
It is important to practice moderation when it comes to makeup and facial care products, and take extra care to remove any leftover product before going to sleep.
Thinning brows can also be caused by medical conditions, hormonal changes or stress.
There are ways to regrow eyebrow hair naturally, such as getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet, taking biotin supplements and applying castor oil to the area.
If those solutions don’t work, then consider using an eyebrow serum or balm or seeking professional help for a more permanent solution like microblading.
Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.
As well as owning Makeup Muddle, I also own GemmaEtc.com, and love sharing my thoughts and feelings about the greatest (and not so great) beauty products!