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Eyelashes Never Grew Back After Chemo

Posted by sarahmh @sarahmh, Nov 19, 2023

Hello Everyone! Minor question ahead. I had four cycles of TC chemo (taxotere and cytoxan) from 12/21-2/22. I lost all my hair exactly when my oncologist predicted (two weeks after the first infusion). My eyebrows and eyelashes held on until the end, but then I lost most of those after my last infusion. My hair started growing in beautifully right away, curly when it used to be straight! The thing is, my eyelashes haven’t come back at all. I have a very little bit of sparse, stubby lashes; I can’t even put mascara on them, they’re that short. Has anyone else had this issue? Did your lashes eventually come back? I always forget to ask my onc about this, and it really isn’t a big deal for me. I just bring it up now because I went to an event this weekend and actually wore makeup (a rare occurrence) and couldn’t get mascara on these itty bitty eyelashes 👁️

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stevecando54 | @stevecando54 | Sep 15 3:29pm
In reply to @denisestlouie "I've just started therapy. My hair is very thin now. I still have eye lashes and..." + (show)
@denisestlouie

I've just started therapy. My hair is very thin now. I still have eye lashes and eyebrows.

I purchased magnet eyelashes. I chose small lashes and they look normal. I'm the kind of person who does wear make-up. I have since I was 14 so it's not a far stretch to add lashes.

We are all so different. I love my wigs and my neighbor felt like an imposter wearing them. I guess it's really a matter of how we were raised. My mom was a beautician. She bought us makeup, colored her hair and cut it in stylish ways from a very young age. My daughter on the other hand doesn't ever wear makeup. She's beautiful and doesn't need it, but to me it was kind of odd that she never wanted to wear it.

My question is does not having eyelashes interfere with your eyesight at all. I mean do you get things in your eyes more frequently? That's not a dumb question, I'm just curious.

Jump to this post

almost a year after treatment, I can barely feel my eye lashes. Nothing coming into my eyes but I do squint alot. Best to all.

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frenchtoasted429 | @frenchtoasted429 | Sep 22 11:58pm

Hi - I have the same exact experience as you - I had many cycles of chemo in 2005 - my eyebrows grew in but thinner than they used to be. But my eyelashes never grew back like they used to be. I have such short eyelashes that you can't see them and forget about mascara, there's really nothing for the cosmetic to hang on to! I have found that using a thin eyeliner on the top of where your eyelashes should be, and then blurring it a little, helps that area look a little better. I have tried fake eyelashes every now & then, but they are not worth the hassle for everyday. I also had individual eyelashes applied at a hair salon, but after a few days, they were so itchy I had to remove them. (on the upside - the hair on my legs and underarms never grew back either, haven't shaved those areas in 19 years!)

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katielee333 | @katielee333 | Oct 8 5:36am

It takes some practice, but lash strips can work wonders! In my younger days, they were a daily thing, but now that I’m older, I like to only break them out as a special occasion thing. Ardell brand Demi Wispies are a great length, light weight, and look natural in an “I got dolled up today” kind of way. I line my eyes first, so I know where they should go, get a little black glue for the strips, and apply! There are tons of YouTube tutorials (look for ones from cancer patients or, my favorite, people with alopecia - they tend to wear them daily and have the best tips I’ve found !) Good luck and have fun!

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