Salty deposits in or below eyebrows

[zorgkang]

Hello,

I've had this "problem" for a long time.  As the subject says, I often find a salt like powder in and under my eyebrows (not eyes).  It is often pronounced enough that I notice it immediately when glancing at a mirror.

Obviously it is due to sweating in that area but why is there so much sweating going on there specifically?  This happens without doing strenuous exercise by the way, and there is no sweat dripping in my face, but I have noticed that the region gets humid often, while walking for example.  Also, if my sweat is overly salty, how come there are only deposits there?

My first concern is that it doesn't look too good.  But I suppose it might also indicate some underlying salt related problem.  Maybe I'm not evacuating it enough?  I'm pretty sure I don't have too much salt in my diet, I'm probably below average for a North-American.

Finally, I searched on the internet but only found 2 other accounts of this problem, without any useful replies.

Thanks for your input.

[k934]

I find myself constantly wiping my eyebrows and nose. I will apply make-up and even while applying make-up in the morning they are consistently wet, along with my nose. It is extremely annoying. At first I thought it was the make-up or foundation I was using on my face but this has been happening for quite some time now. I even tried switching make-up a few times, it made no difference. It is a relief to see that so many others are having the same problems. I am not concerned just very annoyed with this problem. I am in my early 20's and started Acutane about 3 months ago. That is the only medication I am on presently. Someone mentioned something about this starting after they had taken Acutane. I am curious to see if anyone else has taken Acutane or is currently on it like myself and is having these problems. I need to address this problem with my dermatologist but am very curious.

[Dixychix]

I have found that the corners of my eyes water a lot makes it hard to keep makeup on before leaving house, and my brows don’t seem to sweat much but at end of day I have the salt deposits all up in my brow hair and just below them

[nefarious10]

Yes!! Finally someone said accutane! I have been searching for an answer to this for months now and nothing. My derm thought I was crazy lol. I am also on accutane and I noticed this salt thing started around the same time I started taking it. I'm also finding that as my accumulative dose gets higher, the salt has gotten worse. It used to be just in my eyebrows, but now I get little specks on my eyelids and just under my eyes...always in the exact same spots! I have to wipe my face multiple times a day. Feels like salt powder... And yes I tasted it lol.. It doesn't happen if I'm just sitting at home though...only at work (it's the worst at work and that is the only time I wear makeup. It still happens if I don't wear makeup but not nearly as bad.) and a little if I just leave the house to run errands.. So weird.. I wish I could get a medical answer..

[michi7834]

I've had overly sweaty eyebrows since I was 14. I'm now 31 and it's always been a constant source of embarrassment this whole time. I'm always wiping my brows and people will ask me what I'm doing or if I'm tired or something. It seems to be worse in the mornings and subsides by the evening. It's also worse when I have my period or when I get anxious. It seems to have nothing to do with the temperature. I've started applying Degree Clinical Protection to my brows at night and it works pretty well. I know they say you shouldn't, but it's the only thing that has worked for me! I'm just careful about it. When I asked my dermatologist about it, he had never heard of this condition, so I'm glad I'm not alone; although, I wish, for all of us, we didn't have to deal with it. :)

[lozl]

Yep, I've had the same problem since I was about 15 and am now 31. I think it's probably an overactive gland. I don't sweat excessively in any other area of my body though, which I find strange.  I do have fairly thick eyebrows, which I pluck, and I wonder if their thickness contributes to the level of sweat produced? It seems to occur mainly in the mornings and not when I've been doing sweaty activities (e.g. gym). The only remedy I've found is to moisturise my eyebrows as part of my general skin care routine. I massage moisturiser into my eyebrows both at night, and in the morning.  This seems to reduce the salty deposits somewhat, although I still get some...It's really quite a weird problem, and I always hope no one notices at work!

[nnlawson]

I'm just another salty eyebrow/lid woman! Although I assume the issue has been around for quite some time, I believe it was less noticeable in earlier years when I was more active on a daily basis and sweat on a regular basis, thus assuming that the deposits on my brows and lids was merely sweat "run off" from my forehead.
I am currently 27, female, healthy, white, and live in the Midwest. This sweat issue has become more evident every day for a minimum of the past 8months. I have done the "taste test" and the taste is similar to that of sea salt, the consistency is also comparable to sea salt that has been crushed to a finer power, with some larger flakes mixed in.
Through reading the existing comments, I am assuming/noticing  that there is a large amount of women vs men that are being effected by this problem, we are all within a 15-20yr age difference, and none of us have been successful finding any answers as to why this happens, what this is, and if this is a sign or warning from our bodies that we need to be checking out medicenaly (sp?).
Personally, I have also noticed that the salt sweat tends to be more intense on days I wear eye and brow makeup.
Is any of the above a match with any of you? Please....if someone out there has discussed OUR problem with their doctor, please pass your findings along to the rest of us!
Until then, I will continue to research and update here and keep you all updated.

[lifeboat]

Well I have had this for years and have never been concerned.  Although tonight I was curious and did some research. Anxiety may cause perspiration and this may happen in the brows. I use a deodorant that had aluminum and will not sweat from my armpits.  Sweat has to come out somewhere because our bodies need to rid us of toxins.  We can sweat from our brows; there is hair there, so it seems natural enough.  It's a little annoying I suppose but I check regularly to make sure there is no salt there so I won't be embarrassed.  i am still not concerned.  We sweat as humans and because we are advanced and use antiperspirants the body changes and sweats from different areas.  I am not a doctor but my common sense tells me the same as what I have shared with you!  Do your balls sweat too!  That's normal don't worry.lol

[sly194]

The salty flakes never concerned me that much either, and it doesn't seem to be affecting the overall health of any of us who experience this condition.  My reason for researching it online was that I was just curious as to the possible causes, as well as to find out if anybody else had experienced the same sort of thing.

Like you, I have a normal thyroid, I drink plenty of water, and I'm not taking any medications.  I agree that the "salt" is most likely dried sweat or sweat-gland related.  It just puzzles me that if it is caused by overactive sweat glands, then why I don't experience the salty crystals during the times when I've actually been sweating, like after working out every night.   I only get them in the morning, within a few hours of applying my makeup, and while working in a comfortably air-conditioned office with no sweating occurring.