10 Simple Treatments For Dandruff On Eyelashes And Eyebrows

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Vindhya L Veerula, MD, FAAD
July 4, 2022 By Arshiya Syeda

It is bad enough that you have dandruff on your head. When you start noticing dandruff on your eyelashes and eyebrows, your aggravation may reach new heights. While dandruff on various areas of your face is irritating, it is not a cause for alarm or a significant health problem. You can treat this condition with several simple at-home remedies. But let’s look at what causes eyelash and eyebrow dandruff before we get into the home remedies. Keep reading to learn more!

In This Article

Causes Of Dandruff On Eyelashes And Eyebrows

There are two conditions that can be potentially responsible for the appearance of dandruff on your eyelashes and eyebrows:

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Blepharitis: Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelid margin, and can be caused by a bacterial/fungal infection, dry eyes, meibomian gland dysfunction or demodex eyelash mites. The dandruff on eyelashes caused by it can be accompanied by burning, irritation, and grittiness in the eye (1).

Seborrheic dermatitis: Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, the cause of which is relatively unknown. However, it is characterized by white or yellowish dandruff flakes that can appear on your eyelashes, eyebrows, behind the ears, and various other parts of your body (2).

Though the names of these skin conditions may sound alarming, there really is no need to be worried. The dandruff caused by them can be treated quite easily with some simple at-home remedies. However, there are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind before you try out any of them:

The eye area is extremely delicate and you need to be cautious when applying anything on it.
Avoid getting harsh chemicals into your eyes.
Do not use your anti-dandruff shampoos on your lashes as they contain chemicals that can cause damage to your eyes.

Best Treatments For Dandruff On Eye Lashes And Eyebrows

10 Simple And Effective Treatments For Dandruff On Eyelashes

1. Drugstore Soaps

Your best bet when treating eyelash/eyebrow dandruff problem would have to be a pyrithione zinc soap that you can find at your local drugstore. A soap containing pyrithione zinc works very well as it actively reduces the flakiness, redness, and irritation caused by eyelash dandruff and brings about a soothing effect (3).

What You Need

Pyrithione zinc-based soap
Water

What To Do

Dampen the soap with some water and rub it between your hands.
Shut your eyes tightly and gently rub the soap onto your eyelashes and eyebrows.
Wash off the soap thoroughly with water.
Follow this routine twice a day.

2. Baby Shampoo

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When dealing with any condition around your eyes, it is of paramount importance that you use treatments that are gentle and non-irritating. Which is why baby shampoo works excellently as it is not only soothing but also cleanses clogged pores and oil buildup up on your lash line and brows that could be causing inflammation. Moreover, it can help get rid of the bacterial/fungal infection that is causing the dandruff in the first place.

What You Need

Baby shampoo
A glass of water
Q-tips

What To Do

Squirt one pump of baby shampoo in a glass and mix it well.
Dip a Q-tip into this solution.
Dampen your eye area with some warm water.
Close your eye and hold your eyelid taut with one hand.
Run the Q-tip over the lash line and eyebrows a couple of times.
Wash off the solution after a few seconds.
Repeat this routine twice a day.

3. Almond Oil

Talk of any hair troubles (even if it’s your eyebrows and eyelashes) can never be complete without mentioning almond oil. Almond oil works as an emollient that cleanses the skin and removes dead cells from around your eyes that could be causing dandruff. Additionally, it nourishes and moisturizes the hair follicles that, in turn, promotes new eyelash and eyebrow hair growth (4).

What You Need

1 tablespoon almond oil

What To Do

Pour a tablespoon of almond oil in a glass bowl and heat it for a few seconds.
Gently massage the warm almond oil on your eyelashes and eyebrows before going to bed. Leave it on overnight.
Wash off with cool water the next morning.
Follow this routine daily.

4. Tea Tree Oil

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Here’s the thing about tea tree oil – a majority of the time, it is caused by a fungus called Malassezia. And tea tree oil has potent antifungal properties that help get rid of this fungus and, consequently, the dandruff it creates on your eyelashes and eyebrows (5).

What You Need

1 tablespoon tea tree oil
Cotton balls

What To Do

Pour the tea tree oil in a glass bowl and heat it in the microwave for a few seconds.
Use a cotton ball to apply this warm oil on your eyelashes and eyebrows.
Leave the oil on for 10 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.
Follow this routine 3 times a day.

5. Warm Compress

Eyelash and eyebrow dandruff can be quite frustrating to get. But what can be even more distressing is the redness and irritation that it brings with it. A warm compress is the perfect solution for getting some immediate relief from this redness, irritation, itchiness, and dryness.

What You Need

Warm water
Washcloth

What To Do

Take some warm water in a bowl and let the hand towel soak in it for a few minutes.
Place the towel over your eyes and leave it on for 15 minutes. You can re-soak the towel every time it cools down.
Follow this routine daily.

