Do you ask the question your doctor why do my eyebrows itch? Well, if you do so, you are not the only one wondering about the reason. Others ask this question to their doctors too.
The need to know about eyebrow itching is because the area around your eyebrows is very sensitive, and pain can be felt even by a soft touch on that area.
Eyebrow itching for no apparent reason can be a sign of a serious disease. So if you suspect something unusual, it is better to go and see a doctor.
In most cases, the itchiness in the eyebrows appears when there are problems with eczema or dermatitis, both common skin rashes that affect your body.
In these conditions, the eyes become red and puffy, and then you start experiencing prickling and itchiness. You may also find crusting around the eye, a burning sensation when you wake up from sleep, and in some cases, a feeling of tenderness.
Why do my eyebrows itch?
There are many reasons why my eyebrows itch? For example, if the eyebrows are red and swollen, you could have a fungal infection. This can happen when seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea is present.
Some other reasons for this itchiness include:
1. Eye Allergies
Allergy from dust, pollen, or other substances around your house might cause problems with the eyes and brow area. Inhaling these allergens might result in itching of other parts around your eyes.
2. The absence of eyelashes
Eyelashes normally protect the brow from sun rays, dust, dirt, and potential injuries while sleeping or when you blink your eyelids too much or rub them.
If you have lost your eyelashes for some reason, this can make your eyebrows more vulnerable to allergy and itching.
3. Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition that usually affects the face of adults rather than children. It mostly appears along the cheeks.
But might also affect the area around the eyes where it becomes red and puffy. Sun exposure, spicy food, and heavy exercise can trigger rosacea.
4. Eczema and dermatitis
These two skin conditions might also result in itching around the eyes, including eyebrows. Crusting, redness, and puffy eyelids are common signs of eczema or dermatitis that might be causing itching in your eyebrows.
5. Seborrheic Dermatitis
Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin that causes itching and also dandruff-like flakes on your eyebrows. It can be treated using steroid creams, but more serious treatments are sometimes needed to control the symptoms.
Seborrheic dermatitis is another type of dermatitis that affects oily areas of the body such as the face, ears, chest, and back of the neck.
6. Folliculitis
Folliculitis is an inflammation of your skin caused by bacteria or yeast that can also cause itching. It usually affects hair follicles on the face, arms, shoulders, and upper thighs but can appear anywhere in the body where there are hairs.
7. Psoriasis
The condition of psoriasis can cause redness and peeling of your skin. Still, it might also cause a type of crusting that leads to itching in eyebrows, eyelids, or even around your eyes.
8. Skin conditions affecting eyelids
Skin conditions such as blepharitis, sebaceous cysts, or chalazion can cause itching in the eyebrows. Blepharitis is a condition that causes redness and discomfort on eyelids, especially around the corners of your eyes, where flakes similar to dandruff might be found.
9. Bacterial infection
Eyelash folliculitis is a type of bacterial infection that affects eyelashes. Usually, you can notice crusting around your eyelashes which will also lead to itching in the eyebrows.
10. Trichotillomania
This is an impulse control disorder when the person cannot resist pulling their own hair. People with trichotillomania are usually aware of what they are doing. Still, they feel they are not able to control their actions.
Biting, chewing, and pulling of hair are common types of behavior in this disorder. It can affect eyebrows, too, when they are pulled out by force or when the person uses some tools to pull them out.
11. Excessive eyebrow plucking
Excessive plucking of eyebrows might also result in itching as well as rough and damaged skin around your eyebrows.
12. Neurotic excoriation
Neurotic excoriation is another impulse-control disorder where the person has an irresistible urge to pick or scratch the skin to cause bleeding, sores, and scarring.
It might affect any part of the body, including your eyebrows, and is usually combined with other types of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
13. Skin conditions that cause scarring
Skin conditions such as acne, chickenpox, or eczema might also cause itching in the eyebrows.
14. Irritated hairs on your eyebrows
Your eyebrow hairs are usually not smooth, which might lead to irritation when they rub against each other and against your skin. It can also cause itching in the eyebrows when hairs grow in the wrong direction and irritate your eyelids and surrounding areas.
How to Prevent eyebrows itch
There are some ways to reduce the itching in eyebrows caused by various skin conditions.
1. Minimize sun exposure
Excessive sun exposure might worsen skin conditions that can result in itching of eyebrows, eyelids, and surrounding areas. Sun protection measures might help you control the symptoms until you find the right treatment for your condition.
2. Use hypoallergenic facial cleansers
Skincare products that are not allergy-tested might also cause itching in eyebrows, eyelids, and even around your eyes. Using hypoallergenic facial cleansers helps remove the dry skin on your face more efficiently until you find the right treatment for your condition.
3. Avoid harsh soaps and chemicals
Harsh soaps and chemical products that you use to remove the dead skin cells from your face might also irritate your skin.
Further causing itching in eyebrows as well as eyelids. Using natural facial cleansers such as those made from honey, for example, helps to cleanse your face better than other products do.
4. Balance your diet
Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids might help to strengthen eyelashes and eyelids as well as reduce inflammation. In addition, you should avoid foods with too much sugar.
5. Reduce stress
Excessive stress can also trigger itching of the eyebrows and other symptoms related to skin conditions such as blepharitis. Regular exercises and meditation might help to reduce stress and its symptoms, such as itching in the eyebrows, eyelids, and around your eyes.
6. Take the right supplements
Foods rich in vitamin C might also help strengthen eyelashes and eyelids. Especially when you suffer from blepharitis or other skin conditions that cause itching in the eyebrows.
7. Use coconut oil on your eyebrows
Coconut oil might help to treat eyelashes that are weak and damaged by conditions such as blepharitis. In addition, it can also reduce inflammation in eyelids and surrounding areas.
Which might result in itching of the eyebrows. Massage small amounts of coconut oil onto your eyelashes every night to strengthen them and prevent further damage.
8. Exfoliate your eyebrows
Natural scrubs might help you remove dead skin cells from around your eyebrows more easily than other products.
In addition, exfoliation will reduce the risk of itching in eyebrows caused by dryness or roughness of eyebrow hairs. It also helps to remove any dirt and residue from the area surrounding your eyebrows.
9. Moisturize your eyebrows
Moisturizers can help to prevent itching in the eyebrows caused by dry skin on your face. Look for a cream or lotion that contains all-natural ingredients such as avocado oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil.
Which will not irritate your skin. Massage small amounts of moisturizer onto your eyebrows every night before going to bed to reduce dryness and prevent itching.
10. Use honey as a conditioner for eyelashes
Honey might help you treat eyelids that are itchy due to blepharitis or other conditions. It contains natural ingredients that can soothe dry skin and any irritation.
In addition, honey also helps restore the protective function of eyelids against dust, chemicals, or other environmental pollutants. Apply two drops of honey to your fingertips and massage it onto your eyebrows every night before going to bed.
The Bottom Line
If you notice an unusual amount of eyebrow itching, it could be due to a few different reasons. One possibility is that you have developed folliculitis or acne on your face in the area around your eyebrows. This can create inflammation and lead to itchiness in this region.
Another explanation for why your eyebrows might feel like they’re crawling up your forehead is. If there has been the growth of bacteria at the base of one’s eyelashes near their hairline.
As these bacteria grow, they will produce substances that cause irritation and redness, leading to significant discomfort when resting against skin or clothing – resulting in scratching behavior.
Dr. Aditya Gupta is a highly accomplished Indian doctor with extensive experience in the field of neurology. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Dr. Gupta completed his medical degree from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), followed by his postgraduate studies in neurology from the same institution.
