Lash Extension Adhesive Allergy Guide

Handling allergies responsibly can help you keep your extensions.

What is lash adhesive? 

Lash extension adhesive is a glue made from cyanoacrylate. It's been used as a surgical adhesive for decades, with a less-refined version being the main ingredient in Super Glue and nail glue. Super Glue was originally created in 1942 and later on, during the Vietnam war, military doctors began using it in the field to quickly close wounds. The discovery saved countless lives and it became an alternative for stitches and sutures. No, your lash extension glue is not Super Glue, it's a surgical glue that has been specially formulated to be used on and around skin. This refined, medical-grade version is widely used by medical professionals. Sometimes they'll refer to it by the brand name Dermabond. This medical-grade surgical adhesive contains the same type of cyanoacrylate used to permanently bond your lash extensions to your natural lashes. 

What causes a lash adhesive allergy?

Most often, direct contact with the skin can trigger a glue allergy. Lash extension adhesive should not touch the skin for this reason. The first phase of developing an allergy is sensitization, and after this, just exposure to the fumes from the adhesive may cause an allergic reaction. It's important to make sure your extensions are not attached to the skin. They should be at least .5mm from the eyelid, placed on the lash itself. 

Allergic reactions occur when the immune system overreacts to a harmless substance, or allergen. In this case, the allergen is lash adhesive. Usually, it's the cyanoacrylate in the adhesive that causes the reaction. Rarely, it can be additives like the pigment that gives the adhesive it's color. This is why occasionally someone may have an allergic reaction, but when they visit another lash tech they have no reaction at all. 

How do I know if I'm having an allergic reaction?

Most often, an adhesive allergy will begin with itching and redness of the eye lids. From there, mild or moderate swelling, and very often flaking of the skin on the eyelid will occur. The pictures below show how lash adhesive allergies commonly look. In extreme cases the swelling may be much more severe than either of these pictures. 

Early phase allergic reaction

Late phase allergic reaction

It's important to tell your lash tech if you have any itching or redness after your appointment. Allergies never go away, they only get worse with each exposure. Infection, permanent lash loss, and tissue damage may occur if an allergic reaction continues. 

There are conditions other than an allergic response that can cause discomfort and redness. It's important to see a healthcare professional to determine if there's another issue. Some common causes of eye discomfort are a sty or even improperly applied lash extensions that are causing irritation. 

What can be done about lash extension allergies? 

When you have an allergic reaction tell your lash tech as soon as possible. When my clients contact me, they're instructed to reach out to a physician, and I suggest you do that before anything else. Only a medical professional can diagnose a lash adhesive allergy, and this will let us know how best to proceed. At that point, if it's determined that you're having an allergic reaction, you'll need to get a doctor's note clearing you for the removal of your existing lashes and a patch test. I can't do a removal without a doctor's approval. The process of removing the lashes can make an allergic reaction flare up or become more irritated, so please do not attempt it yourself at home. During the patch test I'll place 5-10 lashes on each eye with a different adhesive from the one that caused the initial reaction. We'll monitor your progress over 48-72 hours. At this point if there is no reaction we can proceed with lash extensions normally. 

Can I continue to wear lash extensions after an allergic reaction?

If your patch test does not produce an allergic reaction we can go ahead and continue lash extensions. I have a sensitive adhesive that contains a different type of cyanoacrylate. This adhesive is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. However, if you've had allergic reactions to lash adhesive for a long time, it may still cause an allergic response, and it's likely you have developed cross-reactivity. This is your immune system now recognizing anything similar as an allergen. This is why it's important to tell your lash tech at the very first sign of itching, redness, and/or irritation. 

My primary goal is to provide safe, beautiful lash extensions that enhance your daily life, not complicate it. You should never have to worry about your lashes being bothersome or painful. 

As always, if you have any questions feel free to comment below and I'll do my best to answer them. Please keep in mind, this post should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice or care. For any questions pertaining to the treatment of allergic reactions or medical emergencies, please contact your physician or a medical care provider. 

-Beauty Geek