When it comes to hair loss, people often think of baldness affecting the scalp; however, it can also affect other areas of the body, including the eyebrows. Balding eyebrows can be unbecoming and make you feel self-conscious. Don’t lose hope; there are ways to regrow eyebrow hair to make you feel complete again.
Proper Nutrition
Consuming foods or dietary supplements rich in proteins, vitamin A, vitamin B3, vitamin C and vitamin E as well as folic acid, iron, inositol, silica, biotin, magnesium, sulfur and zinc can help stimulate hair growth. According to “A Practitioner’s Guide to Hair Loss,” written by John J. Janowiak and Carson Ham, hair loss experts prescribe these nutrients when hair loss is due to chronic nutrient deficiencies.
Beta-carotene, another important nutrient for hair growth, converts to vitamin A during digestion. It helps maintain normal growth and bone development, promotes healthy skin, hair and nails. Most green (spinach, lettuce or broccoli) and yellow (squash, cucumber or carrots) vegetables and fruits (mango or cantaloupe) are rich in beta-carotene.
Hair Growth Products
Application of hair growth products can help stimulate the hair follicles. According to a 2004 edition of the “British Association of Dermatology,” minoxidil, a proven drug for treating hair loss, can increase the linear growth rate of hair and increase the diameter of the hair fiber. Used for treating androgenic alopecia (baldness), minoxidil is also effective in growing eyebrow hair. Ask your doctor for the correct dosage for your particular case.
Eyebrow and eyelash stimulators and enhancers are available in the market today. They come in liquid form, stored in a tube with a brush applicator. The liquid contains water, alcohol, hydrogenated castor oil and botanicals, such as walnut leaf extract. Applying the eyebrow stimulator to the skin under the arch of your eyebrow or any area that is sparse or patchy caused by over-tweezing will help fill in the area with darker new hair growth. Some brands available are ModelCo Lash and Brow Growth Stimulator, LiBrow and Bamboo Cosmetics Eyebrow Enhancing Stimulator. These eyebrow enhancers have not gone through clinical trials; therefore, they may cause allergic reactions and may not be suitable for pregnant women.
Surgical Reconstruction
According to a 1999 issue of the “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,” surgical reconstruction of the eyebrow using free skin and hair-bearing composite graft can repair damaged or nude eyebrows. Ask your dermatologist if surgical reconstruction is right for you. Surgical reconstruction may be your last resort if you had undergone micrographic surgery of your eyebrows, due to carcinoma.
Photo Credit
- make up eyebrow image by Julia Britvich from Fotolia.com
