Eyelash extensions have been around for a while now, and people today can get celebrity-like lashes for a decent amount of money. However, these eyelashes may come with a significant risk of allergic reactions, warns Consumer Reports.
Fake eyelashes that can be applied via glue have been available in Europe since the 1870s. Before that, Parisians had found a way to sew hair inside the eyelid using a needle and thread to make the eyelashes look longer.
Although today eyelash extensions are as dramatic, they still carry risk of allergic reactions to the chemicals used during the procedure, and a risk of infection from bacteria that may be present on these products.
The synthetic or biological glues used to stick the hair can cause severe reactions in the eye, and cause irritation in the conjunctiva called conjunctivitis, or cornea which is called keratitis.
A recent study in the journal Cornea had found that eyelash extensions were the reason behind eye irritation in women visiting eye hospitals in Japan.
Singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth had a nasty allergic reaction last year, which she attributed to formaldehyde used in the eyelash extension glue.
"Something bad has happened. I've got eyelash extensions. Here's the problem: The glue has formaldehyde in it, and I'm allergic. I swelled up and I'm sneezing. . . . It looks like I have lips on my eyelids," Kristin Chenoweth confessed on the "Late Show with David Letterman" last year.
Additionally, eyelash extensions don't just cause allergic reactions and infections in the eye, but these procedures can also damage the natural eyelash and lead to hair loss - a condition known as traction alopecia, College of Optometrists in England warned.
Temporary eyelashes are equally bad for the eye, Consumer report warned, as they can lead to similar eyelash loss due to pulling of the natural eyelashes.
Consumer Reports said that sticking to mascara to get that long-lash look is a safer option. However, mascara shouldn't be shared or borrowed and must be replaced every three months. Also, disuse mascara if there is irritation in the eye and don't wear the product until the eye heals completely.