Fake eyelashes make women turn ‘bald’

0 Comments | Daily Mail (London, England), The, July 17, 2010

WHEN it comes to a woman’s eyelashes, fashion dictates that big and batable is best.

But it seems the popularity of false eyelashes has fuelled an unwelcome side effect.

Growing numbers of women are turning to hair transplant surgery after damaging their natural lashes through repeat use of false ones and extensions, experts said yesterday.

A specialist in intricate hair transplant surgery has been approached by more and more young female patients left with a bald patch on their eyelid.

The glue used to fix the lashes can pull natural eyelashes out as the fake set is removed, and if repeated frequently can stop hair growing.

Such is the popularity of false eyelashes – sported by celebrities from Cheryl Cole to Katie Price – that some women wear up to three pairs at the same time for maximum impact.

Dr Bessam Farjo, of the Manchesterbased Farjo Medical Centre, said: ‘We’re seeing a significant number of enquiries from patients who have suffered from damage caused by repeatedly wearing false eyelashes. As with any hair follicle, eyelashes will cease to grow if they are repeatedly plucked out at the root.’ His procedure removes hair from the back of a patient’s head and implants it into the eyelid. The implants grow just like head hair and need regular trimming.

Over the last 12 months, with Debenhams reported a 1,000 per cent increase in sales of fake eyelashes.