5 Reasons Your Brows Are Thinning

Full brows are undoubtedly one of the most coveted beauty looks, and if you’re like us, then you’ve spent a great deal of time looking for the perfect products to achieve them. From pencils to gels to powders, it can get a little overwhelming (not to mention time-consuming) trying to fill in our brows, especially when it seems like they’re actually—gulp—thinning. If only they were naturally full and fleek on their own. Turns out there are several reasons brows thin, and it’s not just over-plucking.

Inflammation and Skin Conditions

Sejal K. Shah, MD, of New York tells Refinery29 that while certain skin conditions, like psoriasis and eczema, don’t directly cause hair loss, if the condition is around the brow area, there could be inflammation, which when itched could cause brow hairs to fall out. The upside? Hairs that fall out from scratching and itching oftentimes will grow back. However, if there’s an infection of the actual hair follicle, hair will fall out on its own.

Thyroid Disorders

Shah notes that many people don’t realize eyebrow loss could be internal; the most common culprit is thyroid disorder. Both overactive and underactive thyroid glands can lead to hair loss, but if you notice the ends of your brows thinning, this is usually a sign of the latter. Other internal disorders could also cause brow thinning, so it’s important to speak to your physician if you notice a change in your brows.

Alopecia Areata

Another cause of thinning brows is a hair-loss condition called alopecia areata. This is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, which then leads to hair loss—yikes!

Stress

Surprisingly, another unfortunate cause of losing your brow hairs is stress. Yep—that’s right. Hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, and medications that cause emotional and psychological stress could lead to shedding of both the scalp and the brows.

The plus side to all of this is that, according to Shah, there are many treatments that could help your brows grow back—both topical and oral. See your physician to get the best treatment plan for you.

For those of us who don’t have a naturally full set of brows, we love Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz ($21). Its waxy consistency stays put all day long—a must for perfect brows!