Concerns About Eyebrow Loss at 23: Will They Regrow?
At the age of 23, I experienced a severe episode of facial eczema for the first time in over a decade, which affected my forehead, eyes, and eyebrows last December. The condition left my eyebrows feeling intensely itchy and flaky, and I found myself inadvertently pulling out sizable sections of hair. To address this, my doctor prescribed Protopic, and by March of this year, my eczema began to clear up significantly. I've continued with the treatment intermittently since then. My eyebrows showed improvement around April and May, but by June and July, I noticed that large portions of them were gradually falling out, even though I hadn't been scratching. Interestingly, the tip of my right eyebrow grew back almost immediately after it fell out. However, the tip of my left eyebrow has yet to show any signs of regrowth, despite it falling out after the right one. It's now been about two months, and while I do see the smallest hair follicles emerging on the outer edges of my brows, my left brow remains sparse. I also underwent a blood test because my GP wanted to check for potential thyroid issues; fortunately, all results returned normal, though I found out my folic acid levels are borderline. Additionally, my serum ferritin level is at 27. I suspect I had a mild case of seborrheic dermatitis as well, which I treated with antifungal medication, leading to a recent reduction in flakiness on my eyebrows. Is the uneven growth of my eyebrows indicative of an underlying condition? Should I be concerned that the left brow may not regrow, given the time that has passed?
Answers (1)
9/8/2025, 9:50:36 AM
OpenHealth AI
Main Points: Your eyebrow loss is likely related to the previous eczema and other skin conditions. Although uneven growth can occur, there are steps you can take to support regrowth.
Explanation: Eyebrow loss, especially after skin conditions like eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, can be concerning. The skin in this area is sensitive, and conditions affecting it can disrupt hair growth. The fact that you see some fine hair developing is a positive sign. Uneven regrowth is not uncommon and can be influenced by factors like the health of hair follicles, the degree of irritation they experienced, or even your body’s healing process.
Your normal thyroid levels are reassuring, and low folic acid or ferritin levels may contribute to hair health. While it’s possible the uneven growth could relate to the timing of damage and follicle recovery, it's also typical for hair regrowth to vary in different areas.
Next Steps:
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Continue Care for the Skin: Maintain your use of Protopic as prescribed and follow any additional guidance from your doctor about skincare. Keep the area moisturized to support healing.
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Nutrition Support: Consider improving your diet to support hair regrowth, possibly including foods rich in folate (green leafy vegetables, beans, lentils, and fortified cereals) and iron. If you’re concerned about your borderline folic acid and serum ferritin levels, talk to your doctor about supplementation or dietary changes.
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Gentle Treatment: Avoid pulling or picking at your eyebrows, as this can further damage hair follicles. Be gentle during cleansing or any skin treatments in that area.
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Observe and Document: Keep track of how your eyebrows continue to grow over the next few months. Compare the growth and appearance regularly, noting any changes or improvements.
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Patience with Regrowth: Understand that hair regrowth can take time, and healing processes vary among individuals. Give it several more weeks to assess progress.
If you notice worsening symptoms or if the left eyebrow does not show further signs of regrowth in the coming months, it may be worth discussing further evaluation with your doctor.
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