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Do you get the feeling that you are rubbing or pulling at your eyelashes or eyebrows while you sleep? Some people are surprised to discover eyelashes or eyebrow hairs on their pillow in the morning despite being confident they would never rub or pull their lashes during the day. Night time lash damage is more common than most realise and in some cases the cause is trichoteiromania. This is repetitive rubbing or scratching of the hair, including the scalp but also the eyelashes or eyebrows. This can cause the hair shaft to break but in time it can lead to hair loss. It is often associated with anxiety and often occurring unconsciously, sometimes during sleep.
This article explains the science behind nighttime lash rubbing and pulling, how it differs from trichotillomania, the medical factors that increase risk, and how protection during sleep can reduce ongoing damage.
Trichoteiromania is a disorder caused by repetitive rubbing of the hair rather than deliberate pulling of the hair. The term derives from the Greek word “teiro” which means “to rub”, and was first described in the dermatological literature to explain hair breakage patterns that do not fit classic hair pulling disorders like trichotillomania.
Unlike trichotillomania:
In the eyelashes and eyebrows trichoteiromania most commonly presents as:
Yes and it is often perfectly normal to rub the face during sleep. This is a key point many people miss.
While we sleep the brain passes through multiple depths of arousal which means that we can become more or less active. During the lighter sleep stages we can briefly becoming partially awake and automatic behaviours can occur such as scratching, face touching or even just rubbing our eye line or brow area.
If we are not disturbed then we will not remember doing them.
Clinical sleep studies and observations confirm that eye rubbing during sleep is common, especially in people with eye problems, allergies, anxiety or stress related conditions, or certain neuromuscular disorders.
These are before and after photos of real Opti Laboratories customers.
It is important to distinguish trichoteiromania from trichotillomania.
Trichoteiromania (rubbing)
Trichotillomania (pulling)
Most people who lose lashes overnight are experiencing rubbing-related damage, not true nocturnal hair pulling.
Several medical and environmental factors increase the likelihood of unconscious eye rubbing during sleep:
Even mild irritation can trigger a reflexive rubbing response during sleep and eyelashes are particularly vulnerable because they are short, delicate hairs with a thin cuticle.
Eyelashes and eyebrows grow slowly and spend a large proportion of their hair growth cycle in the resting phase. Since there is no repair mechanism to fix damage to the hair, repeated mechanical stress causes cumulative weakening of the hair shaft that can lead to breakage – also known as trichoclasis. This means that any damaged hair is not replaced quickly and, once broken, lashes may take months to regain length when a replacement hair grows to take the original ones place.
It is not only rubbing from our hands that can add pressure around the eyes while we sleep. Cotton or synthetic pillowcases and the seams of our bedding can also create friction across the eye area.
“Thank you again so, so much for the silk mask — I absolutely love it.
I’ve been using it and it’s honestly wonderful. The texture is beautiful and feels incredibly soft and luxurious. I really notice how well it protects my lashes and my face — it almost feels like a little pillow for my eyes. I wake up feeling much more comfortable, with no pressure at all, which makes such a difference.
It’s become part of my nightly routine already. Thank you again for such a thoughtful and beautifully made piece.”
Roxana
From a biomechanical perspective, the most effective way to reduce night time lash damage is to reduce friction and block access to the eye area during sleep.
A well-designed silk sleep mask helps by:
Silk fibres are naturally smooth and non abrasive which makes them particularly suitable for fragile lashes and sensitive eyelid skin.
True luxury isn’t just silk.
It’s comfort engineered around the human face.
Unlike other sleep masks, which can increase pressure and friction on the eye area and in particular on the eyebrow, our extra-large padded cups lift the mask away from your eyes for protection. This mask rests on the forehead and the cheekbone arches, leaving the eye and region under the brow untouched.
Add luxurious 22 momme mulberry silk, made using the Ahimsa or “peace” method, for the softest possible material for your skin. Our sleep mask is designed to block out light for a deeper and more peaceful night’s sleep.The Opti Labs Sleep Mask is designed to keep pressure away from the healing tissue, while helping you get the best sleep possible.
