The clocks have changed the evenings are longer and summer is around the corner. Even during Springtime, we will begin to experience periods of balmy summery weather.
For skin, these sudden increases of temperature and exposure to much stronger UV rays can bring with it a host of potential hazards. One area of skin that is often overlooked in preparations for summer skin care, are eyebrows. Yet many people can find that as the hotter weather begins to kick in, that brows can become suddenly flaky and itchy.
So why is it that the onset of more summery weather can often cause brows to become irritated and flaky? Dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh highlights eight potential causes of itchy eyebrows and flaky eyebrows and what you can do to prevent them.
Eyebrow Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common, non-contagious condition causing itchy, red patches and scaly skin in the eyebrows which is caused by an overgrowth of malassezia yeast. This fungus is naturally present on the skin and it feeds on sebum (skin oil) and breaks it down into fatty acids, triggering irritation, redness, and flaking.
The very function of eyebrows is to prevent sweat from the forehead running into the eyes so therefore during warmer weather the eyebrows accumulate much more sebum than almost anywhere else on the body, which is what can trigger a sudden increase in malassezia yeast production and trigger a flare up of Seborrheic Dermatitis.
Eyebrow Sunburn
While we all know to apply suncream to our skin during hotter weather, few of us think about protecting the eyebrows from sun burn. Yet they are in one of the most exposed areas of the face and so are vulnerable to UV damage. UV damage to the eyebrows weakens brow barrier function and can quickly lead to TEWL (trans epidermal water loss) that can cause severe dryness and flaking.
Eyebrow Hay fever
Spring and early summer allergies can put skin into a state of extreme sensitivity. Swelling of skin around the eyes from allergic reactions to pollen can spread up into the eyebrows. Allergic inflammation can weaken the brow barrier function leading to water loss, dryness and flaking.
Eyebrow Acne
Excess of sebum from sweating can pool in the brow hair follicles causing clogging. This attracts external bacteria which can lead to inflammation and infection. Small spots can quickly form in the brow follicles, leading to itching and irritation.
Eyebrow Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction to external irritant. The main culprits are chemicals and perfumes in skin care products. IFor the brows, often products with dyes and chemicals are used to tint brows and its these that can a trigger an allergic reaction that causes flaking and itching.
Eyebrow Eczema
Hotter weather can lead to eczema flare ups in those with atopic skin due to excess sweating and heat triggered water loss which is why eyebrow eczema is prone to flaring up in hotter weather.
Eyebrow Psoriasis
While UV light can help improve symptoms of psoriasis, heat and excess sweating is also a trigger for psoriasis flare ups so the brows are one of the first places where a psoriasis summer flare up can first appear, along with skin in cracks and crevices. Eyebrow psoriasis appears as red, scaly patches in the eyebrows that quickly become dry and extremely flaky.
Cosmetic Eyebrow Treatments
Both brow tinting with brow dyes, microblading and brow wasxing can all cause trauma and allergic reactions in the brows. This can result in the brows becoming inflamed (sometimes severely), itchy and red, often with a burning sensation that can occur almost immediately or up to 48 hours after a dying treatment.
How to combat itchy flaky eyebrow
- For any form of dryness, itching and flaking caused by contact dermatitis, eczema, sunburn, allergies or cosmetic eyebrow treatments, topical steroid treatments are not suitable for use in the eyebrows.
Instead opt for a brow product that will help repair skin barrier function reduce ithcing and intensely hydrate the brows.
Hydrosil HydroBrow is a clear brow serum that contains an extract from chicory root, a natural prebiotic to improve brow barrier function by replenishing beneficial brow microbiota plus an extract of passion fruit seed, with proven anti-inflammatory action to sooth itching and hydrate brows.
- To avoid the risk of sunburn to the brows, a light SPF spray is the best option for protecting exposed brows from sunurn. Spray a few spritz along the top of each brow and gently rub into teh brows to help protect brows from sunburn.
- For contact allergies to eyebrow dyes, a wash containing a solution of potassium permanganate, dip a cotton pad in the wash and apply to the brows. This can help fully oxidize the oxidative pigment used in brow dyes to make dark colours and what is often the cause of skin reactions. These pigments are more reactive when they’re only partially oxidised. Then apply a mild antiseptic gel to help reduce irritation and reduce the risk of bacteria getting into the inflamed or blistered brows.
- In cases of hay fever triggered itchy eyebrows, taking an oral antihistamine from the chemist to help reduce inflammation alongside a topical anti-inflammatory brow gel should help further alleviate symptoms.
- In the case of brow seborrheic dermatitis using a mild anti-dandruff shampoo from the chemist can be used on fungal brows. Apply and then rinse off like normal shampoo.
- Brow exfoliation daily to remove grease and dead skin cells that may have pooled in the brow follicles can help alleviate eyebrow acne. Use a fine exfoliant without chemicals and preferably one that helps replenish good brow bacteria. Clarol Silver & Birch Exfoliating Wash includes a silver ingredient to re-balance brow microbiota and birch bark to dissolve grease and clean out clogged brow follicles.
- For eyebrow psoriasis, the use of a shampoo that helps prevent plaque build up can be used to wash the brows. PSoregon Anti-Plaque Shampoo contains Oregon grape root that studies have proven helps dampen down the mechanism that triggers accelerated skin cell production in psoriatic skin. Use a cotton bud dipped in the shampoo to gently wash the eyebrows and then cleanse off with a damp cotton pad.
