Can Seasonal Allergies Affect Lash Extensions?

We all love springtime — warmer temperatures, cuter outfits, and upcoming vacations. However, with flowers blooming and bees buzzing comes the looming dread of seasonal allergies as well. Runny noses, itchy eyes, and constant sneezing, and more, none of it fun. 

So can allergies and their symptoms actually affect your lash extensions? Let’s get into how some common allergy symptoms might take a toll on your eyes and lashes and if there’s anything you can do to help.

Please note that we here at PLA are not doctors or medical professionals. This blog is not medical advice and is meant for entertainment purposes only. If you have severe allergies, please seek professional medical attention.

Seasonal Allergies: How Might They Affect Your Lash Extensions?

Unfortunately, seasonal allergies can manifest in a lot of different ways, all of them irritating. And if they’re pretty bad, they can make it harder for your lash artist to complete the set. Let’s go over some of the main symptoms you might experience during allergy season and how they can affect you during your lash appointment and after.

Watery Eyes

Watery eyes can definitely be problematic, both while you’re getting lashes and after the appointment. Excess moisture can cause the adhesive to shock cure, which leaves behind a white residue and is not reversible. Additionally, it can be harder to keep yourself from touching or rubbing your eyes to remove the moisture, which then leads to oil and debris building up in the lashes. 

Itchy Eyes

It can be so hard to resist the temptation to scratch or rub your eyes even if you don’t have seasonal allergies. And then if you do, it just gets worse! However, to preserve your lashes and keep them on as long as possible, it’s imperative that you keep your hands away from your eyes. Rubbing, scratching, or pulling on your lashes is a surefire way to decrease retention, which means you’ll have to go back in for a fill sooner. Plus, it can even be harmful to your lashes if you accidentally pull out a lash that wasn’t ready to fall out naturally. 

More Buildup In Your Lashes

This is sort of the opposite — your lashes making your allergies worse! But if you think about it, it makes sense. If your lashes are longer and thicker, more debris, dirt, and pollen will build up in them. While this shouldn’t dissuade you from getting lashes if you still want them, it’s all the more important to keep up with your daily cleaning regiment (discussed more below).

Tips For Dealing With Seasonal Allergies

But don’t worry — all hope is not lost! Seasonal allergies don’t have to hold you back from your beloved lashes. Of course, if you feel relief from skipping lashes during the height of allergy season, then go for it. But you can still enjoy your lashes with just a few tips and tricks for managing your annoying symptoms.

Cleanse Your Lashes Every Day

While everyone with lashes should be cleansing them on a daily basis, it’s even more important for those who suffer from allergies. Cleansing extensions thoroughly with a dedicated lash cleanser removes all that unwanted oil, dirt, debris, dead skin, and pollen from the lashes that accumulate throughout the day. Plus, regular cleansing helps prevent the buildup of lash mites, which can lead to irritation or infection.

Brush, Don’t Scratch!

Your lashes might get a little itchy from time to time, especially during allergy season. If you feel the urge to scratch, try using a lash wand instead. Gently brush through your lashes (which you should be doing daily anyway) to satisfy that need to scratch without using your fingers or pulling on your lashes.

Use Tissues And Cotton Swabs To Remove Moisture

If you’re experiencing watery eyes, use tissues or cotton swabs to dab away that moisture instead of rubbing your eyes. Sensing a pattern here? The best thing you can do for your lashes during allergy season is to not rub them with your hands — use gentler methods to keep your symptoms at bay. Your hands will introduce more foreign contaminants to your eyes, making your allergies even worse.

Of course, make sure your lash artist knows that you’re dealing with allergy symptoms before your appointment. It’ll be up to your tech to decide if they’re still comfortable working on you (but remember, they’re not a doctor either and shouldn’t be giving you medical advice). If you’re having really severe symptoms, it’s always a good idea to check with a medical professional to make sure you’re still a good candidate for extensions.

PLA: Your One-Stop Shop For Lash Extension Supplies And Resources

We hope allergy season isn’t taking too big a toll on you! Happy spring and happy lashing, everyone!