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Lash Diseases and Disorders You May Encounter
September 24, 2018 by The Lash Professional.
Being a lash artist is the best job. You get to hang out with women all day while enhancing their natural beauty. What is better than that? We’re pretty lucky to be in this awesome industry, right? I can honestly say that there isn’t too much that I dislike about being a lash artist. There is this one thing that I would rather not have to deal with though: lash diseases and disorders. Yeah, yuck, who wants to deal with that?
Unfortunately, you might come across eyelash diseases and disorders as a lash artist. This isn’t fun but rest assured that it isn’t too common either. But even though I just said that lash diseases and disorders are not common, it’s still important that you educate yourself on this topic so if you do come across a client with something not so great you know how to deal with it. Knowledge is key right?!
So how do eyelash disease and disorders even happen? Well, when eyes or surrounding areas are exposed to harmful bacteria, eye infections make their debut. Bam, they show up on the scene and make a scene, too!
It is your job as a lash artist to ensure that your lash station, lash tools and hands are free from bacteria that could spread infection or disease. Also, it’s your job to educate your clients on lash diseases and disorders and how to avoid them. It’s a two-way street, both you and your client’s need to partake in the effort to keep their eyes free from eye infections!
Avoid Spreading Lash Diseases and Disorders with Proper Tool Decontamination
It is extremely important that all your lash tools are properly decontaminated to avoid spreading eyelash diseases and disorders. Be sure to check with your local health department for your state rules and regulations regarding decontamination. Know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and keeping tools sterile to ensure you’re properly decontaminating your lash supplies between clients.
- Cleaning – Warm water and soap eliminate surface particles.
- Disinfecting – Barbicide or germicides reduce or eliminate bacteria to a safe level.
- Sterile Storage – Ensure tools are clean of any chemicals or contaminants and are stored in a sterile place.
Lash Diseases and Disorders | What to Look for and What to Do
Allergic Conjunctivitis
When eyes are exposed to allergens, they can become watery, red and itchy. Allergens can come from pets, pollen, dust, mold and more. It’s completely dependent on the client and their sensitivity. If your client has an allergic reaction, their eyes will be sensitive to everything, including things they aren’t usually sensitive to. Exposing their eyes to a foreign substance, such as eyelash extension products, most likely will enhance their allergy symptoms. It’s better to be safe than sorry and just wait for their allergy symptoms to subside.
Bad hygiene, allergies, mites, dandruff, and certain medications cause lash follicles to be inflamed. If a client’s lash follicles are inflamed, lash extensions are just going to make it worse. Suggest the client see a doctor and wait to apply lashes until the inflammation has surpassed. You don’t want to irritate the client’s eyes more!
This is an infection that inflames the conjunctiva of the eye, which can cause the eye to turn pink or in some cases red. Commonly known as pink eye. This infection is easily spread, so avoid applying lashes! Yes, we can disinfect, but why risk it?! The last thing we as lash artist’s want to do is spread pink eye.
Parasites found inside pores and hair follicles that cause infection and inflammation. These are commonly called eye mites and as you have already probably guessed, avoid applying lash extensions until the parasites are gone. If you have a client who comes in with this, it is essential to disinfect everything in your salon. These nasty eyelash mites can spread fast!
A bacterial infection of the sebaceous glands is causing a red, painful bump or an inflamed area of the eye. Eyelash extensions are just going to irritate the infection more, so wait to apply the extensions. Again, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and the last thing you want to do is irritate your client’s eyes more.
So, moral of my story? Clean lashes are happy lashes. 90% of diseases and disorders that can develop in the lash region are a direct result of dirt, build-up, or contamination! That means either you keeping your tools clean, or your clients keeping their lashes clean.
I’ve given you the information to keep your stuff clean, but since we can’t follow our clients home and remind them to wash their lashes every day (that would be creepy), it is best that we remind them by giving them the correct tools to do so. The Lash Professionals Lash Cleanser is the perfect “subtle” hint to your client that they need to clean their lashes more often.
