Dr. Correia (GMC) — Updated on October 3, 2024
Although thinning eyebrows are a common problem, it can still be distressing. Eyebrows frame your face, protect your eyes, and are important for non-verbal communication [1]. Eyebrow hair loss can affect your self-confidence — one study on women with eyebrow or eyelash hair loss found 25% experienced new anxiety as a result [2].
Although it’s common to lose some eyebrow hair as you get older, it may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Fortunately, treatment options are available to help eyebrows grow back. In this article, we’ll explore:
- The causes of thinning eyebrows
- Treatment options to boost brow thickness
- How an eyebrow transplant works with before and after photos
Why are my eyebrows thinning?
There are several causes of eyebrow hair loss and thinning eyebrows. Here are some of the most common:
- Ageing — Some people lose hair from their eyebrows as they get older [3]. This may be due to hormonal changes or a decline in hair follicle quality, which tends to be more visible around your eyebrows than on your scalp.
- Alopecia areata — This is an autoimmune condition in which white blood cells attack your hair follicles [4]. It can cause eyebrow hair loss as well as the loss of all hair on your body (known as alopecia universalis).
- Frontal fibrosing alopecia — This condition usually (but not exclusively) affects postmenopausal women [5]. It’s a type of scarring alopecia that affects the frontal hairline, eyebrows, and limbs [5].
- Trichotillomania — This mental health condition describes a compulsive urge to pull out your hair and is a common cause of eyebrow hair loss [6].
- Telogen effluvium — this type of hair loss is often caused by emotional stress or a triggering medical event [7]. It can affect scalp and eyebrow hair but is unlikely to affect only the eyebrows [8].
- Mineral or vitamin deficiencies — Some nutrient deficiencies can cause hair loss, which may also affect your eyebrows.
- Skin conditions — Eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis can all affect your eyebrow area. These conditions cause inflammation that may make it hard for hair to grow, which could cause thinning eyebrows.
- Thyroid disorders — An underactive thyroid can cause a specific type of eyebrow hair loss: loss of the outer third of the eyebrows [9].
- Overplucking eyebrows — Plucking your eyebrows too aggressively may cause them to stop growing back.
Why are my eyebrows thinning as I get older?
Doctors and scientists are still unsure why eyebrows get thinner as we get older. In some people, usually men, eyebrows can get thicker and bushier. This may happen because of changing hormone levels or other aspects of the ageing process.
What are the main causes of thinning eyebrows in men?
Ageing and hormonal changes are the leading cause of thinning eyebrows in men. Autoimmune conditions, skin conditions, and nutrient deficiencies that cause different types of alopecia can also affect men’s eyebrows.
Why is one of my eyebrows thinning?
Eyebrow hair loss doesn’t always affect both brows. Conditions like alopecia areata, infections, skin conditions, and hormonal imbalances may affect just one of your eyebrows. Even if you pluck your eyebrows evenly, overplucking could cause more hair loss on one side than the other.
Treatment options for thinning eyebrows
The best treatment for your thinning eyebrows depends on the underlying cause. Here are some of the treatments that may increase eyebrow hair growth and restore your thinning brows.
Medication for thinning eyebrows
There are several medications that may help with madarosis (eyebrow or eyelash hair loss). Some of these are available over the counter, while others need a prescription from your doctor.
- Minoxidil (Rogaine) — This over-the-counter medicine is available in versions for men and women. Commonly used for androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness), Minoxidil for eyebrows shows promising results in reversing thinning [10].
- Hormone medication — For eyebrow thinning caused by hormone disruption or changes, your doctor may prescribe medications like testosterone, oestrogen, or thyroid hormone.
- Corticosteroids — These medications may be prescribed in cream, injection, or pill-based forms to treat eyebrow hair loss. They can help with conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and alopecia areata by easing inflammation and adjusting your immune response [11-13].
- Anthralin — This medication is often used to treat psoriasis but may also help with eyebrow hair loss from alopecia areata [14-15].
- Bimatoprost — Used as a treatment for glaucoma and eyelash growth, this medication may also help restore thinning eyebrows, particularly those affected by alopecia areata or frontal fibrosing alopecia [16].
Mental health treatments
In cases of eyebrow hair thinning due to stress, anxiety, or trichotillomania, physical treatments are unlikely to help. You’ll need to treat the underlying cause of your hair loss to restore healthy brows.
Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend a psychologist, counsellor, or lifestyle changes to treat the underlying reason for your hair loss. In many cases, it’s possible to regrow hair loss from trichotillomania and regain hair loss from stress.
Microblading and micropigmentation
Eyebrow microblading and micropigmentation do not technically improve eyebrow hair growth. However, they can create the impression of fuller, thicker eyebrows. If your thinning eyebrows don’t respond to other treatments and you’re not a candidate for an eyebrow transplant, these techniques may be your best option.
Both techniques are similar and involve placing pigment into your skin to add semi-permanent thickness to your eyebrows. Microblading tends to be cheaper and more natural-looking but requires more regular touch-ups.
Micropigmentation (or eyebrow tattooing) may last longer but is more similar to a traditional tattoo. That means it’s usually more expensive and may look less natural. Both treatments can last several years, but this varies widely depending on the practitioner, technique, and person receiving the treatment.
Natural treatments
Some people turn to natural treatments for their thinning eyebrows. These include:
- Nutritional supplements — If nutrient deficiencies are the cause of your thin eyebrows, supplements may help treat specific nutrient deficiencies and reverse your hair loss. However, taking hair vitamins and minerals in pill form isn’t the best way for most healthy people to get their recommended intakes [17]. A balanced diet for healthy hair is important for strong brow growth.
