Danger in the eye: the trouble with false lashes

Nearly every other woman these days fixes lash extension to get that feathery, lashy look, but they might be courting more dangers than they are paying for. Dr Ibironke Animashaun, a community health practitioner, on Saturday warned women against the use of artificial eyelashes. Tension in Ekiti as bandits shoot monarch Anger as 3 abducted […]

Nearly every other woman these days fixes lash extension to get that feathery, lashy look, but they might be courting more dangers than they are paying for.

Dr Ibironke Animashaun, a community health practitioner, on Saturday warned women against the use of artificial eyelashes.

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Animashaun said this while addressing a group of youths during a health talk in Lagos.

There is a lot to think about when fixing false lashes: abrasions or ulcers of the cornea are one, damage to the natural lashes and then the risk of sensitivity.

She said that wearing artificial eyelashes could cause trauma because of the glue applied or other materials used.

Animashaun said that the use of harmful chemicals on the eyelashes could cause them to fall out quicker than natural eyelashes.

“Natural eyelashes have a natural way of preventing dirt, sweat, bacteria and other foreign materials from entering the eye by trapping and keeping out anything that comes near it.

“Artificial eyelashes would accommodate the dirt, thereby causing different forms of allergy and infection,” she said.

Animashaun said that natural eyelashes protect the eyes from debris, dust and small particles.

According to her, natural eyelashes perform the same functions as whiskers do on a cat or a mouse in the sense that they are sensitive to touch.

The expert said that eyelashes take about seven to eight weeks to grow back if pulled out but warned that constant pulling leads to permanent damage. (NAN)