Dandruff On Eyelashes: Causes And Treatments

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 eyelash care and home remedies. Keep reading to learn more!

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:

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

A study to evaluate the prevalence of Demodex blepharitis in 1032 US patients visiting a clinic for different reasons found that 57.7% of them had Demodex blepharitis. It was also found that the prevalence of the condition was high amongst those with dry eye disease (58.9%) and cataracts (55.7%).

• 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 eyelash flakes that can also appear on yout 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

1. Drugstore Soaps
2. Baby Shampoo
3. Almond Oil
4. Tea Tree Oil
5. Warm Compress
6. Olive Oil
7. Aloe Vera Gel
8. Salt
9. Lemon Juice
10. Petroleum Jelly
11. Neem Leaves
12. Fenugreek Seeds

12 Simple And Effective Treatments For Dandruff On Eyelashes

1. Drugstore Soaps

Your best bet when treating dry eyelashes/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

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

2. Baby Shampoo

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 flaky eyelashes 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, thus improving your eyelash health.

What You Need

• Baby shampoo
• A glass of water
• Q-tips

What To Do

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

Quick Tip

Dilute baby shampoo with water before applying it to your eyelashes to reduce concentration of chemicals.

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 emollientⁱ  A substance or agent that helps moisturize the skin by forming a protective barrier on top of it to trap in moisture. that cleanses the skin and removes dead cells from around your eyes that could be causing dandruff. Additionally, it nourishes and moisturizes the eyelash follicles that, in turn, promotes new eyelash and eyebrow hair growth (4).

What You Need

• 1 tablespoon almond oil

What To Do

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

4. Tea Tree Oil

You can use tea tree oil for dandruff, as it is a very effective remedy. Here’s the thing about dandruff – a majority of the time, it is caused by a fungus called Malassezia. And tea tree oil has potent antifungalⁱ  A drug or agent used to treat fungal infections and help prevent or inhibit the growth of fungal species. 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

1. Pour the tea tree oil in a glass bowl and heat it in the microwave for a few seconds.
2. Use a cotton ball to apply this warm oil on your eyelashes and eyebrows.
3. Leave the oil on for 10 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.
4. 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 skin irritation that it brings with it. A warm compress is the perfect solution for getting some immediate relief from the redness, irritation, itchy eyelashes, and dryness.

What You Need

• Warm water
• Washcloth

What To Do

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

6. Olive Oil

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 sensitive 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

1. Heat the olive oil in a microwave for a few seconds.
2. Gently massage the warm oil onto your eyebrows and eyelashes.
3. Soak the washcloth in warm water and place it over your eyes.
4. Leave the warm washcloth on your eyes for 15 minutes.
5. Wash off the oil with some lukewarm water.
6. 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 eyelash fungus and bacteria 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

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

Quick Tip

Apply fresh aloe vera gel to your eyelashes to reduce the risk of side effects. Ensure you store the aloe vera in a sealed container inside your refrigerator for later use.

8. Salt

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 eyelash cleansing helping with 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

1. Add the salt to the water and mix it with a spoon until it dissolves completely.
2. Close your eyes and apply this salty water to your lash line and eyebrows, exfoliating gently with your fingers.
3. Wash off with some cool water.
4. 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. You can use lemon for dandruff, as it has citric acid, an antimicrobialⁱ  An agent used to treat microbial infections or prevent their growth in humans, animals, and plants. agent that gets rid of the fungal infection causing the issue (9).

What You Need

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ cup water
• Cotton ball

What To Do

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

10. Petroleum Jelly

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

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

11. Neem Leaves

Neem leaves have antifungal properties that combat the Malassezia fungus that causes eyebrow and lash dandruff (11).

What You Need

• 10-20 neem leaves
• 1 tablespoon warm water

What To Do

• Grind the neem leaves with a bit of water to make a paste.
• Apply the paste on the eyebrows and lashes.
• Let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Rinse it off with regular water.
• Repeat nightly until the dandruff subsides.

12. Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds possess antibacterial and antifungal properties that help eliminate the Malassezia fungus, which is responsible for causing dandruff (12), (13).

What You Need

• 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
• ¼ cup water

What To Do

• Soak the fenugreek seeds in water for several hours.
• Crush them into a coarse paste.
• Apply the paste on the eyebrows and lashes.
• Let it sit for 20 minutes.
• Rinse it off with regular water.
• Repeat daily for one week.

Apart from the remedies mentioned above, applying raw milk may help reduce dandruff on your eyelashes and eyebrows. Miriam James Sebastian, a beauty vlogger, shared her experience of using raw milk to treat the dandruff on her eyelashes and eyebrows. She said, “Applying raw milk and wiping the eyelashes with it and using castor oil before going to bed helped me to get rid of dandruff on my eyelashes. It has not come back for me ever since (i).”

These remedies show you how to get rid of dandruff and keep the problem at bay. However, 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 ophthalmologistⁱ  A physician in the branch of medicine who specializes in the diagnosis of eye diseases and vision care. .

Infographic: Natural Remedies For Dandruff On Eyelashes And Eyebrows

Dandruff on eyelashes and eyebrows is irritating and annoying. Though there are several remedies to treat it at home, there are a few that are natural and easily available. Here, we stress those natural remedies that can help treat dandruff on eyelashes and eyebrows. Check out the infographic below to know how to use them.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

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 glandsⁱ  Sebaceous or oil glands that line the margin of eyelids where the eyelashes are found and make oil that is important for tears. that are located in your eyelids.

Does eyebrow dandruff cause hair loss?

No, eyebrow dandruff cannot cause hair loss.

Is blepharitis caused by poor hygiene?

No, poor hygiene doesn’t cause blepharitis. However, good eyelid and eyelash hygiene practices can help manage the condition and reduce skin inflammation.

Why is there always crust on my eyelashes?

Crust forms when the eye discharge dries on the lashes, lids, or corners of the eyes. Dandruff may also cause crust on the eyelashes.

Can I apply cleanser to my eyebrows?

Yes, you may wash the eyebrows with a mild, gentle, and ophthalmologically tested cleanser.

Can blepharitis cause you to lose your eyelashes?

Yes, in severe cases of blepharitis, you may start losing eyelashes or notice abnormal lash growth.

When should I go to the doctor for dandruff on my eyelashes and eyebrows?

If home remedies do not work and you experience swelling, redness, excessive discharge, crusty eyelashes and irritation, it is best to consult your doctor.

Illustration: Simple Treatments For Dandruff On Eyelashes And Eyebrows

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

From causes to treatments, you get to know all about blepharitis and its symptoms. Check out the video below to learn more about this condition and how to manage it from a professional.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Vindhya L VeerulaMD, FAAD

   

Dr. Veerula (Dr. V) is a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons. She is an energetic, proactive, and compassionate medical practitioner with 5 years of experience and a thorough understanding of overall mind-body-spiritual wellness.

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Arshiya SyedaCo-Editor-in-Chief

 

Arshiya Syeda is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of StyleCraze with 8 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer who combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends.

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