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Picking Eyelashes

Hi everyone im 14 and ever since i was about 6 years old i have been picking out my eyelashes...i have picked them all out to where i have no eyelashes 5 times. I have never met anyone with the same problem and it surprises me that im not the only one who does it..and it seems like i cant stop.
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480448 tn?1426948538
How old are you, hon?  Have you sought any help for this?  If not, please do.  As with any kind of compulsion, you can address it with therapy, and sometimes medications.

Please be sure you seek out a professional to help you with this.  I will also reassure you that you are not going to go blind doing this, but you ARE at risk for injuring your eye, and causing infections.  Stopping with help is the best option, obviously, but until you can do that, be sure you are thoroughly washing your hands before getting anywhere near your eye.  Keep your fingernails SHORT and well filed as well.

Very best of luck to you, please let us know how you're doing!
Helpful - 0
3070697 tn?1340759038
I have been picking my eyelashes for 6 years now. I am trying to stop too because I am afraid that I might go blind by shoving my dirty fingers in my eyes all the time. I hope that I will stop and never do it again. I really hope they grow back. I only pick my top lashes and not the bottom but I got some problem or habit that makes me pick them. Sometimes they are thick and they are clear. Those are the lashes I pick the most. I am thinking that might be the end of the piece of hair that grows there so I am trying to stop but I just can't! I will try to keep myself occupied so I dont pick them. You are right, You aren't the only person out there that has this kind of problem.
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Hello and welcome!

There is actually a name for the condition defined by compulsive hair pulling/picking.  It is called Trichotillomania.  Usually, the most common place for picking is the scalp, but many people also pick facial hair including eyebrows, lashes.

The good news is, with some professional help, you can start working on this.  You can try to figure out if there is a trigger that started this, and how to start managing it.

The first step, if you haven't already done so, is confide in your parents or other trusted adult.  Your parent or guardian is going to then have to arrange a doctor's appointment with a child/adolescent psychiatrist.  Those all many sound like big scary, embarassing words, but don't be frightened.  These are people well trained in dealing with these kinds of issues and they will be able to help you.  You don't have to suffer with this.

Just remember that it is important that you are seen by a child/adolescent psych versus an adult doctor, as treatments vary quite a bit between younger people and grown ups.

Please be sure to come back and let us know how you're doing...we really do care!  
Helpful - 0
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Arlington, VA
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