Growth Cycle of Eyelashes
Eyelashes are hairs that grow along the edge of your eyelids and have the specific purpose of protecting your eyes. Eyelashes grow just as any other hair on your body and have their own specific growth cycle. Eyelashes often are seen as marks of beauty when they are full and dark. There are a number of ways to promote healthy and beautiful lashes; also there are medical and cosmetic solutions to short lashes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Purpose of Eyelashes
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Eyelashes function to protect your eyes by keeping dirt and dust out of your eyes. Your eyelashes are also sensitive and will warn your eyes when something is too close to them, which causes you to blink. They also can feel the wind when it blows hard enough possibly to affect your eyes.
Features of Eyelashes
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Eyelashes are made up of keratin just like any other hair. The color of your eyelashes is often linked to the color of hair on your head; people with light hair are likely to have lighter eyelashes, and people with darker hair are more likely to have darker eyelashes.
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Growth of Eyelashes
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Eyelashes begin to grow between the seventh and eight week of development in the womb. Interestingly, eyelashes also take seven to eight weeks to regrow. Eyelashes will need to regrow if they fall out, are pulled out or are rubbed out. Eyelashes can fall out for many reasons, including disease or sickness.
The Growth Cycle
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The growth cycle of eyelashes has three phases: anagen, catagen and tolegen. Anagen is the growing phase and is the stage that an estimated 85 percent of your hair is currently in. Catagen is the transitional phase of hair growth and is when the hair follicle (think of your follicle as the root of your hair) begins to shrink. Finally, the tolegen phase is when new growth begins and old hair falls or is pushed out by new growth.
Growing Longer Lashes and Non-Permanent Eyelash-Lengthening Solutions
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Long eyelashes are a sign of femininity in many cultures and solutions for short eyelashes are often sought after. For the first time, a prescription medicine, Latisse, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to promote lash growth. Non-permanent solutions for lengthening eyelashes include makeup, false eyelashes and eyelash extensions.
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References
- Photo Credit eyelashes image by saied shahinkiya from Fotolia.com
