MIAMI – False eyelashes are popular among women everywhere for length and volume. However, they can also cause unwanted reactions and spread infections.
The glue is the most harmful part. The most common chemical in glue that can be problematic is formaldehyde. Also, the lashes may come from animal hair. Both are possible allergens that can cause your delicate eyelids to swell, itch, scale, and cause you to lose your eyelashes entirely.
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ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Deausha Tillis, 22, knows eyelash extensions are all the rage and she likes this look, but she's seeking a consultation at Advanced Dermatology on how to keep using them even though she's prone to bad reactions.
“I'm not sure if it was the type of lash I was using or the glue but I’ve changed both,” Tillis said. “My eyes got really puffy, the skin around my eyes got puffy and red and I started developing styes.”
Dr. Sherry Ingraham said as false lashes gain popularity she's seeing what was once a rare allergic reaction to formaldehyde becoming more common.
“It may happen with the third, fourth, fifth set, it can develop at any time. So you may want to ask your place that you go to (the studio or salon), do you have a formaldehyde-free or a low-formaldehyde product to use?” Ingraham said.
EXPOSING THE EYE TO DIRT AND BACTERIA
Cheryl Lang had a severe reaction.
“I thought I was going blind!” Lang said.
Her reaction was different than an allergy.
“My eyelid was shedding skin and I didn’t know it, so it was going into my eye. So what happens is, your normal eyelashes protect you from getting stuff in your eye but when you have extensions and they're so full, they can't do their job,” Lang explained.
As a result, she lost the look she was aiming for entirely.
“My eyes were so inflamed, they couldn't use the stuff they use to dissolve the glue,” Lang said. “They had to cut them out so I had no eyelashes, it was just awful.”
It was a shocking realization after she paid a popular boutique a pretty penny to apply them for her.
WEIGHT OF EXTENSIONS YANK NATURAL LASHES
Ingraham warns her patients that no matter the cost, or the kind, the weight of the extensions could also damage your natural lashes.
“Eventually the nice, normal, healthy lash that you have gets pulled out or several of them do,” Ingraham said. “It's a vicious cycle: you get them put on, they look great, it's too heavy, it's too much and then you want to fill them even more! It just becomes a necessary evil to keep them looking good but you’re really damaging your own lashes.”
USING THEM SAFELY
The key to safely using store-bought strips, Ingraham says is to use a sensitive glue only on the lash line. When you take them off, use a mild cleanser to clean them every day or throw them out and buy a fresh set.
If you keep them on longer than a day or reapply them without cleansing, you may be transferring bacteria back and forth from the lashes to your eyes which can cause scaling, swelling and infections like pink eye.
Ingraham said if you’re going to splurge on boutique extensions it’s best to do research to find a reputable place. She said to opt for the sensitive lashes or treatment. Ingraham said this option may be more expensive, might not last as long or may need more frequent maintenance, but she said that’s the best way to avoid harsh chemical exposure.
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