Blepharitis the enemy of eyelash extensions!!

More and more our stylists are telling us that they are seeing new clients with Blepharitis, so we thought we best get you some information about it and what you can do to prevent it!


What is Blepharitis?
Well it is basically an infected eyelash follicle that has become blocked. The sebum (oil), dead skin cells and bacteria on the eyelid block up the natural lash follicle. Over time the mouth of the follicle (at skin level) becomes inflamed and red. The natural lashes become thinner and sparse causing big gaps between the natural lashes.

What does it look like?
The easiest way to recognise Blepharitis is that the the eyelash follicles become itchy (between the extensions/natural lashes). 
Also there are tiny small white flakes between the lashes that look a bit like dandruff. Pull the eyelid and stretch the skin out to the side (like your drawing eyeliner on it) and have a good look at the follicles. The skin around the lashes will look raised, bumpy and white.


Below is a picture that gives you an idea of what Blepharitis actually looks like:

What is the difference between Bleph and an Allergy?
Allergies present themself within 48 hours after the application of eyelash extensions. The client will either be allergic to the Acrylic or the Formaldehyde that ALL eyelash extension glues contain. Bleph can be an existing condition or a new one, that gets worse with eyelash extensions - especially if the personal hygiene is not maintained. 

How do I prevent it?
MANY clients go out and get a full set of lashes and pay a lot of money for them. They figure "If I don't touch them, wet them, or wash them, they will last longer"....Wrong!!!...Its quite the opposite. Your clients should be washing their eyes with a soapy based cleanser at least 2-3 times a week. Baby Shampoo (no more tears) is a cheap alternative or else you could suggest my favorite - Neutrogena Fresh Foaming cleanser. I tell ALL my clients to wash their eyes in the shower with their fingertips to prevent getting Blepharitis at least TWICE a week. Its primarily a HYGIENE requirement, not just a way to remove makeup.

Do eyelash extensions cause Bleph?
Only if they don't wash their eyes or the condition was pre existing Before they had their first full-set.
Many people have Bleph for years and don't even know they have it. Putting Eyelash extensions on a client with an existing Blepharitis infection, will only enhance the condition and make it worse.


In order for clients to rid themselves of Blepharitis they will need to go see their GP and get a topical ointment, wash with warm soapy water and throw out all their contaminated make up products.


Blepharitis can be passed on from client to client so the best thing for you as a stylist to do is, inform your clients of these things and educate them on how to look after their lashes and this includes washing them weekly. You should also adhere to proper hygiene in your salon and always sanitize your tweezers and equipment after each client. In Australia we are not so strict with our laws but its a good habit to get into using disposable tools as much as possible to avoid cross contamination. using a new drop of glue for every client and a fresh clean set of tweezers for each client is also a great practice to get into. 


Your reputation is hard to build and easy to have torn down - dont let something so preventable give you a bad rep!

Care Taken when using products..

Yet again another few clients have reported that their oh so pretty lashes have fallen out within days from using ASAP skin products. Please ensure that you are always giving your clients as much information as possible in regards to looking after their lashes! 


If clients are unsure about products, then let them bring them in to their next appointment. All you need to do is read the ingredients and make sure any oily substances are not mid to top of the list!


Unfortunately due to us now coming into winter we are seeing more and more clients using hydrating and heavier moisturizers, which usually means that their lashes are getting burdened with oil and compromising the bond - which in turn means lashes last a lot less and may fall out much faster!

Cleaning Eyelash Extensions

To all the clients out there who wear mascara on their ELE... you must know how to clean your lashes in order to prevent infections and to assist with general ELE hygiene. 

A great way to care for your natural lashes as well as your ELE is to wash them in a warm water solution of baby shampoo and water mix. Another great idea is to purchase one of our Foamy Bottles to put the water and shampoo mix in so that it foams up perfectly where ever you are. 

These can be brought here: Foamy Bottles or check out the website at www.hypnoticlashes.com under accessories.

Take you Foamy Bottle and mix:

1 part baby shampoo (no tears)

3 parts Water 

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Wash your ELE's daily with upward strokes letting the foamy soap clean between your lashes and getting rid of any buildup. Rinse well with warm water. When drying your eyes make sure you are not too rough with the ELE's and do not use any materials that will get caught in your ELE's such as cotton pads or furry cotton buds. You are best to use a towel that has no loose threads and gently pat your eyes dry ensuring nothing gets caught on the lashes. 

If your lashes are tangled or crossed over, use the Spoolie given to you at your appointment to gently brush them straight and put them in place. In between fills if you feel that they are crossing over, you can  purchase a longer life coating to use on the lashes to keep them in place. 

If you find that you still need to use mascara ensure that it is a water based mascara and that you are removing all traces of make up each time it is worn. This also aides in preventing infections and extends the longevity of the ELE's.

Products mentioned above can be all be brought here:

www.hypnoticlashes.com 

Get Educated - Blepharitis the ELE enemy!

A great topic to know about if you are an ELE stylist! 


So to start Im going to refer you to a link:
Images of different Blepharitis


The above link has some great info about Bleph and also shows you visual images to help you identify Bleph in a client. Basically Belpharitis is inflammation of the eyelid(s). It is an infected eyelash follicle that has become blocked. The sebum (oil), dead skin cells and bacteria on the eyelid block up the natural lash follicle. Over time the mouth of the follicle (at skin level) becomes inflamed and red. The natural lashes become thinner and sparse causing big gaps between the natural lashes. 


The start of Blepharitis usually appears to look like dandruff between the lashes and is usually accompanied by itchiness. Pull the eyelid and stretch the skin out to the side (like your drawing eyeliner on it) and have a good look at the follicles. The skin around the lashes will look raised, bumpy and white.


Some symptoms of Bleph are as follows:

• Redness of the eyelids.
• Flaking of skin on the lids.
• Crusting at the lid margins, this is generally worst on waking.
• Cysts at the lid margin (hordeolum).
• Red eye.
• Debris in the tear film, seen under magnification (improved contrast with use of fluorescein drops).
• Gritty sensation of the eye.
• Reduced vision.

What Bleph means in the ELE industry:

Your clients will usually develop Bleph due to poor eye hygiene. Most clients feel that if they clean the eye area they will cause the ELE to fall off and therefore they dont clean the eyes as well as they should be cleaned!

You should always point out to your clients that they should clean their eyes at least twice a week with mild baby shampoo - as it is less likely to cause any irritation. They should use our foaming bottles (which can be purchased off the website www.hypnoticlashes.com) mix one part shampoo to two parts water. This will assist to remove any make up and oils that have accumulated on the skin. 

If you have a client that you suspect has Bleph, you need to inform her in the gentlest way possible. Be polite, ask questions about her cleaning routine, the best thing YOU as a stylist can do is make sure all your clients are informed. Let your client know that Blepharitis requires medical attention by an eye specialist. The treatment will involve removal of all the ELE, so that the follicle mouth can be washed with hot soapy water followed by the application of an antibiotic cream. Unfortunately it is not possible to cure Blepharitis completely; however the symptoms can be managed. Once the symptoms are managed and hygiene is introduced, ELE can be reapplied.

The one thing you will need to inform your client is that all her eye makeup and possible some of her foundations may be contaminated - your client will need to dispose of her make up and replace it or she will continue to keep getting it back. This is where you as the stylist will need to keep a close eye on her eyes to ensure there is no reoccurrence - if there is then you need to start at the beginning and question her hygiene routine, if she has had treatment and if she has replaced her makeup.

The below instructions have been taken from www.allaboutvision.com

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Use a cotton-tipped swab to apply cleaning solution recommended by your eye doctor. Rub gently around the edges of your upper and lower eyelids, but do not get cleaning solution in your eye.

Blepharitis can be difficult to manage because it is often chronic, meaning that it never goes away completely. Your eye doctor may recommend one or more of these steps involving good eyelid hygiene and massage:

• Apply a warm compress such as a washcloth to the outer eyelids.
• Cleanse the eyelids with a commercial lid scrub or other recommended product.
• Gently massage the outer eyelids.

A warm compress loosens the crust on your eyelids and eyelashes before you clean them. The warmth also can loosen any blocked residue in the oil-secreting meibomian glands in your eyelids.

To use a warm compress:

• Wash your hands, then dampen a clean washcloth with warm water.
• Place the washcloth over your closed eyes for several minutes.
• Open your eyes, and then use fingers to rub gently around the outer eyelids in a circular motion. Don't press too hard on the eyeball.
• Follow your doctor's recommendations on how often to use a compress and how long it should be kept in place.

When you first begin treatment, your eye doctor may suggest that you do this several times daily, for about five minutes each time. Later on, you might apply the compress once daily for a few minutes.

Cleaning the eyelids is essential to blepharitis treatment. Your doctor will recommend what cleansing agent to use, such as warm water only, baby shampoo diluted with warm water or a special over-the-counter product made specifically for cleansing the lids.

To clean eyelids:

• Wash your hands, then dip a clean washcloth, cotton swab or gauze pad into your cleaning solution.
• Make sure you squeeze out any excess moisture.
• Gently wipe across your lashes and lid margin.
• Rinse with cool water.
• Repeat the process for your other eye, but use a different washcloth, swab or pad.

Your eye doctor may have you clean your lids several times daily to start, and then once daily thereafter. — GW

 

Eyelash Extension Safe Product List

So I thought it would be best if I started a product list of all the products that are oil free and eyelash extension safe -


Make up Removers:

• Almay Eye Makeup Remover Pads 

• Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Make Up remover
• Maybelline Expert Eyes® 100% Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover
• Mary Kay Oil Free Eye Make up Remover
• Bioderma Sensibio Make up remover

Make Up:

• Clinique stay true oil free make up foundation
• Proactive mineral and compact foundation
• Chanel Double Perfection Fluid
• Calvin Klein - Infinite Matte Oil Free Foundation
• Dermalogica Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser 
• Chanel Voile Universel

Please feel free to add to this list as you find products that are good for using whilst having eyelash extensions on. Please note I do not work for any of the above brands nor do I sell them - just a friendly list of products that are oil free and therefore eyelash extension friendly.

Please ensure all above products are suitable for your skin type before using :)

What do I need to do to care for my eyelash extensions?

So there are a few rules that you need to follow when getting any eyelash extensions. These are not to make your eyelashes a chore but they will make them last longer and look beautiful... and in the long run save you cash!!

- After you shower don’t wet your eyelashes for 24 hours after your procedure. This will give the glue an appropriate amount of time to cure. This means you should also avoid steam rooms / saunas and swimming during that period.

- Do not use waterproof mascara on your eyelashes. A water soluble mascara or one designed specifically for eyelash extensions is fine to use, although you’ll probably find that you no longer require mascara. Check out the website for products that are safe to use -www.hypnoticlashes.com

- Use cotton swabs to remove makeup by working gently around the eyelashes.

- Do not use cleansers, makeup removers or moisturisers that contain oil or solvents on your eyes, as these will compromise the bonding agent used to adhere your eyelashes.

- Do not rub your eyes, instead you should get used to patting your eyes gently which is in fact much better for the eyelashes and the sensitive skin around the eyes.

- Be careful not to get your eyelashes caught on clothes when you’re dressing and undressing or towels when you’ve showered - I know this sounds silly but it does happen!

- Never pull your eyelash extension off as it will pull out your natural eyelash. If you want them removed contact Hypnotic Lashes.

- Do not perm or tint your eyelash extensions.

- Do not use eyelash curlers on your eyelashes.

- Book your next eyelash refill at Hypnotic Lashes every 2 weeks - a maximum of 4 week intervals in order to maintain your optimum eyelash effect.