Typically, eyebrow hair loss is not serious. In this article, we discuss different causes and treatments, as well as diagnosis.

People may notice eyebrow hair loss on one or both sides. Other symptoms can include itchiness, dry skin, and hair loss or hair thinning on other parts of the body.

Eyebrow hair loss , the medical name for which is eyebrow hypotrichosis, or eyebrow madarosis, can cause a person to notice thinning hair or missing patches of hair in their eyebrows. It can affect both males and females.

Many factors can cause eyebrow hair loss, including hormonal imbalances, diet, and some skin conditions. Determining the cause of eyebrow hair loss can help a person find the best treatment.

The following sections look at the possible causes of eyebrow hair loss.

Normal aging processes

Share on Pinterest The aging process or hormonal imbalances may cause eyebrow hair loss.

As people get older, they may notice hair thinning or loss affecting the head, eyebrows, eyelashes, and elsewhere.

Over time, some hair follicles stop producing hair, and the hair shafts become finer. The hair also begins to lose its color, becoming white or gray.

This type of hair loss is a normal part of getting older.

Hormonal imbalances

An imbalance of thyroid hormones can cause eyebrow hair to fall out. This is linked to the following conditions:

hyperthyroidism, a condition wherein the body creates too much thyroid hormone

hypothyroidism, in which the body does not create enough thyroid hormone

Both types of thyroid imbalance are linked to eyebrow hair loss. Specifically, in hypothyroidism, a person may notice hair loss in the outer third of the eyebrow, which is the thinnest part that points toward the ears.

Other symptoms of thyroid disorders include:

dry, pale skin or moist, velvety skin

a swelling in the neck (a goiter)

coarse, dry, and brittle hair

a dry, itchy scalp

thick, dry, brittle nails

Thyroid-related hair loss is usually temporary, and the hair should return to its usual fullness once thyroid levels return to normal.

Doctors can prescribe medication to balance thyroid levels.

Autoimmune conditions

Autoimmune conditions develop when the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body cells. The immune system may attack healthy cells that contribute to hair growth. This can lead to thinning hair, patches of hair loss, or hair falling out.

Autoimmune conditions that can cause hair loss include:

alopecia areata, a condition that causes patches of hair loss on the head and other areas of the body, which can include the eyebrows

frontal fibrosing alopecia, a form of alopecia that mainly affects people after menopause; eyebrow hair loss occurs before scalp hair loss in around 39% of cases

discoid lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes skin sores, scarring, and hair loss on the face and eyebrows

Skin conditions

Healthy skin is important for healthy hair. This is because hair grows directly from follicles in the skin.

Certain skin conditions can cause itchy, flaking skin rashes. People may lose eyebrow hairs as a result of skin inflammation, dry skin, and rubbing or itching the area around the eyebrows.

Common skin conditions that can cause itchy rashes and eyebrow hair loss include:

atopic dermatitis

psoriasis

seborrheic dermatitis

Nutritional deficiencies

Share on Pinterest Zinc supplements may help with hair regrowth.

The food a person eats has a substantial impact on their skin and hair health. The body needs certain nutrients to create healthy hair.

The following nutritional deficiencies can cause eyebrow hair loss:

Fatty acid deficiency: According to one 2017 review study, having a lack of fatty acids — which are present in fish, nuts, and seeds — in the body may cause eyebrow hair loss.

Biotin deficiency: Not getting enough biotin can result in thinning hair and a loss of body hair. Although biotin is a popular hair growth supplement, there is limited evidence to support its effectiveness.

Zinc deficiency: A lack of zinc can lead to hair loss. The authors of a review study say that zinc supplements may help with hair regrowth in people with a deficiency.

Learn about foods to try for healthy hair growth here.

Medication side effects

Certain medications cause hair loss as a potential side effect, which can also affect the eyebrows. Such medications include:

acitretin, a retinoid drug that people use to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis

chemotherapy, a treatment for cancer

valproic acid, an anticonvulsant drug that treats seizures and bipolar disorder

Genetic conditions

Although less common, certain genetic conditions can lead to eyebrow hair loss. Conditions include:

Ectodermal dysplasias : This is a group of conditions affecting the skin, hair, nails, and teeth. They can also cause sparse or missing hair in the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body parts.

: This is a group of conditions affecting the skin, hair, nails, and teeth. They can also cause sparse or missing hair in the eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body parts. Netherton syndrome: This condition affects the skin, hair, and immune system. It can cause fragile and easily broken hair, or “bamboo hair.” This condition tends to be present from birth.

Other causes

Less common reasons for eyebrow hair loss include: