The Why of Eyelash Extension Adhesive Allergic Reactions

It’s true, adhesive allergic reactions are a thing. Sometimes the glue that holds it all together is the same thing that pulls it all apart.

Even though a client may have had eyelash extensions for years now, with no flare ups or irritations to date, all of a sudden, she starts experiencing itchy, sore, red eyes. 

So why does this even happen?


Before we understand why we get an allergic reaction to lash glue, we need to first understand what an allergy is and how they form.

Officially, the definition of an allergy is “a chronic condition involving an abnormal reaction to an ordinary, harmless substance called an allergen.” In other words, a strange and persistent reaction to something that hasn’t bothered us before.

Allergies form when your immune system mistakenly identifies a substance (a type of allergen) as harmful. This then causes your body to produce antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins) to fight them off.

While for some of us this is enough to fight off an allergic reaction, the rest of us aren’t so lucky. If you have an allergic reaction, it’s usually because your body has been exposed to the same type of allergen too many times.

It’s a two step process our bodies go through that creates an allergic reaction.

First, we have the Sensitization step. This is when we are exposed to a new allergen that causes our body’s protective instincts to kick in and keep us safe from what appears to be dangerous to us. Antibodies are produced and attach themselves to what is called a Mast Cell creating a protective shield against the allergen. This Mast Cell is now considered, sensitized. At this stage there are no outwardly symptoms or reactions to the allergen.

Step two is all about the activation. The same allergen from step one is repeatedly exposed in the body, but this time it latches onto a Sensitized Mast Cell. Once the allergen is attached, the cell releases its protective shield into the surrounding tissue, which then causes the tissue to have an inflammatory reaction. This is when symptoms such as itchiness, swelling, and redness occur.

Now, when it comes to lash adhesive, the most common reaction we see is due to Cyanoacrylate, which is the active ingredient in eyelash extension adhesive. The allergic reaction can be immediate, or it can sometimes take a few days to start showing symptoms.

This, in a nutshell, is why adhesive allergic reactions occur.

There’s no need for blame games here, just simple biology.


If symptoms occur, your best option is to stop applying eyelash extensions. If you continue to apply eyelash extension to your client, her allergic reaction will only intensify.


One of the best way to prevent adhesive's allergy is to minimize your client exposure to un-cure adhesive.

You can do so by introducing moisture at the end of the lash appointment. 

The use of a Nebulizer or even washing the eyes with lash shampoo reduce the chance of any wanted side effect. it also removes strong fumes and help reduce redness. 


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