6. Olive Oil

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Dryness plays a crucial role in the development of dandruff on your eyelashes and eyebrows. And the only way to combat it is with moisture. Olive oil is a great moisturizing agent that can hydrate the skin around your lashes and brows and may help get rid of dandruff (6).

What You Need

1 tablespoon olive oil
Warm water
Washcloth

What To Do

Heat the olive oil in a microwave for a few seconds.
Gently massage the warm oil onto your eyebrows and eyelashes.
Soak the washcloth in warm water and place it over your eyes.
Leave the warm washcloth on your eyes for 15 minutes.
Wash off the oil with some lukewarm water.
Follow this routine daily.

7. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is one of those ingredients that acts as an all-around threat to dandruff. Not only does it expel the bacteria/fungus that could be causing eyelash dandruff, it also soothes the irritation and redness caused by it. Moreover, it stimulates hair follicles and promotes new hair growth (7), (8).

What You Need

Aloe vera gel
Cotton ball

What To Do

Shut your eyes and hold our eyelid taut with one hand.
Apply some aloe vera gel to your lash line and eyebrows with the help of a cotton ball.
Leave it on for 5 minutes before washing it off with some lukewarm water.
Follow this routine daily.

8. Salt

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Now, the idea of applying salt anywhere near your eyes may seem strange to you but it actually works pretty well in getting rid of eyelash dandruff. It does so by cleansing clogged pores, absorbing excess oil that could be causing the build up on your lash line and eyebrows, and preventing fungal infection that could lead to dandruff.

What You Need

1 tablespoon salt
¼ cup water

What To Do

Add the salt to the water and mix it with a spoon until it dissolves completely.
Close your eyes and apply this salty water to your lash line and eyebrows, exfoliating gently with your fingers.
Wash off with some cool water.
Follow this routine daily.

9. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a great ingredient for getting rid of eyelash and eyebrow dandruff as it contains citric acid. Citric acid is an antimicrobial agent that helps get rid of the fungal infection that is causing the dandruff (9).

What You Need

1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ cup water
Cotton ball

What To Do

Dilute a tablespoon of lemon juice in ¼ cup water.
Close your eyes and apply this solution to your eyelashes and eyebrows with the help of a cotton ball.
Keep your eyes closed and leave the lemon juice solution on for 5 minutes.
Wash off the solution with cool water.
Follow this routine twice a day.

10. Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly for dandruff on eyelashes

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Dandruff on eyelashes and eyebrows can be caused by dry skin. There’s just a simple reason why petroleum jelly helps combat this problem. It’s because petroleum jelly moisturizes your skin and prevents dry skin from flaking off and causing dandruff (10).

What You Need

Petroleum jelly

What To Do

Apply a little bit of the petroleum jelly on your lash line and eyebrows with your fingers before going to sleep.
Wash it off the next morning with some lukewarm water.
Follow this routine every night.

Besides using these at-home treatments, there are a few tips that you can follow on a daily basis to prevent dandruff from appearing on eyelashes and eyebrows.

Tips

Makeup and dirt buildup on your eyelashes and eyebrows can lead to dandruff. Therefore, remove makeup and cleanse your eye area every night with a good makeup remover to keep dandruff at bay.
Drink lots of water, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid consuming caffeine, alcohol, and junk food to prevent any skin and hair conditions.
If you see dandruff flakes appearing on your eyelashes and eyebrows, refrain from using makeup for some time.
Drink lots of water (at least 10-12 glasses a day).
Take a multivitamin.
As you grow older, your body produces less hyaluronic acid that is actually responsible for protecting and hydrating your eyes. You could start using hyaluronic acid eye drops.
If all else fails and your eyelash and eyebrow dandruff persists, consult an ophthalmologist.

That was everything you needed to know about dandruff on your eyelashes and eyebrows. To recap, dandruff appears on your lashes and brows because of blepharitis or seborrheic dermatitis. While these conditions may sound scary, the dandruff caused by these conditions can be treated easily. Applying almond, tea tree, or olive oil to your brows and lashes may decrease dandruff there. Other treatment options include using soaps with pyrithione zinc or baby shampoo, placing a warm compress over the affected area, and applying aloe vera gel, salt, lemon juice, or petroleum jelly. Scroll back up to learn how to use these remedies effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop my eyes from being so dry?

There are two main reasons why your eyes are dry. First, it could be because you live in an area that has high levels of air pollution. Second, it could be because you live in a high-altitude region where the air is typically drier.

What is the main cause of blepharitis?

Blepharitis can be caused by a bacterial infection (staphylococcus) or if there is a problem with the meibomian glands that are located in your eyelids.

Does eyebrow dandruff cause hair loss?

No, eyebrow dandruff cannot cause hair loss.

Sources

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