skin treatments on brows
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free skin care · Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:12 am

Hi, I don't look or post here much anymore, but some of you may remember me. Hi!

I have a question about the affect of treatments on eyebrows.

I remember watching a youtube vid of a woman who did a lactic acid peel, and she just slapped it on over her entire face (not her lips or eye sockets, of course) and casually joked "what they heck".. and went over her eyebrows too.

I was a little horrified. My eyebrows (and hair) are starting to thin, so I don't want to risk anything damaging them, although the skin under them could probably use some exfoliation. I've noticed them occasionally flaking a little.

I use vit c, retin a, cp's, alternating all about 2x a week, occasional lactic acid. I would think that almost all of them would damage hair.

Would anything like that nourish hair? Does anyone know what the effects of cp's are on hair? I try to use castor oil for lashes and even brows now.

free skin care · Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:18 am

I would not use anything acid (AHA, BHA, etc.)on brows. I don't think it would do much; but why?

I do have thin eye brows and had some spots that I would fill in with eye brow colour. (I prefer powder over pencil.)

I do use from Silk Naturals the eyelash gel. It did help grow some brow hairs.

http://host.silknaturals.com/creb/lash-conditioning-p-1003.html

free skin care · Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:55 am

Thanks for the tip! Yes, I've always carefully avoided my brows esp with lactic acids or other peels (which I do rarely), but I'm being extra careful now with my regular treatments. I have a hyperpigmentation spot (or beauty mark?) right by my left brow, which has been missing treatment as a result, so I may pay special attention there.

Sun Mar 17, 2013 7:40 pm

The fear that we usually have about applying CP's over hairlines or brows is that BHA's, salicylic being the only one, works interfolicularly (inside the pore) instead of BHA's that work intercellularly (in between cells) might Damage the hair bulb. It is unlikely that an esthetic grade peel will penetrate deep enough to do any permanent damage. It's just good practice not to go over brows especially if you don't want to effect the color of the brow but you can take a q-tip and apply a little peel to the areas that have dull flakey skin.
I prescribe Latesse (off label) to patients to apply to thinning brows. I've seen some amazing results. Allergen is actually studying the key ingredient as a hair stimulator for the scalp. You only need to use the smallest amount possible. I usually apply it to my lashes and what's left over goes on my brows. You can also look into permanent makeup, I prefer the Tap method, that can actually tattoo on brows that really look like tiny hairs.

free skin care · Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:30 am

Hey Lori.... Can't speak for CPs or retina A, but I've been using C serums at 15-20% and glycolic at 10-30%, plus other acids, for years with no noticeable detrimental effect on my brows. I don't specifically/deliberately apply to brows, but never avoided them either. I love my brows, they're probably my best facial feature, and I sure would have noticed any problems.

Having said that, I have a feeling that C serums "may" possibly lighten brow/lash colour. I dye my brows and lashes, although they're close to black already, so can't be sure, it's just a hunch ...

free skin care · Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:38 pm

appletini- how do you dye your own brows? My hairdresser showed caution when I asked him about doing that.

free skin care · Mon Mar 18, 2013 6:43 pm

LoriA - I agree that vit C *might* lighten the brows (it's suppose to lighten the skin), but I'm not sure on that. I use Retin A on mine (not on purpose) and I don't believe that has contributed to any thinning (I DO think age has, though).

Skin Bio actually makes a CP for hair, so CPs are not 'bad' for them. They've mentioned that CPs can make the hair follicle healthier by certain actions (you can read up on that on their website), so I wouldn't worry about using CPs on them. I actually use the CPs on my own to keep them healthy.

Castor oil might be very nice on your brows - it should make them shinier, at least.

free skin care · Tue Mar 19, 2013 5:11 am

foxe - I use this, blue/black on lashes and brown/black on brows.
http://1000hour.com.au/collections/eyelash-brow-dye-kits

Been using it on and off for around 30 years, so I guess it's safe, although I believe certain countries don't allow sale of these kind of home dye kits (??)

Recently made an order at the actual "1000hour" website for the first time - international shipping quite reasonable at Aus$10 and fairly fast. (was previously buying from an online pharmacy in New Zealand)

Claimed to be 12 uses per pack but I get a lot more than that - I mix up only half the recommended amount and it's plenty.

free skin care · Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:02 pm

Thank you EllyIvy, I never thought of getting Latesse for my brows! I got some at one point for my lashes and got too scared to use it since my mom had had glaucoma in her later years.

And Appletini & Foxe for your replies... I won't sweat it then, but I'm glad I asked.

Yes, castor oil has been great for lashes, and I tried it on my scalp, and am almost certain that I lost less hair the next time I washed. The only problem is the smell... shudder. I could gag, and would really worry that friends or worse, boyfriends would get a wiff and feel the same way. I'm looking into finding out which essential oils might do the best job at hopefully neutralizing it.

free skin care · Sun Mar 24, 2013 11:45 pm

I was using Retin A, vitamin C and AHAa for a while and always avoided my brows and sideburns area. When starting Obagi Nu Derm, I started using so much tretinoin that some migrated onto my brows and sideburn area. The results were a thick deadened skin peeled off - almost like a callous. No hairs came with it though. After a while I read on the board how a poster applied Rogaine along with using Retin A and her eyebrows grew back. So I did the same and it was incredible as my brows completely filled in after years of overplucking and then just being bald in areas. I truly believe it worked because that thick layer of dead skin peeled off.

And now I treat the skin on my brows and sideburn area just the same as facial skin - i don't want those areas to sag in the long term because they aren't getting any treatments.

free skin care · Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:56 am

My brows aren't too bad, I've just noticed them thinning a bit, but I'll keep all that in mind if ever it comes to it.

Rogaine is an expensive prescription, isn't it? Is there a knockoff? I have a small patch in one brown I might like filled in.

I do neglect the areas by my hairline, jaw and near my ears (and I sometimes notice some flaking there near the sideburns), so that's a very good reminder. And my neck... and decollage... ugh.
This could easily get out of hand! I'm kind of relieved that I'm not a lady of luxury with unlimited cash & time..

free skin care · Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:55 am

LoriA wrote:

Rogaine is an expensive prescription, isn't it? Is there a knockoff? I have a small patch in one brown I might like filled in.

Hi LoriA,

I use the Walmart brand Equate, which is generic Minoxidil, and costs about $10 for 1 bottle or $19 for 3 bottles. It
s OTC and on the shelf next to Rogaine in the men's haircare aisle. A bottle has been lasting me over a year with daily usage so it's very affordable. In the PM, after applying all my skin creams, Retin A, etc., I just dip a Qtip into the bottle and swipe my brows.

This stuff is powerful - used it only a couple of times on my sister who basically had like a one hair width brow and her brows grew back!

free skin care · Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:39 am

Woah, thank you for the info! I live in Canada, but now that I know that there is generic minoxidil available, I'll look for it for that brow.

This brow & hair thinning thing is new to me, so I'm a little freaked out, but trying to be cool about it, assuming it's just a temporary thing which I'll cure with better scalp & skincare.. maybe nutrition.
I've always had a mane of long, curly and (what at least looked like) thick hair. I remember my mom, not a very vain woman, but after she hit her 60's worrying what she'd ever do if she lost hers. I felt bad for her, and she passed away before it became a noticeable problem. And now.. eeeek!

free skin care · Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:15 am

LoriA
Have you been ill, or through a stressful time
within the last few months?
A doctor on the radio once said that for some reason that is not understood, hair does not fall out during that time but some weeks later.
So perhaps you just need to relax and wait for everything to return to normal?

free skin care · Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:28 am

No, no illness or inordinate amounts of stress. Though I always seem to downplay that sort of thing, especially since I've gone through way worse in my life. I did find out I had to move in recent months, which was a surprise and quite upsetting.
I'll take that into consideration, thanks.

I've taken it as an opportunity to pay more attention to my scalp. I've started giving myself regular scalp massages, which I now believe is essential to good health. I think there was a lot of tension stemming from my tight shoulders (where I usually carry my stress), some buildup (ack!) and honestly, I think my roots almost hurt before! It all feels better now.

free skin care · Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:24 am

Hi LoriA - I also wanted to mention that I started taking Biotin a year ago because my nails were breaking and this has noticeably strengthened my hair and nails.

free skin care · Wed Mar 27, 2013 9:29 am

Thanks, I recall people mentioning it! My nails have always been super strong, but I'll look into it if this isn't remedied soon.
Thank you for your all your suggestions everyone!

free skin care · Sun Jul 28, 2013 11:11 pm

Its been a while, but I just wanted to check in on this thread to report that my hair went back to normal! Quite quickly, actually, and with little effort.

What had precipitated my concern, was friends casually correcting me when I talked about my big hair, and it finally being confirmed when I went in for a cut. She said that my hair was thin, which really shocked me! I also knew at the time that my scalp was in bad condition and was a little embarrassed. Then after I finally moved, I started really noticing what big clumps of hair I was losing. I didn't even want to admit here how at a loss I felt... scared and not wanting to face the possibilities.

Anyway, I started massaging my scalp a couple of times a week with coconut oil, or coconut with castor, and either leaving it for an hour, or overnight before washing. Now I try to massage once every week or two, with or without oil.

The other thing which I think has made a world of difference is that I ditched my regular shampoos (which I'd only actually been using "lightly" twice a week, on the surface of my scalp, moving the lather around the roots to gently loosen oils & dirt). I had been noticing irritation after shampooing and started spritzing with acv which helped. I finally switched to a Mediterranean olive oil based soap/shampoo which I had been using instead of regular soap for my hands, and which had relieved the flaky patch I'd had on my finger.

That really seemed to do the trick, and I'm back to normal again. Stress was probably a big contributor. I read how hair loss could be affected by neck/shoulder tension, and I had all of that happening in so far as my arm (old repetitive strain injury) was tightening up as well. And I wasn't kidding when I said my roots actually hurt! Much better now.

I'll still be looking into the suggested treatments for my brows. I'm not too worried about them (or facial treatments affecting them), but it'd be nice if they were thicker. And lashes are still doing well with castor.
Those of you who posted to this thread helped me out a lot, thank you!

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