Ingrown eyelash: symptoms, causes, and treatments

When you think of an ingrown hair, you probably think of one that’s trapped and growing under the skin. This can happen with eyelashes but it’s rare. Instead, the term ingrown eyelash describes a lash that grows up and out through the skin in the wrong direction: towards the eye.

Ingrown eyelashes are more than a cosmetic issue. A misdirected lash can scratch your eye, and if it continues to touch your eyeball, it can lead to infection, scarring, and even vision loss (Patel, 2021). 

Here’s a look at what causes an ingrown eyelash––and how to treat it.

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Ingrown eyelash, also called trichiasis, is a condition that affects (you guessed it) the eyelashes. Trichiasis occurs when you have at least one eyelash growing towards the eye instead of curving away from it.

When the angle of eyelash growth changes, it’s called primary trichiasis. If the entire eyelid turns inward forcing lashes into the eye, it’s called secondary trichiasis. When fewer than five eyelashes are affected it’s considered minor trichiasis. The condition can become serious if there are more than five lashes growing in this fashion (Patel, 2021).

Anyone can get ingrown eyelashes. It usually happens when the edge or eyelid margin changes in a way that alters hair growth. 

A common cause of ingrown eyelashes is blepharitis—inflammation of the eyelid. Blepharitis can be caused by bacteria on the face, skin conditions (like dandruff or rosacea), blocked oil glands, allergies, and less frequently, eyelash mites (Eberhardt, 2021). 

Another culprit are styes, which are red, painful bumps on the eyelid caused by infection. Any type of eyelid inflammation can change the skin around your eyes, potentially altering the way eyelashes grow (Bragg, 2021)

Other factors that can boost the risk of an ingrown eyelash include (Patel, 2021):

• Eye infections (like shingles or trachoma)  

• Trauma or injury to the eyelid

• Eyelid surgery

• Autoimmune diseases that affect skin around the eyes

• Aging (loose skin on the eyelids can change lash direction)

• Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis

• Distichiasis, which is when you have two rows of lashes that can move others out of position

Sometimes ingrown eyelashes have no symptoms and go unnoticed. However, the majority of cases are noticeable and can be very painful. Common symptoms of ingrown eyelash are (Karademir, 2021):

• Eye irritation or feeling like something is in your eye

• Eye pain

• Watery eyes

• Redness and inflammation 

• Sensitivity to light

• Blurry vision (if not treated early)

Ingrown eyelashes are more common on the lower lid than the upper one (Patel, 2021).

Any time you feel pain in the eye, there could be what’s called a corneal abrasion, which is a scratch or scrape of the cornea. It’s a good idea to check with a healthcare provider who can refer you to an eye expert. They can then examine the cornea for scratches and identify the offending lashes.

Treatments are based on what is found. If there are scratches on the cornea, a soft contact bandage may be applied to protect the eye while it heals. How you ultimately remove ingrown eyelashes depends on how many you have and how persistent they are. Here are some common treatments for an ingrown eyelash.

Epilation (tweezing) 

Depending on how many ingrown lashes there are, you’ll likely be given anesthetic eye drops before the epilation procedure. The offending lashes are then removed with tweezers or forceps. Wait about 1–2 months (about how long it takes for eyelashes to grow back) before scheduling a follow-up appointment to see how the regrowth is going. 

If they’re still growing in the wrong direction, your healthcare provider may advise continued tweezing or a more permanent solution (Patel, 2021).

Permanent eyelash removal 

In worst-case scenarios, eyelashes can be permanently removed to stop them from growing back. The following procedures involve an office visit and anesthetic (Patel, 2021; Bezerra, 2021):

• Electrolysis (a small electrical current destroys the hair)

• Radiofrequency needle 

• Argon, ruby, or diode laser

• Cryotherapy or cryosurgery (liquid nitrogen is used to damage the lash root)

• Surgical methods of eyelash bulb removal

Repositioning eyelashes 

There are also techniques that surgically reposition lashes rather than permanently remove them. Repositioning eyelashes has been shown to be successful (Karademir, 2021).

If you’re looking up trichiasis treatment online, you’ll a lot of information about trachoma trichiasis. This is a condition that affects more than eight million people in developing nations where trachoma—a serious eye infection—often leads to trichiasis and blindness. 

In countries like this that have limited medical access, surgical techniques and at-home tweezing of eyelashes are common approaches to prevent infection and vision loss. Trachoma eye infections are not seen very often in the United States (Habtamu, 2015; Burton, 2015). 

Some causes of ingrown eyelashes are not preventable, like the changes that come with aging or from necessary surgeries affecting the eye area. To prevent an ingrown eyelash, here are some practices that will reduce the chances of eye inflammation or infection (Bragg, 2021; Aumond, 2018): 

• Keep your fingers out of your eyes

• Always wash your hands before touching your eye area

• Remove make-up on lashes and around the eyes at night

• If you wear contact lenses, keep them clean and remove if irritation starts

• Use a warm compress or clean cloth to loosen debris around the eyes

• Use tear-free shampoo (like baby shampoo) to remove and reduce bacteria around the eyelashes and ducts

If you end up with blepharitis or a stye, check with your healthcare provider about the best way to address the infection and reduce eyelid inflammation. Eyelid scrubs and debris removal are often combined with an antibiotic or an eye ointment, depending on the condition (Aumond, 2018). 

If you have skin conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, a common cause of dandruff and psoriasis, that affect the eye area, there are treatments that can help. It’s best to take extra care removing skin build-up near the eyes, which can lead to ingrown eyelashes. Seeing a dermatologist and an ophthalmologist is a good approach when dealing with a skin condition close by the eyes (Wang, 2020; Rajguru, 2020). 

Tea tree oil is one home remedy shown to have antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used to treat some conditions, such as eyelash mites, which can lead to blepharitis (Savla, 2019). However, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider before trying over-the-counter tea tree oil, as it can come in many different concentrations and combinations with other oils that may potentially irritate the eye.

Anytime you’re dealing with an eye condition it’s important to get medical advice––especially if pain or blurry vision is involved. If you suspect or know you have an ingrown eyelash, a board-certified ophthalmologist or optometrist can take a look to see if there are any scratches affecting the cornea. 

Your healthcare provider may suggest ways to manage the condition at home with follow-up visits based on how eyelashes regrow. They may suggest a permanent hair removal approach if initial treatments don’t work. Overall, it’s best to have it checked first and follow their advice to protect your eye health. 

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Current version

February 16, 2022

Written by

Kristin DeJohn

Fact checked by

Steve Silvestro, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Steve Silvestro, MD, Ro

Dr. Steve Silvestro is a board-certified pediatrician and Associate Director, Clinical Content & Education at Ro.