Eyelashes – function, structure & complaints

Eyelashes

The eyelashes are the hairs on the eyelids. Their job is to protect the eyes.

Definition

The eyelashes or eyelashes are understood to mean small, curved hairs attached to the upper and lower edges of the eyelids. They also bear the Latin name cilia and belong to the appendages of the human skin.

The eyelashes are elastic and finely curved. For humans, they are of great aesthetic importance. By fending off smaller dirt particles or foreign bodies, they perform a protective function on the eyes

Anatomy

The eyelashes are primarily composed of keratin. This is an inherent substance of the skin . The term keratin also serves as a collective term for fiber proteins that are water-insoluble and contain amino acids .

The keratinocytes are responsible for the formation of the elastic solid fibers. They represent dead, cornified cells . The human eyelashes have short, rigid bristle hairs, which are also called terminal hairs. These are surrounded by sweat glands and sebaceous glands .

The so-called Zeis glands and Melbom glands are sebaceous glands. Their functions include the production of eye butter. This means a secretion that counteracts the overflow of the tear fluid.

The lifespan of a human eyelash is approximately 100 to 150 days. It then fails, which is followed by regeneration. The cycle of growth is about 4 weeks to 6 months. Most of the eyelashes are constantly growing. Only 10 percent of the eyelashes are in the final growth process.

There is a dense lash line at the upper edge of the eyelid. It contains around 150 to 250 hairs. On the other hand, there are significantly fewer hairs on the lower edge of the eyelid. About 50 to 100 hairs are housed there.

On average, an eyelash is 8 to 12 millimeters long at the upper edge of the eyelid. On the lower side it only reaches about 6 to 8 millimeters. As a rule, the coloring of the eyelashes corresponds to the color of the body hair. The hair coloring pigment melanin creates an individual touch.

Function

An important task of the eyelashes is to protect the eyes. They protect the eyes from damage caused by dirt particles, dust, small foreign bodies and sweat . They also protect your eyes from the sun’s strong UV rays.

American scientists discovered a similarity in the geometry of the eyelashes as part of studies on various mammal species. This is independent of the eye circumference. They came to the conclusion that longer eyelashes had aerodynamic disadvantages compared to shorter eyelashes. The length results in reduced resistance to air. In addition, more dirt particles are picked up. For this reason, long eyelashes promote dehydration of the eye.

The eyelashes are also extremely important for human beauty. Since ancient times they have been cared for cosmetically and with growth preparations, which applies primarily to the female sex. For example, thick, black eyelashes are considered a symbol of beauty and eroticism.

The eyelashes also played a role in religion. To demonstrate their caste, Egyptian high priests consistently shaved off their eyelashes and other body hair. Even today, eyelashes are used for fashion and culture.

Diseases

  • Madarosis
  • eyelash breakage

The human eyelashes can be affected by various diseases. Sometimes the eyelashes even fall out, which is called madarosis in medicine. This ancient Greek term means “baldness”. Sometimes the eyelashes fall out together with the eyebrows .

Madarosis is caused by various factors such as a lack of vitamins , burns , diseases such as blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) or excessive stress.

In some cases, eyelash loss is also a side effect of cancer treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy . Once the treatment is complete, however, the eyelashes will grow back. In case of illness, the administration of vitamin B , zinc and castor oil can help. In addition, certain eyelash treatments can be carried out.

In addition to the loss of eyelashes, an inflammation of the eyelid is also noticeable through other symptoms. This can include whitish flaking, swelling on the edge of the eyelid that is accompanied by burning and itching , and adhesions between the eyelashes and the edge of the eyelid. If the inflammation persists for a long time, ointments with cortisone or antibiotics are administered.

Another impairment of the eyelashes is eyelash breakage, which causes the eyelashes to break off. The breakage of the eyelashes is usually caused by a faulty make-up technique or a lack of vitamins. The use of mechanical beauty tools such as so-called beauty tools is considered a risk factor.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *