Makeup & Your Eye Health | Women's Eye Health & Safety Month

When you think about your eye health, the potential hazards of makeup may not even be on your radar. Unfortunately, in some instances, the misuse of eye makeup can lead to infection and / or eye injury.
 
The good news is, you don’t have to throw away all of your eye cosmetics. Instead, it’s helpful to learn what the potential dangers are and take precautions to keep your eyes healthy.
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Infections & Injuries Possible Due to Eye Makeup

Eye shadow, eyeliner, and mascara may not seem dangerous, but they can lead to a range of eye problems from minor to serious if not used properly. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in rare instances, women have been blinded temporarily, and even permanently in extreme cases, due to an eye infection caused by eye makeup. More common though are less serious makeup-related eye injuries, such as a scratched cornea.
 
Eye makeup is also a common cause of eye irritation. While the FDA regulates color additives in cosmetics, other makeup ingredients do not require FDA approval.

Permanent Makeup Risks

Permanent makeup may be appealing to some people. It can save you time and give you that look of freshly applied makeup as you jump out of bed, but it does come with certain risks.
 
One of the most common types of permanent makeup is eyeliner. Permanent eyeliner is done much like a tattoo, in a process called micropigmentation. The practitioner injects permanent ink into the skin with a tattoo pen.
 
Risks of permanent makeup, including eyeliner, are infection, scaring, and granulomas. Granulomas are areas of inflammation that may develop around the foreign material, such as the tattoo ink in permanent makeup.
 
There is also something obvious to consider. The makeup is permanent. If you regret the decision or the look you have goes out of style, you can’t just wash it off.
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Are Eyelash Extensions Safe?

Eyelash extensions have become popular in recent years. Having lush, long eyelashes without needing coats of mascara is something many women love, but are extensions safe? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), eyelash extensions can be safe if the correct precautions are taken. 
 
Faux eyelash extensions are either mink, silk, or synthetic. They are attached to your natural eyelashes using semi-permanent glue. The faux lashes last about three weeks and fall off as the natural lashes shed. The glue used to apply the lashes can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Also, the lashes are applied using a tweezer, so it’s essential the practitioner knows what she or he is doing to avoid an injury to the eyes.
 
If you decide to have lash extensions, ask for a spot test on your wrist before the glue is applied to your lashes to check for an allergic reaction. Once you have the extensions, avoid tugging on your lashes, which can damage the eyelash follicles.
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Eye Makeup Safety & Health Tips

If you apply eye makeup as part of your daily routine, it’s helpful to keep the following tips and recommendations in mind to avoid eye injuries and infections:
 

• Don’t share makeup: Although we were always taught to share, eye makeup is one of the things you should keep to yourself. When you share eye makeup, you can also share germs. Similarly, it’s also a good idea to avoid using the “testers” at retail stores, which can be breeding grounds for bacteria.
• Do not dye your eyelashes: Hair dye used on your eyelashes or eyebrows can be harmful if it comes in contact with your eyes.
• Avoid using eye cosmetics if you have an eye infection: Avoid using any eye makeup if you develop an eye infection, such as conjunctivitis or pink eye.
• Wash your hands before applying eye makeup: If you apply eye makeup with dirty hands, bacteria and viruses can enter your body.
• Avoid certain ingredients: Certain ingredients like anti-caking agents, color additives, and preservatives may irritate your eyes. According to the Cleveland Clinic, avoid eye makeup that contains talc, sulfates, and BHA. It’s also important to steer clear of makeup with kohl. Although kohl is approved as a color additive in other countries, it is not approved in the United States because it may contain lead.
• Throw old eye makeup away: Bacteria can grow on liquid eye makeup, including liner and mascara. The AAO recommends replacing eye makeup every three months.

• Don’t put eye makeup on while on the move: Putting eye makeup on while in the car is dangerous for obvious reasons. Even if you’re not driving, avoid applying eye makeup while you’re on the move. As a passenger in a car, subway, or bus, sudden stops can cause you to injure your eye.

 
As long as you use it properly and take the precautions listed above, eye makeup is usually safe. If you do injure yourself while applying makeup or think you may be experiencing signs of an eye infection such as pain, itching, redness, or discharge, see your eye doctor as soon as possible. If you have any questions about your eye health, makeup, or cosmetics or you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.
 
We hope you found our posts on Women's Eye Health and Safety Month & Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month helpful. Please check back with us soon as we cover UV Awareness Month and Healthy Vision.