Why Do Our Eyebrows Get Thinner Over the Years?

Skin & Wellness Magazine

There is something about eyebrows that we do not really notice, until one day we look at an old photo and discover that they used to be fuller.

Maybe the tail of the brow has become shorter, maybe small gaps have appeared, and maybe we simply find ourselves filling in with a pencil areas that were once full of natural hair.

So what happened to our eyebrows? And where did all the hairs go?

Our eyebrows age just like our hair

Every hair on the body goes through a life cycle that includes growth, rest and shedding. Eyebrow hairs also have such a cycle, but their growth phase is relatively short compared to scalp hair, and so they do not grow as long.

Over the years, the activity of the hair follicles can change. Some hairs become thinner, some grow more slowly, and sometimes certain follicles stop producing noticeable hairs.

The result is eyebrows that look less dense than before.

But age is not the only factor.

What is the connection between menopause and our eyebrows?

During perimenopause and menopause, changes occur in the levels of estrogen and other hormones.

Hormones affect the hair growth cycle, and so hormonal changes may contribute to hair thinning, including in the eyebrow area.

However, not all eyebrow thinning stems from menopause. Sometimes the cause is related to a medical condition, nutritional deficiencies, or damage caused to the follicles over the years.

All those years we plucked, and now we want them back

Remember the era of the very thin eyebrows?

There were years when tweezers were almost an inseparable part of the skincare routine. We plucked, shaped, refined, and sometimes removed a little more than we had planned.

Repeated plucking can, over time, damage the hair follicles. In some women, especially after years of aggressive plucking, the hair no longer grows back as it used to.

So if the eyebrows are starting to thin, it is worth leaving the tweezers alone for a while and seeing whether the hairs grow back.

When the outer part of the brow disappears

Sometimes the thinning appears specifically in the outer third of the brow, in the area close to the temples.

The phenomenon can appear with age, but it is also known in cases of an underactive thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland affects metabolism and the function of the hair follicles, and when it does not work properly, one of the possible expressions is hair thinning.

It is important to remember that thin eyebrows are not enough to diagnose a thyroid problem. If the thinning is accompanied by unusual fatigue, a feeling of cold, dry skin or hair loss, it is worth considering a medical workup.

Can a vitamin deficiency affect the eyebrows?

Yes, in certain cases.

A deficiency in iron, zinc, protein or other essential nutrients can affect hair growth.

But before running to buy supplements, it is important to understand that not all hair loss stems from a deficiency.

Nutritional supplements can help when a real deficiency exists, but taking them without a need does not guarantee that the eyebrows will grow back.

And there are also skin diseases that affect the eyebrows

Thinning of the eyebrows can appear following eczema, dermatitis, alopecia areata and other conditions.

There is also a type of hair loss called Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia, which can cause a receding hairline and thinning of the eyebrows, especially in women after menopause.

In this condition the hair follicles can be damaged irreversibly, and so it is important to identify it early.

If the eyebrows are thinning quickly, smooth areas with no hair appear, or there is also a receding hairline at the forehead, it is worth seeing a dermatologist.

Does castor oil really grow eyebrows?

Castor oil has become one of the popular home solutions for eyebrow care.

It is rich in ricinoleic acid and can help soften the hairs and give them a shiny, well-groomed look.

But as of today, there is no good scientific evidence that applying castor oil causes eyebrows to regrow or awakens follicles that have stopped working.

If you like using it, apply a small amount and avoid contact with the eyes, since it can cause irritation.

So what can really be done to keep our eyebrows?

Here are a few simple habits I recommend adopting:

• Reduce plucking: give the hairs time to grow and avoid removing unnecessary hairs.
• Remove makeup gently: do not scrub the eyebrow area hard.
• Care for the skin beneath the eyebrows: dry or irritated skin needs gentle, suitable care.
• Keep a balanced diet: protein, iron, zinc and other essential nutrients are important for normal hair growth.
• Check unusual changes: if the thinning is significant or sudden, it is worth looking into the cause and not making do with a cosmetic product.

Can eyebrows be grown back?

It depends on the cause of the thinning.

If the hair follicles are still active, the hairs may grow back after treating the factor that led to the shedding.

In some cases a dermatologist can offer a medical treatment to encourage growth, according to the diagnosis.

On the other hand, when scarring damage has been caused to the follicles, regrowth may be limited or impossible.

For those who want to improve the appearance of the eyebrows cosmetically, there are also options such as gentle shaping, permanent makeup and eyebrow transplantation in suitable cases.

And to finish — maybe we should give our eyebrows a little quiet

I think about all the years in which we tried to change the natural shape of our eyebrows. Once we wanted them thin, then thick, then straight, and then arched again.

And today? Sometimes all we want is for them to grow as they once did.

The eyebrows are a small part of the face, but they have a great influence on our expression and appearance.

Not every change in their density requires treatment, and not every hair that sheds indicates a problem.

But as with every other change in the body, it is worth understanding what stands behind it.

And perhaps the best thing we can do for our eyebrows is simply to stop fighting their natural shape, treat them gently and give them their time.

Skin & Wellness Magazine | OrOrgani

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