Most luxury sleep masks compete on fabric, feel and branding. Few consider how pressure is distributed on the face.
This is the Opti Laboratories difference.
This design adds biomechanics.
Dr Tom Walker, a medical doctor with an additional degree in anatomical science, engineered a mask that fits the contours of the face.
This design combines a unique anatomy mapped support for zero eyelid contact, along with luxurious silk selected for minimal friction and maximum softness.
Comparable luxury brands focus on materials; this design brings anatomical knowledge for a protective fit.
If you are seeking a sleep mask that prioritises comfort, avoids pressure on the eyes and brows, and feels gentle throughout the night, the Opti Sleep Mask is designed with those needs in mind.
Expert sleep protection for your eyelids.
£65.00
Ideal for
✔ Protecting eyelashes and eyebrows while you sleep
✔ Luxury travellers
✔ Side sleepers
✔ Light sleepers that need complete blackout
Our clinically proven, prescription strength growth treatment has been our gold standard treatment since we started in 2007.
Trusted by over 15,000 clients.
Each pack includes the treatment and the applicators, which lasts most people three months with careful usage.
Yes. Repeated rubbing weakens the hair shaft, leading to breakage and premature shedding even without pulling.
Asymmetry often reflects a dominant hand, preferred sleep position, or uneven irritation between eyes.
Broken lashes are short and blunt. Pulled lashes are longer and often have a visible bulb at the root.
Absolutely. Stress increases both ocular irritation and unconscious repetitive behaviours. If there is a background of anxiety or mental health problems then especially so.
In most cases, yes but regrowth takes time. Eyelashes grow slowly so consistent protection and good habits are key.
Once any underlying medical or nutritional cause has been addressed, many people want to regrow their lashes and eyebrows.
Opti Laboratories are the eyelash and eyebrow growth experts. We believe that night time behaviours are under-recognised and that simple interventions can make a measurable difference.
Our clients include individuals recovering after:
▪️Thyroid related brow loss
▪️Chemotherapy related eyelash thinning
▪️Trichotillomania and related issues
▪️Cosmetic over plucking
▪️Eyelash and eyebrow loss from radiotherapy
▪️Thinning eyelashes due to medications
However, we also help a lot of people that simply want longer eyelashes and thicker eyebrows too.
Based in the UK and led by a team of British doctors, we have helped thousands of clients. since 2007 and we have been recognised in UK newspapers and magazines.
We continue to innovate. Our award-winning daytime lash and brow serum, the first in the world to offer UV protection for lashes and brows, supports growth and helps protect fragile follicles during your recovery.
This article is intended for educational purposes and does not replace individual medical assessment. Persistent or unexplained eyelash or eyebrow loss should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.
No. Trichoteiromania involves repetitive rubbing that damages the hair shaft, whereas trichotillomania involves pulling hairs out at the root. They differ in cause, clinical appearance, and management.
It causes hair breakage rather than true hair loss. Repeated friction weakens the shaft, leading to snapping along its length instead of removal from the follicle.
It is uncommon. Most hair pulling occurs while awake or during partial arousals. True pulling during deep sleep is rare and usually associated with parasomnias.
Trichoteiromania. Broken lash fragments without hair bulbs are far more consistent with night-time rubbing than deliberate pulling.
Because management differs. Trichoteiromania responds best to reducing friction and mechanical protection, whereas trichotillomania often requires behavioural or psychological intervention.
Reviewed by beauty editors from top magazines and newspapers
Reich S, Trüeb RM. Trichoteiromanie [Trichoteiromania]. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2003 Jan;1(1):22-8. German. doi: 10.1046/j.1610-0387.2003.02012.x. PMID: 16285289.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16285289/
Messenger, de Berker and Sinclair et al.
Disorders of hair.
In: Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, Wiley-Blackwell.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444317633
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https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.20532