- Essential oils for hair growth — Certain essential oils may help with thinning brows. One small study explored the use of Jarilla-Coffea extract to improve eyebrow growth. Only 9 women were included in this study, but Jarilla-Coffea improved eyebrow hair thickness without negative effects in these volunteers [18].
Eyebrow transplant
An eyebrow hair transplant is permanent, but it’s not suitable for all types of eyebrow hair loss. Unfortunately, eyebrow hair loss caused by trichotillomania, alopecia areata, and some other medical conditions does not usually respond well to a transplant.
However, if your thinning brows are due to overplucking, age-related thinning, or damage to the skin (such as from an injury or surgery), FUE eyebrow transplantation often works well. This technique involves removing healthy follicles from an area on your scalp (normally behind the ear) and implanting them along your browline.
The diagram below shows how much you can expect to pay for an eyebrow transplant in the UK.
The eyebrow transplant procedure
To start, the area around your brows will be numbed with anaesthetic so you feel minimal pain during the procedure. Sedatives are also available if you’d prefer to be more relaxed.
Your surgeon extracts hair follicles using either the FUE or FUT technique, then positions them in small incisions along the browline. This follows your natural brow in your preferred shape.
You can go home on the same day, and you should see new eyebrow growth within just 6 months. When the hairs start to grow, you won’t be able to tell them apart from your natural eyebrow hairs. Learn more about how long it takes for eyebrows to grow back.
Eyebrow transplant: before and after
Considering a brow transplant? Here are some examples of how an eyebrow transplant can change your look if you have thinning brows.
This photo shows Sara’s transformation after an eyebrow transplant at the Wimpole Clinic. Sara had significant brow hair loss, and not much of her natural eyebrows were left at all.
She had 800 grafts transplanted by Dr Sciacca, and within 9 months, she had thick, healthy eyebrow growth in her chosen brow shape. Sara commented:
“Dr Sciacca and his team are first class. Without a doubt he is the best in the business… (I) was looked after so well and the whole procedure was explained clearly and I knew what was happening the whole time.”
See more eyebrow transplant results and patient reviews in our hair transplant gallery.
How to prevent thinning eyebrows
Prevention is better than cure, so try to avoid eyebrow hair loss before it starts. Avoiding overplucking is one of the top ways to keep your brows healthy further down the line, and resist the urge to dye your brows with harsh chemicals. If you must dye them, try protecting your eyebrow with a dab of Vaseline first.
Diet is also essential to eyebrow loss prevention — make sure you’re getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein in your meals. If you’re concerned about your nutrient intake, you can speak to your doctor about blood tests to rule out deficiencies.
Treating thinning eyebrows at the Wimpole Clinic
Concerned about thinning eyebrows? Our expert trichologists can help. With a specialist focus on hair health, these hair doctors can identify why your eyebrow hair is falling out with a thorough assessment and diagnostic trichology tests.
When you’ve got a diagnosis, they’ll work with you to create a personalised treatment plan to get your brows looking thick and healthy again. Want to learn more? Find your nearest clinic location and book a free consultation to get started.
FAQs
Can thinning eyebrows grow back?
Thinning eyebrows often have a good chance of growing back over time, either with hair growth treatment or addressing the underlying cause. However, it may not be possible in some cases. The chance of your eyebrows growing back depends on why they started thinning in the first place.
How do I stop my eyebrows from thinning?
You can’t always stop your eyebrows from thinning, but you can minimise damage to your hair follicles. Avoid overplucking and eat a balanced diet to give yourself a better chance of healthy brows as you get older. If your eyebrows are already thinning, consider hair loss treatments to stop further shedding.
How can I thicken my eyebrows after menopause?
If your eyebrows have thinned out after menopause, you need to know the underlying cause before you can treat them. A trichologist can diagnose the reason for your thinning eyebrows and suggest a treatment plan to get them back on track.
How do you fix years of overplucked eyebrows?
If you’ve plucked your eyebrows for many years, you may find hair no longer grows in the plucked areas. Medication for hair regrowth may help your brows and eyebrow transplants often provide excellent results.
- Therapeutic potential of bimatoprost for the treatment of eyebrow hypotrichosis
- Body image and psychological distress in women with breast cancer: a French online survey on patients’ perceptions and expectations
- Topical Treatment of Eyebrow Hypotrichosis with Bimatoprost 0.03% Solution: Case Report and Literature Review
- Treatments, causes, and signs of alopecia areata
- Female Pattern Hair Loss
- Isolated hair loss on the eyebrow: five cases with trichoscopic features
- Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature
- Acquired causes of eyebrow and eyelash loss: A review and approach to diagnosis and treatment
- Impact of Thyroid Dysfunction on Hair Disorders
- Minoxidil 2% lotion for eyebrow enhancement: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, spilt-face comparative study
- Treatment of Eczema: Corticosteroids and Beyond
- Mechanisms of Action of Topical Corticosteroids in Psoriasis
- Mini pulse corticosteroid therapy with oral dexamethasone for moderate to severe alopecia areata: A multicentric study
- Liposomal and Ethosomal Gels for the Topical Delivery of Anthralin: Preparation, Comparative Evaluation and Clinical Assessment in Psoriatic Patients
- Efficacy and safety of diphenylcyclopropenone alone or in combination with anthralin in the treatment of chronic extensive alopecia areata: a retrospective case series
- Bimatoprost for the treatment of eyelash, eyebrow and scalp alopecia
- Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements
- Jarilla–Coffea extract: a natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.
Dr. Correia (GMC) — Updated on October 3, 2024
Simply fill in your details and we’ll get in touch with you shortly.
Book a consultation
Simply fill in your details in the form below and we'll get in touch with you shortly.