Lash loss can be distressing, but a certain amount of it is actually pretty normal. So how many eyelashes do you lose in a day? If all is going well, the number is pretty small. In some cases, however, lash loss can indicate that you’re not gentle enough with your lashes or have an underlying health issue. This post explores everything you need to know about losing lashes.
Table of Contents
- IS LASH LOSS NORMAL?
- AVERAGE DAILY LASH LOSS
- WHY ARE MY LASHES FALLING OUT?
- WHEN DO YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT LASH LOSS?
- TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR LASHES HEALTHY
- FLUTTERING FAREWELL
IS LASH LOSS NORMAL?
Our lashes go through a growth and shedding cycle, so losing a few lashes a day is perfectly normal. If you notice a few lashes dropping to your cheeks over the course of a day or coming off on your cotton pad at the end of the night, there’s no need to worry.
In fact, losing a lash is usually a signal that you have a hair follicle moving into its anagen phase, which is the phase when a new lash starts to grow. For that to happen, the old lash no longer growing must fall out first.
However, if you’re losing a lot of lashes every day, you might be experiencing abnormal lash loss, which might require some action. This post explains what can cause lash loss and what you should do depending on the cause.
AVERAGE DAILY LASH LOSS
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, losing between one and five lashes per eye each day is normal. This is part of the natural lash growth cycle, which takes roughly 60 to 90 days from when a new lash starts growing until it sheds. The average person has 90 to 160 lashes on the upper lid of each eye and 75 to 80 on the lower lid, so losing 1 to 5 lashes a day is a tiny fraction of the total. If you lose more than five lashes one day but only one or two on another, there's probably no cause for concern.
WHY ARE MY LASHES FALLING OUT?
Depending on how many lashes you’re losing per day, any of the following could be the reason why:
Your Natural Lash Cycle
The main reason lashes fall out is simply because they reach the end of their life cycle and must fall out so a new lash can take their place. This is a natural and necessary process that is nothing to be concerned about.
Excessive Friction
Lashes can also fall out prematurely because of too much rubbing or friction. The sources of friction can be anything, from how often you rub your eyes to whether you sleep with your face buried in your pillow.
Mascara (And How You Remove It)
Mascara, especially waterproof mascara, is a major culprit for excessive lash loss. Research shows that wearing mascara frequently over the course of a few years corresponds with greater lash loss. Additionally, removing mascara incorrectly, like trying to take off waterproof mascara with water, can lead to even more significant lash loss.
Treatments and Medications
Some medical treatments can impact the body in ways that lead to lash loss, sometimes along with hair loss from other body parts. That includes chemotherapy treatments, certain anticoagulants, hormonal medications, and more. These treatments are often life-saving, so speak to your doctor about potential ways to mitigate your treatment-induced lash loss.
Health Conditions
Many health conditions can lead to lash loss and are quite diverse. They include skin and eye diseases like blepharitis, psoriasis, dermatitis, lupus, hormonal conditions like hypothyroidism, and even certain types of cancer. Mental health conditions can also lead to trichotillomania, which leads to compulsive pulling on hair or lashes.
It’s important to address the underlying cause of all of these health conditions. If you’re experiencing severe lash loss, hair loss, or skin irritation, speak to your doctor.
WHEN DO YOU NEED TO WORRY ABOUT LASH LOSS?
There are a few situations when you should worry about unusual lash loss and consider speaking to your doctor:
- Your lash line is becoming visibly sparse or with noticeable bald patches due to lash loss.
- You’re also losing hair from other body parts, like the brows or head.
- You’re experiencing skin or eye irritation that might be related to your lash loss.
- You’re dealing with other health symptoms, including fatigue or stress.
TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR LASHES HEALTHY
You can do many little things to keep your lashes healthy and prevent lash loss. Here are our key tips:
- If you can't manage back-sleeping, switch to a silk or satin pillowcase; the smoother surface creates much less friction against your lashes than cotton, which can pull or snag them throughout the night.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes or tugging on your lashes if that’s ever been your habit.
- Wear mascara less often.
- Use a quality, oil-based eye makeup remover to remove your mascara and other eye cosmetics. Let it soak through your lashes completely to break down your makeup so you can remove it with less rubbing.
- Sleep on your back to avoid your lashes coming in contact with your pillowcase at night.
- For even more protection, wear a 3D sleep mask at night to create a barrier around your eyelashes.
- Use a nourishing lash serum to promote better lash growth.
- Make sure you’re eating a healthy and nutritionally-complete diet with many vegetables, protein sources, complex carbs, and healthy fats.
- Prioritize your mental health and find ways to limit sources of stress in your life.
- If necessary, speak to your doctor about your lash loss.
FAQs
How many eyelashes do you lose in a week or a year?
If you're losing 1 to 5 lashes a day at the normal rate, that works out to roughly 7 to 35 a week, or about 365 to 1,800 a year. Sounds like a lot, but remember each lash is being replaced as it sheds, so your overall lash count stays steady throughout the year. The number only becomes a concern if it consistently falls outside the daily 1 to 5 range, not based on the weekly or yearly total.
Do eyelashes shed more in certain seasons?
Yes, slightly. Human hair (including lashes and eyebrows) tends to shed a bit more in late summer and autumn, when more follicles move into the resting and shedding phases of the growth cycle at the same time. This is called seasonal telogen effluvium and it's well documented in scalp hair, with smaller observed effects on lashes and brows. If you notice you're losing a few extra lashes in September or October but everything else looks normal, it's likely just the season.
Do eyelashes grow back after they fall out, and how long does it take?
Yes, eyelashes grow back. Each lash that sheds is replaced by a new one growing from the same follicle, which is exactly why the daily 1 to 5 shedding doesn't make your lashes sparser over time. A new lash typically takes about 4 to 11 weeks to reach full length, depending on where you are in the growth cycle. If you've lost an eyelash from trauma (rubbing, pulling, mascara) and the follicle is undamaged, expect full regrowth within 2 to 3 months. Explore do eyelashes grow back, our full guide on lash regrowth for more detail.
Should fallen eyelashes have a small bulb at the root?
Yes, this is completely normal. A lash that has reached the end of its growth cycle and shed naturally usually has a tiny white or translucent bulb at the base, which is the part of the lash that was anchored in the follicle. Seeing the bulb means the lash sheds naturally, and a new one is already preparing to grow in its place. If you notice many lashes coming out without a bulb, or breaking off mid-shaft, that's a sign of mechanical damage (curling, mascara, friction) rather than natural shedding.
Does losing an eyelash hurt?
A naturally shed eyelash shouldn't hurt at all, the follicle has already pushed the old lash out and isn't gripping it anymore. If you feel a sharp pinch or sting when a lash comes out, it usually means the lash was pulled before the end of its cycle (from a curler, rubbing, or makeup removal) rather than shedding on its own. Persistent tenderness or pain around the lash line, especially with redness or swelling, can also point to follicle inflammation, such as blepharitis, and is worth getting checked.
FLUTTERING FAREWELL
Losing lashes isn’t always a matter of concern. Losing between one and five eyelashes a day is normal as part of your natural lash cycle. Losing more lashes than that on a consistent basis can be a signal that there's something wrong, though. To preserve your lashes, make sure to care for them gently, and speak to your doctor if you think you’re dealing with an underlying health problem.
