Why Are Your Eyebrows Thinning? 10 Causes You Need to Know

Dr. Andrea Suarez, dermatologist, explains some things that may raise a few eyebrows:

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Eyebrow loss is a symptom rather than a diagnosis; the key initial distinction is whether the hair follicles are being permanently scarred or not, as non-scarring loss can be reversible when the underlying cause is treated, whereas a scarred follicle cannot produce hair again, making early treatment especially important.

So, with that in mind…

1. Alopecia areata: this autoimmune condition can cause sudden, smooth, patchy or complete eyebrow loss without scarring; treatment focuses on controlling the immune response, with options including anti-inflammatory treatments, JAK inhibitors, and sometimes minoxidil.
2. Thyroid disease: low thyroid hormone can cause thinning of the outer eyebrows; this one’s known as the Hertoghe sign, and correcting the thyroid problem can help restore the brows.
3. Skin conditions: atopic dermatitis and seborrheic dermatitis can cause eyebrow thinning or loss; treating the underlying inflammation or seborrheic dermatitis is more important than relying on a brow-growth serum.
4. Infections: syphilis can cause eyebrow loss known as the omnibus sign, while fungal infections such as tinea faciei can spread into the brows and cause hair loss; leprosy can also affect the eyebrows too!
5. Nutritional deficiencies: zinc deficiency can contribute to eyebrow loss, including in people with malabsorption problems such as inflammatory bowel disease; unnecessary high-dose zinc supplementation can instead cause copper deficiency and contribute to hair loss.
6. Trichotillomania and other trauma: repeatedly pulling out eyebrow hairs can prevent regrowth until the behavior is controlled; burns, injuries, and other scars can permanently destroy follicles and may require a hair transplant for restoration.
7. Medications and toxic exposures: chemotherapy can cause significant temporary eyebrow and eyelash loss, although regrowth is common after treatment; estrogen-receptor modulators, aromatase inhibitors, and excessive vitamin A supplementation can also cause eyebrow loss.
8. Frontal fibrosing alopecia: this scarring form of hair loss, particularly common in postmenopausal women but also occurring in men and younger people, can cause eyebrow loss along with recession of the frontal hairline; controlling the inflammation early is essential because established scarring is permanent.
9. & 10. Other scarring conditions: localized scleroderma and discoid lupus can destroy eyebrow follicles and cause permanent hair loss; treatment focuses on stopping the underlying inflammatory process, while burns, significant trauma, and radiation exposure can also permanently scar follicles.

When to see a doctor: sudden, progressive, patchy, itchy, inflamed, or widespread eyebrow loss warrants professional assessment, particularly when hair loss occurs elsewhere; a dermatologist might examine the follicles with magnification, order blood tests, assess other body sites and nails, or even do a biopsy, to find out what’s going on.

For more on all of this plus visual illustrations, enjoy:

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Take care!