Poland: Extending Your Lashes? You're Most Likely Funding Botox

The findings were presented at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS). The researchers emphasized that the study does not imply that individuals should abandon eyelash extensions; rather, it highlights the necessity for proper eyelid hygiene and prompt action when symptoms emerge.

Alarming consequences of eyelash extensions

Researchers at the N. Pirogov National Medical University in Vinnytsia conducted a survey involving 345 women aged 16 to 28. Nearly one-quarter of the participants had used eyelash extension services at least once, while 58 percent of those who had used the service did so regularly, every three to four weeks.

Among the women who used eyelash extensions, 47.6 percent reported experiencing at least one symptom after the procedure, including discomfort, redness, tearing, or itching. The researchers also assessed the condition of the Meibomian glands using meibography, a technique that employs infrared light to visualize the glands located within the eyelids.

Signs of dysfunction in the Meibomian glands were identified in 85 percent of women who had received eyelash extensions at least ten times. These glands may have been blocked or failed to produce the appropriate lipid secretion necessary to maintain adequate lubrication of the ocular surface.

Demodex mites were detected in nearly all participants of the study.

The most compelling aspect of the study was the search for Demodex folliculorum. Researchers collected eyelash samples from 25 women who regularly used eyelash extensions and subsequently examined them under a microscope.

Mites were detected in 24 of the 25 participants. Among these, 18 women also exhibited irritation symptoms characteristic of demodicosis. These symptoms included itching and eyelid irritation, redness, swelling, clumping of the lashes, and skin flaking at the lash line.

Demodex folliculorum are microscopic mites that inhabit hair follicles, among other locations. Their mere presence does not necessarily indicate a disease. The issue arises when an excessive population of these mites is associated with inflammation and clinical symptoms.

The findings do not suggest that eyelash extensions should be avoided entirely. They do, however, highlight the importance of proper eyelid hygiene, awareness of symptoms, and prompt medical assessment if such symptoms arise.

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The adhesive can complicate the detection of the issue

Experts note that the technique used during the procedure also plays a significant role. The adhesive applied for eyelash extensions is placed near the base of the natural lashes, which is precisely where characteristic clusters left by Demodex mites can often be observed.

Sorcha Ni Dhubhghaill, a professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, pointed out that individuals with mite infestations may exhibit so-called collars—waxy rings surrounding the lashes. These structures are composed of dead mites, their fecal matter, and eggs, bound together with shed skin cells and sebaceous secretions.

The authors emphasized that the findings should not be interpreted as proof that eyelash extensions directly cause Demodex infestations or dysfunction of the Meibomian glands. The study was small in scale, and the researchers did not compare their participants with a control group of young women who had never undergone eyelash extension procedures. Larger studies are needed, encompassing both individuals who use the treatment and a control group, to determine whether a direct link exists between the frequency of eyelash extensions, mite counts, and the occurrence of ocular surface issues.