Your eyelashes can turn gray or white due to the loss of pigment in the hair shaft. This color change, similar to the graying of scalp hair, is a natural biological process where the hair follicle stops producing the color molecule that gives the lash its dark shade. While typically a normal part of aging, it can also occur prematurely due to specific underlying factors.
The Biology of Eyelash Pigmentation
The color of an eyelash is determined by melanin, a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes located within the hair follicle. These melanocytes inject melanin into the growing hair shaft, giving the lash its natural color. The two main types of melanin, eumelanin and pheomelanin, combine to create the full spectrum of hair colors.
As a person ages, the activity of melanocytes slows down and eventually stops. The melanocytes can become depleted or lose the ability to transfer pigment to the hair shaft. When a new hair grows from that follicle, it contains little to no melanin, resulting in a transparent or white hair that appears gray or white against darker lashes. This age-related reduction in pigment production is the most common reason for the color change.
Why Eyelashes Gray Differently Than Head Hair
Eyelashes and scalp hairs differ significantly in their growth cycles, which affects how and when they gray. Hair growth occurs in three phases: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting). Eyelashes have a very short anagen phase, lasting only about 30 to 45 days, contrasting sharply with scalp hair, which can remain in the anagen phase for several years.
The short growth period means the hair follicle is frequently cycling through shedding and regrowth. This rapid cycling is thought to make eyelashes more resilient to the age-related loss of melanocytes, often delaying the onset of graying compared to head hair. Because the growth phase is brief, the follicle is programmed to produce a short, protective hair, and the cells responsible for color appear to be retained longer, meaning eyelashes tend to gray later in life.
Conditions That Cause Premature Graying
While aging is the primary cause, premature or localized graying of eyelashes can signal specific medical conditions. Poliosis is the term for a patch of white or gray hair, which can affect the lashes, scalp, or eyebrows. This localized lack of pigment is often associated with the autoimmune condition Vitiligo, where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys melanocytes in the skin and hair follicles.
Other factors can disrupt pigment production in the lash follicle. Severe inflammation of the eyelid, known as Blepharitis, can damage the follicle and cause the resulting hair to lack color. Certain systemic issues, such as thyroid disorders or a deficiency in Vitamin B12, have also been linked to premature hair graying, including in the eyelashes. These conditions interfere with the metabolic processes necessary for healthy melanocyte function.
Practical Management and When to Seek Advice
For individuals concerned about the cosmetic appearance of gray eyelashes, several management options are available. The simplest solution is using mascara to temporarily darken the lashes. A more lasting option is professional eyelash tinting or dyeing, which safely applies semi-permanent color to the hair shaft. If considering at-home dyeing, it is important to perform a patch test first and take precautions to protect the sensitive eyelid skin.
While graying is usually harmless, seek medical advice if the color change is sudden, rapid, or asymmetrical, affecting only one eye. A consultation is also warranted if the graying is accompanied by other symptoms, such as inflammation, significant hair loss, or unexplained fatigue. Evaluating these symptoms can help identify underlying issues, such as a nutritional deficiency or an autoimmune condition, that may be triggering the premature loss of pigment.