Normal daily eyelash shedding is about 1 to 5 lashes. Finding an occasional lash on your cheek, pillow or makeup remover is usually normal.
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| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Normal daily eyelash shedding | About 1 to 5 lashes |
| Why lashes fall out | The natural hair-growth cycle |
| When to seek advice | Sudden, patchy or excessive loss |
| Do lashes grow back? | Usually, if the follicle is healthy |
Why Do Eyelashes Shed?
Eyelashes shed as part of their natural growth cycle. Each lash passes through three stages:
- Anagen: The lash grows.
- Catagen: Growth stops and the follicle shrinks.
- Telogen: The lash rests before it falls out.
Eyelashes have a shorter growth phase than scalp hair, so they stay relatively short and are replaced throughout the year. They grow at approximately 0.12 to 0.15 millimetres per day.
Shedding usually happens gradually, so you may not notice every lash that falls out.
Is Losing More Than Five Lashes a Day Abnormal?
Losing more than five lashes in a day is not necessarily abnormal. Daily shedding varies, and counting every lash is difficult.
Noticeably increased or sudden eyelash loss can be linked to irritation, eyelid inflammation, rubbing, makeup removal, eyelash curlers, extensions or an underlying health condition.
Consider seeing an optometrist, ophthalmologist or dermatologist if you notice:
- Bare patches or obvious gaps
- Eyelashes falling out in clumps
- Loss from one eye only
- Redness, swelling, crusting, itching or pain
- Eyebrow or scalp hair loss at the same time
- Vision changes or ongoing eye irritation
How Can You Reduce Unnecessary Eyelash Shedding?
You can reduce avoidable lash loss by:
- Removing eye makeup gently, without pulling the lashes
- Avoiding rubbing or tugging your eyelids
- Replacing old eye makeup regularly
- Using eyelash curlers carefully and without excessive pressure
- Taking care with eyelash extensions, since glue, traction and rubbing can damage natural lashes or their follicles
Occasional eyelash shedding is usually part of the normal growth cycle. Sudden, patchy or painful loss should be checked by an eye-care or skin-care professional.