Eyelash extensions are fantastic, especially for people who want to avoid the hassle of mascara and figuring out falsies, and they’re more popular than ever, even in Pakistan. However, eyelash extensions also come with their fair share of drawbacks. The adhesive can make your natural lashes weaken and fall out, you may have to invest in new makeup and beauty products because certain ingredients wear down the adhesive in lash extensions, and eyelash extensions can also give you eyelash lice. Yep.
In the United States,ABC news reported that optometrists are seeing a rise in eyelash lice among people with eyelash extensions. Also known as Demodex, the lice are organisms that live on the hair follicle, and just like the lice that you can get on your head, it can be transferred from person to person.
The cause of lash lice? According to Dr.Michele Greene, not cleansing your eyelashes properly and everyday can lead to a build up of micro organisms like lash lice. You may think you should avoid cleaning your eyelash extensions to prolong their life but that shouldn’t be the case.
Along with not properly cleaning your extensions, Dr. Green says that lice can be transferred from the combs, towels and applicators used to apply extensions, so it’s important to do your research before picking a salon.
The bottom line: eyelash lice is a risk that comes with getting extensions, but you can avoid it by properly cleaning the area. Use a cleanser that isn’t oil based and a clean mascara spool DAILY to avoid the buildup of gunk and in turn, lash lice.
