‘I ended up in the hospital because of false eyelashes’: the risks of artificial extensions

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Adept at eyelash extension for almost a year, nurse Valéria Campos never imagined that she could develop some type of allergy when doing the procedure. However, four months after doing the maintenance on the false wires – when the client returns to the salon to put only the eyelashes that fell out over the days – she noticed that there was something wrong.

The nurse reports that, three hours after the procedure, her eyelids began to become red, swollen and painful.

“The professional used the same materials I was already used to. But as the hours passed, my eye swelled and hurt more and more”, recalls Valéria.

Because it was Saturday night, the nurse had to wait until the next morning to return to the salon and remove the artificial eyelashes. After the removal, she went to the emergency room of a hospital in Belo Horizonte (MG), where she was referred for urgent ophthalmological care.

“I practically couldn’t sleep that night, it was three o’clock in the morning when I woke up and I couldn’t open my eyes anymore. According to the doctor, I had an infection, but he didn’t know if it was because of the glue or the synthetic eyelash that was used. used,” he adds.

In order to fully recover from the infection, Valeria needed to be on antibiotics for seven days. Although the problem did not affect her vision at all, the nurse says that her natural eyelashes did not grow back and have the volume they had before the extension procedure.

“The amount of eyelashes I have has decreased because I had a lot of loss of natural hair”, she concludes.

Because she finds long and voluminous eyelashes beautiful, psychology student Adne Lucilla Carvalho Santos decided to do the extension procedure with synthetic threads for the first time in July. What she didn’t expect was that she would have an allergic reaction.

Minutes after finishing the procedure, the university student remembers that she already started to feel discomfort in her eyes. The first symptoms of the infection were redness and burning.

“I knew it wasn’t normal to feel that pain and the next day there was a sore in my eye. I looked for eye care, and the doctor warned me about the dangers of using eyelash extensions. I had to take antibiotics and use an ointment to relieve it. pain and irritation”, he recalls.

Imagining that the allergy was due to a specific product used by the professional who applied her eyelashes, after the treatment, Adne sought another salon to put the wire extensions back in. But once again had allergic reaction.

“I woke up at dawn and couldn’t open my eyes, I went to the bathroom and saw that they were very glued and with a lot of secretion. I had to use the medication again and I saw that having eyelash extensions is not for me”, adds the university student.

Eyelash extensions and their risks

The eyelash extension procedure is nothing more than “gluing” synthetic or silk threads to each strand of the natural eyelash, making them look longer and more voluminous.

A special glue is used for this type of procedure.

“If possible, do a test with the substance that will be used in the extension, especially those people who tend to have irritation when using chemicals. This test is usually applied to the inner region of the arm and not the eye. If after three days it does not presents no allergic reaction, the person can do it with a little more security”, explains physician Ediléia Bagatin, coordinator of the Department of Dermatological Cosmiatry of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology.

Although it seems harmless, the continuous use of artificial eyelashes, the lack of proper cleaning and care for the hair can cause several problems, ranging from natural hair loss, leaving the eyes exposed and unprotected, to more serious pathologies such as corneal ulcers. .

“The eyelashes have the function of protecting the eyes from the entry of light, dust and other fragments that remain suspended in the air. There, particles and residues of possible allergens are deposited daily. The most common complication associated with eyelash extensions is blepharitis, followed by allergic conjunctivitis, corneal lesions, fall or breakage of natural eyelashes”, explains Claudia Del Claro, ophthalmologist member of the board of the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology.

The glue used is a very important factor to avoid allergies and problems such as keratitis (chemical burns). In addition, fake wires require more attention with cleaning – impurities increase the risk of eye contamination.

“To try to minimize complications, cleaning the eyelids and eyelashes with a specific non-greasy product, or even a neutral shampoo, is indicated twice a day. It is very common for patients to avoid washing their eyelashes for fear that the extensions will fall out, but it’s just the opposite. Eyelash extensions fall out prematurely when cleaning is not done”, adds Del Claro.

What is keratitis and blepharitis

Inadequate placement or maintenance of eyelash extensions, or even the wrong use of these false wires can trigger some eye diseases. This is because in the eyelash region there are also several glands responsible for eye lubrication, which may be affected after the procedure.

Keratitis, one of the most common, is characterized by the appearance of small superficial wounds that can arise from the direct trauma of the glue used to extend the eyelashes with the ocular surface. These injuries, although superficial, are quite painful and are usually accompanied by a feeling of speck in the eye, tearing, redness and swelling of the eyelid.

Already blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelid that causes redness, itching and accumulation of secretion. In this disease, the fat present in human tears accumulates in the eyelid, increasing the risk of bacteria developing there.

“When noticing any discomfort after applying the eyelashes, the first approach is to wash the area with saline solution to eliminate possible contaminants that have reached the eye”, explains Patrícia Akaishi, an ophthalmologist at the Hospital das Clínicas da FMRP-USP (Faculty of Medicine University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto).

“And if the problem persists, it is advisable to seek medical help to make sure that there are no residues of glue or threads on the ocular surface and also to start the treatment.”

In addition, using eyelash extensions for a long time can affect the arching of the natural hair strands, causing them to no longer line up correctly. That’s because the material used in extensions is heavier than natural wires.

“I particularly do not recommend using eyelash extensions because it is a procedure with a high rate of complications, which can lead to the permanent loss of eyelashes, which are so important for eye protection and even the glue can reach the eyes, leaving permanent sequelae on vision”, adds Del Claro, from the Brazilian Society of Ophthalmology.

What to do in case of irritation

  • Flush the eye with clean, running water
  • Clean the eye with saline solution
  • Do not rub the eye (if you have an injury it can make it worse)
  • Do not try to remove any object that is inside the eyeball
  • seek medical help

This text was originally published here

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