Madarosis - loss of eyelashes
The loss of eyelashes is termed madarosis:
- often this phenomenon is due to blepharitis - but this is uncommon in children; in this case madarosis is generally bilateral and there are other features of blepharitis such as itchiness, erythema and scaly lid margins
- other possible causes include:
- trauma from rubbing or plucking - may be the cause of unilateral or bilateral lash loss
- alopecia areata - may cause unilateral or bilateral lash loss but is commonly found with hair loss elsewhere on the body
- discoid lupus may rarely cause a scarring madarosis
- idiopathic
- treatments are available for madarosis but are generally initiated by an ophthalmologist or dermatologist (1)
Reference:
- Pulse (2003), 63 (46), 80.
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