- Simon Machado
- BBC News Brazil
image source, Good pictures
Although it may seem harmless, continuous use of false eyelashes and lack of care can cause various problems.
A fan of eyelash extensions for almost a year, Brazilian nurse Valeria Campos never imagined that she might develop some kind of allergy while performing the procedure.
But after four months of maintaining these falsies — and returning to the salon wearing only lashes that had fallen out over time — she noticed something was wrong.
Three hours after the procedure, the nurse says. Your eyelids are red, swollen and painful.
“He used the same products I was already used to. But as the hours went by, my eye swelled up and hurt more and more,” Valeria recalled.
Since it was Saturday night, she had to go to the salon until the next morning to get her false eyelashes removed.
After they were removed, he went to the emergency room of a hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where he was referred for emergency eye care.
image source, private file
Three hours after the procedure, Valeria Campos noticed her eyelids were red, swollen and painful.
“I couldn’t sleep that night, and when I woke up it was 3 am and I couldn’t open my eyes anymore. According to the doctor, I had an infection, but I don’t know if it was. Used glue or an artificial eyelash.” Add.
Valeria needed seven days of antibiotics to fully recover from the infection. Although the problem doesn’t affect her vision, she says her natural lashes haven’t grown back or had the volume they had before the extension procedure.
“I had a lot of hair loss and my eyelash count was reduced. Natural hair“He concludes.
Synthetic threads
Beautiful long, big eyelashes, psychology student Adne Lucilla Carvalho Santos decided to do the extension procedure of artificial threads for the first time in July.
What I didn’t expect was that I would have an allergic reaction.
A few minutes after the procedure, the university student recalled that she began to feel discomfort in her eyes. The first signs of infection are redness and burning.
image source, private file
A white spot in Adne’s eye reveals her injury.
“I knew it wasn’t normal to feel that pain and the next day I had an ulcer in my eye. I sought eye care and the doctor warned me about the dangers of wearing eyelash extensions. I had to take antibiotics and use ointments to relieve the pain and irritation,” she said. remembered.
After Adne’s treatment, she looked for another salon to replace the extensions. But again he developed an allergy.
“I woke up in the morning and could not open my eyes, I went to the bathroom and saw that they were stuck together and with a lot of discharge, I had to use the medicine again, I saw that there was no eyelash extension. For me,” adds the university student.
Eyelash extensions and their risks
The eyelash extension procedure is nothing more than “gluing” synthetic or silk fibers to each strand of natural eyelashes, making them look longer and larger.
A special glue is used for this type of process.
“If possible, Experiment with the material used in the extensionEspecially those who are irritated when using chemical products,” explains Dr. Edelia Bagadin, Coordinator of the Department of Dermatological Cosmetology of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology.
“This test is usually applied to the inner part of the hand, not the eye. If there is no allergic reaction after three days, the person can do it a little safer,” he adds.
Although it may seem harmless, regular use of the wrong eyelash, lack of proper cleaning and care can lead to various problems. Natural decline Hairs To protect that Eyesexposing them, leaving them unprotected, For serious diseases like corneal ulcer.
“Eyelashes have the function of protecting the eyes from light, dust and other particles suspended in the air. Particles and residues of potential allergens are deposited there daily. The most common complication associated with eyelash extensions is blepharitis. Allergic conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers, loss or breakage of natural eyelashes, etc. ” explains Claudia del Claro, an ophthalmologist who is a member of the board of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology.
image source, private file
Nurse Valeria Campos said her natural eyelashes did not grow back and were the size they were before the procedure.
The glue used is a very important factor in avoiding problems such as allergies and keratitis (chemical burns).
Also, fake hairs require more care in cleaning: impurities increase the risk of eye contamination.
“To reduce the problem, it is recommended to clean the eyelashes and eyelids with a specific non-greasy product, or even with a neutral shampoo, twice a day. It is very common for patients to avoid washing their eyelashes for fear that they will stretch. Fall out, but the opposite is true. Eye “Lash extensions can fall out prematurely when not cleaned,” says Del Claro.
What is keratitis and blepharitis?
Improper placement or maintenance of eyelash extensions or misuse of these false threads can also trigger certain eye diseases.
This is because there are many glands in the eyelid area responsible for lubricating the eyes, which can be affected after the procedure.
The keratitisOne of the most common conditions is characterized by the appearance of small superficial lesions that may arise from direct trauma of the glue used to extend the eyelashes along the ocular surface.
These sores, although superficial, are very painful and are usually accompanied by a sensation of something in the eye, swelling of the eyelid, redness and swelling of the eyelid.
The Blepharitis It is an inflammation of the eyelids that causes redness, itching and accumulation of secretions. In this disease, the fat present in human tears accumulates on the eyelid, increasing the risk of bacterial growth there.
“If there is any discomfort after eyelid placement, the first thing to do is to wash the area with a saline solution to remove any contaminants that may have accumulated in the eye,” says Patricia Akaishi, an ophthalmologist at the Hospital de Clinicas de la Facultad de Medicina. from São Paulo, de la Universidad, Ribeiro Preto.
“If the problem persists, it’s best to seek medical attention and start treatment to make sure there is no glue or thread on the eye surface,” he adds.
Also, wearing eyelash extensions for long periods of time can affect the curling of the natural hair strands, causing them to not align properly. This is because the material used in extensions is heavier than natural hair.
“I don’t particularly recommend using eyelash extensions because it’s a procedure with a high rate of complications that can lead to the permanent loss of eyelashes, which is very important for eye protection. Even the glue can go to the eyes. Permanent visual scars,” Del Claro says.
What to do in case of irritation
- Flush the eye with clean running water.
- Clean the eye with saline solution.
- Don’t rub your eye (if you have an injury, it will get worse).
- Do not attempt to remove any material from the eye.
- Seek medical help.
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