Acquired causes of eyebrow and eyelash loss: A review and approach to diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Eyebrows and eyelashes serve important anatomical and social functions, and hair loss at these sites can impact patients significantly. Acquired eyebrow and eyelash loss (madarosis) may be due to a variety of underlying local or systemic disease processes; in other cases it may be idiopathic. There is a dearth of literature relating to eyebrow and eyelash loss, and there is limited guidance to help clinicians treat these clinical presentations in comparison with scalp alopecia.Here, we discuss the acquired causes of eyebrow and eyelash alopecia, our clinical approach to diagnosis and review treatment options for clinicians.

Eyelash Loss: An Unusual Manifestation of Uncontrolled Hypothyroidism

“…In our patient's case, nearly complete restoration of eyelashes occurred within just 12 weeks of restarting levothyroxine therapy. However, it's essential to acknowledge that there are instances where treatment may not fully restore hair growth [4,7].…”

“…Madarosis divides into superciliary madarosis (loss of eyebrows) and ciliary madarosis (loss of eyelashes), commonly referred to as milphosis. The causes of madarosis are extensive and varied, rooted in autoimmune, endocrinological, infectious, genetic, neoplastic, nutritional, and traumatic sources [3][4][5]. It is frequently associated with several conditions including psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, eyelid trauma, blepharitis, hereditary ectodermal dysplasia syndrome, as well as side effects from certain medications like anticoagulants and antithyroid drugs, infections such as shingles and tuberculosis, cancers like sebaceous gland carcinoma, and exposure to toxic substances such as arsenic and excessive vitamin A [3][4][5].…”

“…The causes of madarosis are extensive and varied, rooted in autoimmune, endocrinological, infectious, genetic, neoplastic, nutritional, and traumatic sources [3][4][5]. It is frequently associated with several conditions including psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, eyelid trauma, blepharitis, hereditary ectodermal dysplasia syndrome, as well as side effects from certain medications like anticoagulants and antithyroid drugs, infections such as shingles and tuberculosis, cancers like sebaceous gland carcinoma, and exposure to toxic substances such as arsenic and excessive vitamin A [3][4][5]. Moreover, madarosis has been connected with a range of endocrine disorders including hyperthyroidism, pituitary insufficiency, hypoparathyroidism, and pituitary necrosis syndrome [6,7].…”

Answer to: Acquired causes of eyebrow and eyelash loss: A review and approach to diagnosis and treatment

“…Dear Editor, We would like to thank Dr. Mumford and collaborators for presenting such an interesting work in their article entitled 'Acquired causes of eyebrow and eyelash loss: A review and approach to diagnosis and treatment', published earlier in this journal. 1 We would like to focus on the infective section of the original article, where the main causes of eyelash and eyebrow alopecia are mentioned in order of frequency. Among these causes, primary or secondary staphylococcal blepharitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, acute eczema, herpes zoster, secondary syphilis and lepromatous leprosy (to a lesser extent, tuberculoid leprosy) are highlighted.…”

“…Ana Paulina González-Escalante MD 1 León Felipe Ruiz-Arriaga MD 2 Roberto Arenas MD 3 Brenda Alejandra Hermosillo-Cardoza MD 4 Nixma Eljure-López MD 4 Carlos Enrique Atoche-Dieguez MD 4 1 Department of Pediatrics, Hospital General "Dr.…”