Eyebrows, often considered the frame of the face, play a crucial role in expressing emotions and enhancing overall appearance. Therefore, it can be distressing to notice them thinning. While losing eyebrow hair is not as common as scalp hair loss, it's a concern that can be equally upsetting. Multiple factors can contribute to this issue, ranging from grooming habits and aging to underlying medical conditions and nutritional deficiencies. Understanding these potential causes is the first step toward addressing the problem and restoring eyebrow health.
Like the hair on our heads, eyebrow hair undergoes changes as we age. As people get older, hair can become coarser or thinner due to a lack of elasticity. By the age of 50, approximately 40% of women experience visible hair loss, which can include eyebrow thinning. The hair growth cycle slows down, and follicles become less active, resulting in finer, sparser eyebrow hair that grows back more slowly. Genetics can also play a role; if your family has a history of thin eyebrows, you may be more prone to experiencing it yourself.
Hormonal fluctuations throughout life stages like puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can significantly impact hair growth, including eyebrow hair. Conditions like thyroid disease, postpartum recovery, and menopause can cause hair loss as a common symptom. Abrupt hormone changes can cause sudden hair loss (telogen effluvium) that recovers over about six months. Nanette Santoro, M.D., ob/gyn and professor of reproductive endocrinology at the University of Colorado at Denver, says, “It happens postpartum to many women and can happen at menopause.”
The thyroid hormones T3 & T4 function to reduce the loss of hair follicles; T4 also extends the duration of the ‘anagen’ (growth phase) of the hair. Not enough T4 & T3 leads to not enough hair growth, as well as more hair follicles becoming dormant. The ratio of the telogen phase (resting phase of hair growth) to the anagen phase is increased in both hypo and hyperthyroidism leading to issues with hair growth.
High stress levels can trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium, affecting hair on the scalp and areas like the eyebrows. Telogen effluvium prematurely causes hair follicles to enter the shedding stage, resulting in hair loss. Stressors like illness, severe lack of sleep, psychological stress or trauma, major surgery, or childbirth can contribute to this condition. Fortunately, stress-related hair loss is usually temporary, and addressing the root cause of stress can help the body and mind heal, leading to improved hair growth.
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Nutritional deficiencies can also contribute to telogen effluvium. Insufficient intake of protein, iron, biotin, and vitamins can affect hair and brows. Eating enough protein, in particular, is critical to maintaining healthy hair. Some studies have shown that zinc deficiency may lead to poor growth or loss of eyebrows and eyelashes. In extreme cases, anemia and iron deficiency may be to blame for thinning brows. Rajani Katta, M.D., a dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, who studies the link between nutrition and hair loss, says, “Even if you don’t have anemia, and you have low levels of stored iron, that could contribute to hair loss.”
Excessive tweezing, waxing, and processing can cause trauma to eyebrow hair follicles, potentially leading to permanent damage and hair loss. While a single overzealous tweezing session may not cause permanent baldness, repeated trauma over time can damage the hair-producing cells.
Several medical conditions can contribute to thinning eyebrows, including:
Alopecia Areata: An autoimmune disorder where the body attacks hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows, and other parts of the body.
Psoriasis: A chronic skin condition that can develop on any part of the body, including the eyebrow area. It causes the body to produce skin cells at an abnormally fast pace, leading to thickened skin and plaques, which can result in hair loss.
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Eczema: An inflammatory skin condition that causes dry, scaly, and itchy skin. When eczema develops above the eyes, it can lead to thinning eyebrows (also known as Hertoghe's sign or Queen Anne's sign).
Thyroid Disorders: Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) occurs when the thyroid doesn't manufacture enough hormones, leading to hair loss, including the outer third of the eyebrows (Hertoghe's sign). Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can also contribute to hair loss.
Infections: Infections like syphilis and ringworm can cause eyebrow hair loss. Syphilis may cause patchy hair loss along the eyebrows, face, scalp, and body, while ringworm can trigger itchy skin, a rash in a ring shape, and cracked, scaly skin along with eyebrow hair loss.
Lichen Planopilaris: A rare condition that causes inflammation of the skin and mucus membranes, leading to scarring and hair loss on the scalp or eyebrows. Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a possible subtype of lichen planopilaris that more commonly affects postmenopausal women.
Trichotillomania: A condition where people pull hairs out of their eyebrows as a self-calming habit, often without realizing they are doing it.
Certain medications and treatments can also cause eyebrow thinning, including:
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy for cancer treatment can result in eyebrow thinning and hair loss from the scalp and other parts of the body.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy performed on the head may also result in losing eyebrows.
The approach to addressing thinning eyebrows depends on the underlying cause. Here are some strategies to consider:
Thyroid Medication: For hypothyroidism, healthcare providers often prescribe thyroid replacement medication to balance hormone levels and control the condition, allowing hair to regrow.
Antifungal Medication: Ringworm infections are typically treated with over-the-counter or prescription antifungal medications.
Corticosteroid Injections: For alopecia areata, doctors may recommend injecting the affected areas with corticosteroids to encourage hair regrowth.
Antimalarial Medication: Lichen planopilaris may be treated with antimalarial medication.
Topical Minoxidil: The over-the-counter topical medication minoxidil may be recommended to support regrowth in the eyebrow area and on the scalp.
Latisse: Your doctor may recommend the prescription treatment Latisse to help restore thinning eyebrows.
Balanced Diet: Eating a balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals can help prevent eyebrow thinning due to nutritional deficiencies. Consider a daily multivitamin or supplements designed to address hair loss.
Stress Management: Practicing stress-reducing activities like meditation, gentle exercise, or spa treatments can help manage stress-related hair loss.
Gentle Grooming: Avoid overgrooming your eyebrows. Allow them to grow back naturally for a few months, and tweeze only stray hairs. Seek professional help for shaping and other services like brow lamination, tinting, and waxing.
Eyebrow Pencils, Powders, and Gels: These can be used to fill in and define brows for a natural look.
Microblading: A semipermanent way to fill in brows that looks more natural than permanent makeup or tattooing. A cosmetic technician applies pigment in natural, hair-like strokes to the skin under your brows with a blade. Touch-ups are needed about once every 18 months.
Microshading: Similar to microblading, but the pigment is applied in tiny dots for a powdered brow look.
Eyebrow Tinting: Permanent or semipermanent hair dye can make your eyebrows look fuller and thicker.
Eyebrow Transplants: A more permanent solution for eyebrow hair loss. A plastic surgeon extracts hair follicles from your head and places them in tiny slits made in your eyebrows.
There are serums and supplements that can help boost hair growth, depending on the root cause of the loss. Replenishing essential proteins, like elastin, can help restore your brows.
While you can't stop all causes of thinning eyebrows, you can take steps to care for your brows and minimize potential damage:
Madarosis is the medical term for any condition or issue that makes your eyebrows or eyelashes fall out. Madarosis that makes your eyebrows fall out is called superciliary madarosis. Madarosis that affects your eyelashes is called ciliary madarosis. It’s different than the usual amount of hair or eyelashes you lose every day.
Some conditions that cause madarosis lead to scarring on or under your skin. These are called scarring madarosis. Other conditions don’t cause any scarring. These are called non-scarring madarosis.
If you notice sudden hair loss or thinning eyebrows, it's essential to consult a doctor to check for any underlying health issues. A dermatologist can help with skin, hair, and eyebrow problems, while your primary care physician can check for nutrient deficiencies and common health issues.
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