Understanding blepharitis and its various causes can help us as lash artists to educate our clients on how to care for their lashes properly to keep these nasty mites at bay.
The formal definition for blepharitis is ‘the inflammation of the eyelid / eyelid margins’. The eyelid margin is the point where the eyelashes grow from the lid. The inflammation to this area is caused when white blood cells push to the surface in an attempt to protect the eyes against foreign substances.
Typical signs of blepharitis to look out for include irritated itchy eyelids, and eyelash dandruff. There are 4 distinct types of blepharitis:
Anterior Blepharitis – general eyelid margin inflammation
Serborrheic Blepharitis – eyelash dandruff
Staphylococcal Blepharitis – eyelash bacterial infection
Demodex Blepharitis – mite infection
Blepharitis is not contagious and wont cause any permanent damage to the eyes. Good eye hygiene and a gentle lash cleanser are the best forms of prevention. If symptoms have already started to show, clients should treat it by limiting the use of eye make-up, using a gentle lash cleanser morning and night, temporarily avoiding the use of contact lenses and adding and omega-3 fish oil or flaxseed supplement to your daily routine. The symptoms should clear up within two to four weeks and thereafter prevention measures should continue to be followed.
