Why is it important to avoid touching or rubbing your eyes for eyelash growth?

Touching or rubbing your eyes can cause damage to your delicate eyelashes, resulting in breakage and stunted growth. Therefore, avoiding such habits can help your eyelashes grow long and strong.

What is Trichotillomania and how can it affect eyelash growth?

Trichotillomania is a disorder characterized by the irresistible urge to pull out one's own hair from various parts of the body, including the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. It can be caused due to stress or anxiety, and repeated pulling of eyelashes can lead to damage and hinder the growth of new eyelashes.

Why is washing your face important for the health of your eyelashes?

Washing your face helps remove dirt and dust build-up on your eyelashes, which can promote the health of your eyelashes and prevent them from falling out prematurely.

How should you wash your face if you have dry eye mucus on your eyelashes?

If you have dry eye mucus on your eyelashes, you should wash your face with warm water. Avoid using your fingers to remove the rheum, as this can cause your eyelashes to break and lead to premature loss.

Can rubbing your eyes cause wrinkles?

Yes, rubbing your eyes can cause wrinkles over time. This is because the skin around your eyes is delicate and can easily become damaged by the repeated pressure of rubbing. It's important to avoid rubbing your eyes as much as possible to prevent premature aging of the skin around your eyes.

How can stress impact the health of your eyelashes?

Stressful situations can cause trichotillomania, which is a voluntary urge to pull out your own eyelashes. This can damage your eyelashes and prevent them from growing as long and strong as they could.

What are some relaxing activities you can do to reduce stress and promote healthy eyelashes?

Reading a book, meditation, and yoga are all great activities that can help reduce stress and promote overall health, including the health of your eyelashes.

What is ashwagandha and how can it help reduce stress?

Ashwagandha is a herbal supplement that can act as an adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress and reduce its impact on your health. Some research suggests that ashwagandha may help decrease stress levels and improve overall well-being.

How can sleeping position impact the health of your eyelashes?

Sleeping on your side or stomach can create friction between your eyelashes and your pillow, which can cause your eyelashes to fall out and prevent them from growing as long and strong as they could. It can also cause facial wrinkles.

What is the best sleeping position for promoting healthy eyelashes?

Sleeping on your back is the best position for promoting healthy eyelashes, as it minimizes the amount of friction between your eyelashes and your pillow.

Is getting enough sleep important for the health of your eyelashes?

Yes, getting enough sleep is important for the overall health of your body, including your eyelashes. During sleep, your body has a chance to repair and regenerate itself, which can help promote the growth and health of your eyelashes.

What are some oils that can be applied to nourish and moisturize the eyelashes?

Coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, and aloe vera are all oils that may help keep the eyelashes moisturized and promote healthier eyelashes.

How should oils be applied to the eyelashes?

To apply oil to your eyelashes, use a clean brush or cotton swab and gently apply a small amount of the oil to the base of your lashes. Avoid getting the oil in your eyes, as this can cause irritation.

Can using moisturizing products help promote eyelash growth?

While moisturizing products won't directly promote eyelash growth, they can help keep the skin around your eyes healthy and prevent wrinkles, which can draw attention to your eyelashes.

What natural product has shown promising results in promoting eyelash growth?

A combination extract from two plant species, Coffee arabica and Jarilla, has shown promising results in improving eyelash growth.

Extra Long Eyelashes: How to Grow Them Naturally

Evidence-based. Credit goes to all researchers

One of the most common reasons for eyelashes not being able to fully grow is that we tend to rub our eyes vigorously when they start to itch, making them fall. Avoid eye rubbing, follow a nutritious diet, reduce stress, sleep well, and use natural oils to grow long, full eyelashes naturally.

1. Avoid Touching and Pulling Your Eyelashes 🚫

Your eyelashes are delicate. The easiest way to ensure your eyelashes grow long and strong is to avoid touching or rubbing your eyes.

Trichotillomanic is a disorder that causes you the irresistible urge to pull your own hair out from either your scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other parts of the body. You may not notice doing this and may be caused due to stress or anxiety (Jordan, 2007).

How long do eyelashes take to regrow?

Eyelashes take on average 4 – 10 weeks to regrow. This is the anagen (growth) phase of any new lashes (Aumond & Bitton, 2018).

Lashes usually fall on their own after 4 months and you may see 1-2 lashes being replaced daily (Mansour & El Jawhari, 2020).

How long can eyelashes grow?

The growth rate of eyelashes is 0.12mm – 0.14 mm a day with the max length they can achieve being 12mm (1.2cm) and rarely exceeding that (Aumond & Bitton, 2018).

How many eyelashes do we have?

Unlike hair, you only have about 90 to 160 eyelashes on your upper eyelid and 75 to 80 on your lower one (Aumond & Bitton, 2018). This makes it more noticeable if you end up losing many.

Wash

As part of your skincare routine, washing your face should be regular to avoid the build-up of dirt/dust on your eyelashes.

Wash your face with warm water if you have dry eye mucus (rheum) on the side of your eyes and on your eyelashes. Don’t use your fingers to remove your rheum, as this will just cause your eyelashes to break and rubbing your eyes will cause wrinkles.

Keynote

Don’t touch your eyes or rub them as it will cause your eyelash to fall off. Wash your face daily with warm water to remove dirt and break up and wash away any dried eye mucus (rheum).

2. Enhance Your Diet for Optimal Eyelash Growth😋

Nutrients	Sources
Beta carotene	Kale, Carrots, Spinach, Mango, Watermelon, Salmon, Butter, Cheddar
Carbs	Oats, Quinoa, Manuka Honey
Green tea polyphenols	Matcha (Green tea)
Iodine	Cod, Milk, Plain Yoghurt, Cottage Cheese, Shrimp, Tuna, Eggs
Iron	Spinach, Pumpkin seeds, Quinoa, Brocolli, Cacao powder, Tuna
Omega 3 fatty acids	Salmon, Trout, Sardines, Anchovy, Walnuts, Spinach
Protein (proline/glycine)	Chicken breast, eggs
Selenium	Chicken, Cottage cheese, Eggs, Oats, Spinach, Milk, Yogurt, Bananas
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	Egg yolks, Salmon, Tuna, Almonds, Chicken breast, Spinach, Cheese, Milk, Plain Yogurt
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	Chicken breast, Tuna, Salmon, Peanuts, Green Peas, Potatoes
Vitamin B7 (Biotin)	Egg Yolk, Salmon, Button mushrooms, Peanuts, Almonds, Walnuts, Sweet potatoes, Avocados, Brocolli, Bananas, Milk
Vitamin B9 (Folate)	Spinach, Brocolli, Eggs, Beets, Almonds, Walnuts, Bananas
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)	Tuna, Salmon, Milk, Cheese, Plain yoghurt, Eggs yolks
Vitamin C	Kale, Brocolli, Strawberries, Blackcurrent, Kiwi, Lemons, Oranges
Vitamin D	~20 min of midday sun exposure, Salmon, Tuna, Egg yolks
Vitamin E	Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Mango, Kiwi, Blackberries, Black Currents, Raspberries, Spinach, Brocolli
Zinc	Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds, Shrimp

Keynote

Focus on beta carotene, carbs, green tea polyphenols, iodine, iron, omega 3 fatty acids, protein (proline and glycine), selenium, vitamins B2, B3, B7, B9, B12, C, D and E and zinc.

3. Reduce Stress for Healthier Eyelashes 😰

Stressful situations can cause trichotillomania (voluntary urge to pull eyelashes) (Jordan, 2007).

To reduce stress and anxiety try doing relaxing activities such as reading a book, meditation or doing yoga daily.

Ashwagandha is a herbal supplement that can act as an adaptogen (help decrease stress) (Salve et al., 2019; Singh et al., 2011).

Keynote

Stress can trigger trichotillomania. To decrease stress, take ashwagandha and read a book, meditate or do yoga daily.

4. Prioritize Sleep for Longer Eyelashes 😴

Sleep on your back and not on your side or stomach as friction may cause you to lose eyelashes and also cause facial wrinkles.

Keynote

Sleep on your back to avoid friction eyelash loss.

5. Nourish Your Eyelashes with Oils🥰

Although not scientifically backed, applying coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil or aloe vera may help get healthier eyelashes by keeping them moisturised.

Keynote

Oils that may help eyelashes look healthier include castor, coconut, olive and aloe vera.

6. Use Moisturizing and Natural Products for Eyelash Growth🌿

Moisturise

When using your facial moisturiser and antioxidant serum, moisturise around and under your eyes to prevent dark circles and wrinkles. This will help people to focus more on your eyelashes.

Natural product for eyelash growth

A combination extract from two plant species, Coffee arabica and Jarilla shows promising results in improving eyelash growth (Alonso et al., 2019).

In a study done on premenopausal and postmenopausal women, a Jarilla- Coffea extract gel significantly increased the thickness and growth of eyelashes in a high percentage of the study’s volunteers (Alonso et al., 2019).

Keynote

Apply a facial moisturiser and an antioxidant serum around and under the eyes to prevent wrinkles and dark circles, so people focus on your eyelashes more. A Jarilla- Coffea extract gel can improve the thickness and growth of eyelashes.

Action to take ✍️

Don’t touch your eyes or rub them.
Wash your face daily with warm water.
Focus on beta carotene, carbs, green tea polyphenols, iodine, iron, omega 3 fatty acids, protein (proline and glycine), selenium, vitamins B2, B3, B7, B9, B12, C, D and E and zinc.
Take ashwagandha.
Read a book, meditate or do yoga daily.
Sleep on your back.
Apply either castor, coconut, olive or aloe vera.
Apply a facial moisturiser and an antioxidant serum under and around the eyes.
Apply a Jarilla- Coffea extract gel.

References 🤓

Alonso, M. R., Pérez Damonte, S. H., & Anesini, C. (2019). Jarilla–Coffea extract: a natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, Volume 12, 47–55. https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s182497

Aumond, S., & Bitton, E. (2018). The eyelash follicle features and anomalies: A review. Journal of Optometry, 11(4), 211–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optom.2018.05.003

Jordan, D. (2007). Eyelash Loss. Seminars in Plastic Surgery, 21(1), 032–036. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-967745

Mansour, A., & El Jawhari, K. (2020). <p>Lash Impaction in Meibomian Gland Orifice</p> Clinical Ophthalmology, Volume 14, 1245–1247. https://doi.org/10.2147/opth.s253263

Salve, J., Pate, S., Debnath, K., & Langade, D. (2019). Adaptogenic and Anxiolytic Effects of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Healthy Adults: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Clinical Study. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.6466

Singh, N., Bhalla, M., De Jager, P., & Gilca, M. (2011). An Overview on Ashwagandha: A Rasayana (Rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 8(5S). https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v8i5s.9

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Extra Long Eyelashes: How to Grow Them Naturally