- simon machado
- BBC News Brazil
image source, Getty Images
Although it may seem harmless, the continuous use of false eyelashes and lack of care can cause various problems.
A fan of eyelash extensions for almost a year, the Brazilian nurse Valéria Campos never imagined that she might develop some type of allergy when performing the procedure.
However, four months following maintaining these false threads – when she returned to the salon to put on only the lashes that had fallen out over time – she noticed that something was wrong.
The nurse reports that three hours following the procedure, your eyelids began to become red, swollen, and painful.
“The professional used the same materials that I was already used to. But as the hours passed, my eye swelled up and hurt more and more,” recalls Valéria.
Since it was Saturday night, she had to wait until the next morning to go back to the salon to remove her false eyelashes.
After removing them, she went to the emergency room of a hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where she was referred for emergency eye care.
image source, Personal file
Three hours following the procedure, Valéria Campos noticed that her eyelids were red, swollen, and painful.
“I practically mightn’t sleep that night, it was 3 in the morning when I woke up and I mightn’t open my eyes anymore. According to the doctor, I had an infection, but I didn’t know if it was from the glue or the synthetic eyelash that was used.” Add.
To fully recover from the infection, Valéria needed antibiotics for seven days. Although the problem did not affect her vision at all, she says her natural lashes did not grow back or have the volume they had prior to the extension procedure.
“The number of eyelashes I have has decreased because I had a lot of hair loss. natural hairs“he concludes.
synthetic threads
Finding long, voluminous lashes beautiful, psychology student Adne Lucilla Carvalho Santos decided to perform the extension procedure with synthetic threads for the first time in July.
What I didn’t expect was that I would have an allergic reaction.
Minutes following finishing the procedure, the university student recalls that she began to feel discomfort in her eyes. The first symptoms of the infection were redness and burning.
image source, Personal file
A white spot on Adne’s eye reveals an injury she had.
“I knew it wasn’t normal to feel that pain and the next day I had a sore on my eye. I sought eye care and the doctor warned me regarding the dangers of wearing eyelash extensions. I had to take antibiotics and use an ointment to relieve the pain and irritation,” he recalls.
Figuring the allergy was due to a specific product used by the professional who applied her lashes, following the treatment Adne looked for another salon to replace the extensions. But once once more she had an allergic reaction.
“I woke up at dawn and mightn’t open my eyes, I went to the bathroom and saw that they were very stuck together and with a lot of discharge. I had to use the medicine once more and I saw that having eyelash extensions is not for me,” adds the university student .
Eyelash extensions and their risks
The eyelash extension procedure is nothing more than “gluing” synthetic or silk threads to each strand of the natural eyelash, making them look longer and more voluminous.
For this type of procedure a special glue is used.
“If it’s posible, make a test with the substance that will be used in the extensionespecially those people who tend to have irritation when using chemical products”, explains the doctor Ediléia Bagatin, coordinator of the Department of Dermatological Cosmiatry of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology.
“This test is generally applied to the inner region of the arm and not to the eye. If following three days there is no allergic reaction, the person can do it a little more safely,” he adds.
Although it seems harmless, the continued use of false eyelashes, the lack of proper cleaning and care can cause various problems, ranging from the natural fall of the hairs that protect the eyesleaving them exposed and unprotected, to more serious pathologies such as corneal ulcers.
“The eyelashes have the function of protecting the eyes from the entry of light, dust and other fragments that remain suspended in the air. Particles and residues of possible allergens are deposited there daily. The most common complication associated with eyelash extensions is blepharitis, followed by allergic conjunctivitis, corneal lesions, loss or breakage of natural eyelashes,” explains Claudia Del Claro, an ophthalmologist who is a member of the board of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology.
image source, Personal file
The nurse Valéria Campos reports that her natural eyelashes did not grow back and have the volume prior to the procedure.
The glue used is a very important factor in avoiding allergies and problems such as keratitis (chemical burns).
Also, fake hairs require more attention with cleaning: impurities increase the risk of eye contamination.
“To try to minimize complications, cleaning the eyelids and eyelashes with a specific non-greasy product is indicated, or even with a neutral shampoo, twice a day. It is very common for patients to avoid washing their eyelashes for fear that they will extensions fall out, but the opposite is true. Eyelash extensions fall out prematurely when they are not cleaned,” adds Del Claro.
What is keratitis and blepharitis?
Improper placement or maintenance of eyelash extensions, or even misuse of these false threads, can trigger some eye diseases.
This is because in the eyelash region there are also several glands in charge of lubricating the eyes, which can be affected following the procedure.
The keratitisone of the most common conditions, is characterized by the appearance of small superficial wounds that can arise from the direct trauma of the glue used to lengthen the eyelashes with the ocular surface.
These lesions, although superficial, are quite painful and are usually accompanied by a sensation of having something in the eye, tearing, redness and swelling of the eyelid.
The blepharitis It is an inflammation of the eyelid that causes redness, itching and accumulation of secretion. In this disease, the fat present in human tears accumulates on the eyelid, increasing the risk of bacteria growing there.
“When noticing any discomfort following placing the eyelashes, the first thing to do is to wash the area with saline solution to remove possible contaminants that have reached the eye,” says Patrícia Akaishi, an ophthalmologist at the Hospital de Clínicas de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad from São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto.
“And if the problem persists, it is advisable to seek medical help to ensure that no glue or thread remains on the ocular surface and start treatment,” he adds.
Also, wearing eyelash extensions for a long time can affect the arch formation of the natural hair strands, causing them to no longer align properly. This is because the material used in the extensions is heavier than natural hairs.
“I particularly do not recommend the use of eyelash extensions because it is a procedure with a high rate of complications, which can lead to the permanent loss of eyelashes, which are so important for the protection of the eyes. Even glue can reach the eyes, leaving permanent vision scars,” adds Del Claro.
What to do in case of irritation
- Rinse eye with clean running water.
- Clean the eye with saline solution.
- Do not rub your eye (if you have a wound, it can get worse).
- Do not try to remove any object that is inside the eyeball.
- Seek medical help.
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