Following a current popular beauty trend could lead to some undesired skin irritations and even skin parasite infestations, according to a study conducted by an ophthalmologist. The researchers found that young women who regularly get eyelash extensions often displayed symptoms of eye irritation, linked to issues with oil glands that usually help lubricate the eye and skin mites that made a home on the thick eyelash line.
The results of their study, presented at the annual congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), also suggested that basic hygiene practices could help mitigate those negative effects and make wearing lash extensions safer.
Eyelash Extensions Linked to Failed Eye Glands and Skin Mite Infection
The researchers surveyed 345 women between the ages of 16 and 28, finding that almost a quarter had tried eyelash extensions. Among those who regularly used them, more than half had the procedure every three to four weeks. Nearly half (47.6 percent) reported discomfort, redness, tearing, or itching afterward.
Skin mites from eyelash extensions under magnification.
(Image Credit: Tetiana Zhmud / ESCRS/CC BY-SA)
The team then looked more closely at the eyes of women who had undergone the procedure using meibography, an imaging technique that uses infrared light to view the meibomian glands through the eyelids. They found signs of dysfunction in 85 percent of these women, who had gotten extensions more than 10 times. When these tiny glands become blocked or don't produce enough oil, the eyes can become dry and irritated.
Explore All OptionsThe researchers also examined eyelash samples from 25 regular extension users under a microscope. As many as 24 of them had Demodex folliculorum, microscopic mites that can live around hair follicles. Eighteen women also showed signs of irritation associated with mite infestation, including itchy or inflamed eyelids, as well as redness, swelling, lashes sticking together, and flaky skin around the lash roots.
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The Right Hygiene Steps Matter
The researchers say the findings aren't a reason to give up eyelash extensions altogether. Instead, they point to the importance of keeping the eyelids clean and paying attention to symptoms.
For regular care, study author Tetiana Zhmud of the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, recommends a preservative-free, hypoallergenic gel formulated for therapeutic eyelid hygiene, used twice a day with an eyelash cleansing brush. If a D. folliculorum infestation is confirmed, anti-parasitic treatment may also be considered.
“Eyelash extensions are an extremely popular cosmetic procedure among young women because they provide the appearance of longer and fuller eyelashes without the need for mascara,” said Zhmud in a statement. “At the same time, there is growing evidence suggesting that this procedure may create problems on the surface of the eye, including irritation, dry eye symptoms, and meibomian gland dysfunction.”
Skin Mites Are Common But Not in Large Numbers in Young Women
The study has some important limitations. It was relatively small and didn't include a comparison group of women who didn't use eyelash extensions. The researchers say larger studies should compare people with and without extensions and examine whether the number of mites, how often extensions are applied, and eye symptoms are connected.
Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill, chair of the ESCRS Cornea Committee and a corneal and cataract specialist at UZ Brussel in Belgium, who was not involved in the study, noted that D. folliculorum mites are common, but aren't usually found in large numbers in younger women.
She also pointed out that the adhesive used for extensions is applied close to the roots of the natural lashes, potentially making the waxy “collarettes” associated with D. folliculorum harder to spot. These rings contain dead mites, their waste and eggs, along with skin and oil.
Still, finding D. folliculorum doesn't automatically mean something is wrong. The mites can be part of the normal microbes living around the eye.
“But it is important to detect them if they are causing symptoms, signs of inflammation and meibomian gland dysfunction,” she adds.
This article is not offering medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only.
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- This article references information from a presentation at the annual congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS)
