Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Upper Lid Eye Lashes Turning Grey. Diabetic And Thyroid Patient. What Can Be Done?
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
This graying of eyelash is called poliosis.
There could be many causes for the same
1) Hereditary or genetic
2) Medicines like chloroquine, acitretin, or cyclosporine or prostaglandin eye drops
3) vitiligo, alopecia areata, herpes zoster, trauma etc
4) Thyroid disorder or diabetes
5) Sometimes nutritional deficiency like vitamin B12 or selenium etc.
6) Idiopathic i.e. no known cause
As such, there is no treatment option for poliosis. If there is an underlying cause, it has to be treated. In your husband's case, thyroid disease and diabetes could be responsible. So proper medication should be taken to control the same.
In addition, one should take a diet XXXXXXX in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Ask him to include soy, lentils, and sprouts. Eggs, lean meats, dairy products, nuts like walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds in diet. Include green leafy vegetables, fishes like sardine mackerel etc. to maintain good level of vitamins and minerals.
If cosmetically it’s very unpleasant one can always use a kohl pencil or mascara to cover those hair. In addition, one can consider taking health supplements with calcium pantothenate. Application of placental extract like placentrex gel or psoralen based lotion or steroid cream may help but studies forthe same have not shown promising results if there was no associated vitiligo lesion.
Hope that helped.
Take care
Thanks for writing to us.
This graying of eyelash is called poliosis.
There could be many causes for the same
1) Hereditary or genetic
2) Medicines like chloroquine, acitretin, or cyclosporine or prostaglandin eye drops
3) vitiligo, alopecia areata, herpes zoster, trauma etc
4) Thyroid disorder or diabetes
5) Sometimes nutritional deficiency like vitamin B12 or selenium etc.
6) Idiopathic i.e. no known cause
As such, there is no treatment option for poliosis. If there is an underlying cause, it has to be treated. In your husband's case, thyroid disease and diabetes could be responsible. So proper medication should be taken to control the same.
In addition, one should take a diet XXXXXXX in proteins, vitamins and minerals. Ask him to include soy, lentils, and sprouts. Eggs, lean meats, dairy products, nuts like walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds in diet. Include green leafy vegetables, fishes like sardine mackerel etc. to maintain good level of vitamins and minerals.
If cosmetically it’s very unpleasant one can always use a kohl pencil or mascara to cover those hair. In addition, one can consider taking health supplements with calcium pantothenate. Application of placental extract like placentrex gel or psoralen based lotion or steroid cream may help but studies forthe same have not shown promising results if there was no associated vitiligo lesion.
Hope that helped.
Take care
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
