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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

6 yr old DD pulling out eyelashes

7 replies

paranoidmum · 07/05/2009 20:26

My 6 yr old DD is pulling out her beautiful eyelashes, in mainly her R eye. Big gaps very evident, and short re-growth.

We had a big talk about it last week, promises made to stop, but happened again this week.

Perhaps is just boredom, but am v worried it is something worse.

Can anyone advise please?

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Original poster

paranoidmum · 07/05/2009 20:29

My 6 yr old DD is pulling out her eyelashes, in mainly her right eye, to the extent there are big gaps.

Big chat about it last week, and promises to stop - but it is obviously continuing, as even bigger gaps this evening.

Generally she is a very happy girl. Could it just be boredom aka nose picking / nail biting, or should I be more concerned?

Any ideas for tactics to get her to stop?

Thanks ......

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 07/05/2009 20:30

Go to GP - may be a fungal infection causing itching.

thisisyesterday · 07/05/2009 20:31

is she worried about anything?

Original poster

paranoidmum · 07/05/2009 21:55

Chocolate - good idea thx. Did have eye infection month ago (not conjunctivitus-type symptoms, took to GP, told not to worry). May go back to another GP in the practice ...

Yesterday - have asked. Nothing apparant, but will keep close check.

OP posts:

Original poster

paranoidmum · 07/05/2009 21:56

Chocolate - good idea thx. Did have eye infection month ago (not conjunctivitus-type symptoms, took to GP, told not to worry). May go back to another GP in the practice ...

Yesterday - have asked. Nothing apparant, but will keep close check.

OP posts:

Lubyloo · 07/05/2009 22:01

It could be trichotillomania which is a compulsive desire to pull out hair. Is she anxious about anything at the moment? If you google you will find lots of info about it.

whomovedmychocolate · 08/05/2009 09:08

Ah, I don't want to freak you out. But everyone has little parasitic mites in their eyelashes which mop up the excess oil and crud. Unfortunately, they can be killed by soap and excessive hygiene and sometimes by infections - then the sebaceous glands around the eye get blocked and itchy which can make the lashes more liable to come out and itchy (bad combination huh?) But an antibiotic ointment will see off the infection and the mites will come back and all will be well IYSWIM.

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