According to many traditions, the eyes are the reflection of the soul. To achieve a unique look, some choose to change the color of their iris —not without taking risks— and others to enhance it with false eyelashes.
This last option consists of adhering false eyelashes with a glue in the eyelid area. Its use, common because it is within the reach of almost any pocket, does not have to entail any problem, but we do have to consider some possible existing risks for our skin and even for our eyes.
To know them, we have the help of the dermatologist Natividad Cano and Francisco Gómez-Ulla de Irazazábal, medical director of the Gómez Ulla Ophthalmological Institute.
Eczema: main risk for the skin
“The main component of eyelash glue is cyanoacrylate,” says Cano. “This generates an acrylic resin that, in the presence of air or humidity, creates a chemical reaction that produces heat and forms structures that provide great adhesive power.”
This glue can cause us two types of eczema. Allergic contact eczema and irritant contact eczema, the latter due to the repeated application of glue on the skin.
“In both cases, inflammation of the skin layers occurs, but it will be much more noticeable when the eczema is allergic, since blisters will appear,” explains Cano. And he adds that, in this case, in addition to doing tests to rule out allergies to acrylates and different components of glues, “generally a drying agent and a topical and/or oral corticosteroid are prescribed.”
On the other hand, Cano explains that “when the eczema is irritative to contact, it is much milder but it will appear with repeated exposure to this glue and it can manifest itself in the form of inflammation, redness and flaking on the eyelids.”
In these cases, he states that “it is controlled with a corticosteroid and a vaseline cream, although it must be taken into account that people with atopic skin should not use these tabs due to the risk that the use of this type of glue entails for their skin” .
In all these situations it is essential to stop exposing ourselves to glue immediately “and, above all, go to the dermatologist, who will make a precise study of the case due to the location, the possible aggressiveness of the condition and the discomfort it causes in a very close to the eye”, says Cano.
Eye damage: from inflammation to corneal lesions
The functions of the eyelashes are multiple: they protect the eye against foreign particles such as dust, sand or insects and they have tactile sensitivity when detecting objects close to it, triggering a protective reflex blinking.
Francisco Gómez-Ulla explains that from the Gómez Ulla Ophthalmological Institute they claim to have noticed in recent years “that the increase in the use of false eyelashes has generated an increase in eye infections. In fact, it is estimated that globally one in four users experiences some type of irritation from the frequent use of false eyelashes.
According to Gómez-Ulla, this type of eye irritation is the most frequently reported condition: “conjunctivitis, red eyes, blepharitis, styes, allergies and eye irritation in general, although you can also lose your natural eyelashes due to the weight of the false ones”.
Most of these eye and palpebral infections are usually caused by the different adhesives used to fix false eyelashes, which is why “people with known allergies or eye diseases such as chronic conjunctivitis, blepharitis and keratitis should not use them, as that can trigger serious consequences”, points out the ophthalmologist.
It also adds that “people with very fragile, weakened or excessively lost natural lashes should not use them, as they could exert additional pressure and further damage the natural lashes.”
To all the aforementioned risks we must add “weakening and inflammation of the eyelid if they are too large and other more complex cases that include scratches or injuries to the cornea”, they explain from the Ophthalmological Institute.
The cornea is the layer through which sunlight enters and is in charge of protecting the eyeball against various infections, “which can be damaged by the tips of the false eyelashes or by the glue itself when placing them or by the solvent used to remove them,” they explain. from the Institute.
Sometimes, the risks of using false eyelashes in the eyes are not only due to their materials, but also to the hygiene with which they are used. For this reason, it is essential to “clean properly before applying them, use quality products, follow the instructions and avoid removing them abruptly. On the other hand, it is advisable not to use them for prolonged periods and to avoid direct contact with the eyes”, explains Gómez-Ulla.
Other alternatives to the use of false eyelashes
An increasingly popular alternative to false lashes is serum treatments to enhance your natural lashes. These products are applied daily and contain ingredients that help strengthen, nourish and improve the growth of natural eyelashes, “but there are certain ingredients that some products contain that can be harmful to the eye, so an ophthalmologist should be consulted.” , warns the director of the ophthalmological institute.
Other options are individual eyelash extensions, which, unlike false ones, are applied hair by hair on the natural eyelash itself; they are professionally installed and require regular touch-ups to maintain their appearance. A good mascara or curling iron can also help improve the appearance of our eyelashes.
Both in the case of false eyelashes and individual extensions, the most important thing is “to go to a beauty center where they have enough experience, health reviews, and use materials approved by the health authorities,” says Cano.
These, affirms the dermatologist, “will be regulated by the Rules of the European Parliament and other entities such as Spanish Cosmetovigilance Systemwhich control the evaluation and monitoring of information on possible negative effects that it may have on our health”.
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