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Why Lashes Thin With Age, and What Actually Helps: Advice From Our Upper East Side Practice

Rocio Romero, PA-C • October 21, 2026 • 6 min read

Close-up of a woman in her late 40s with naturally full, curled lashes in soft window light in an Upper East Side apartment

HuffPost asked me what I recommend when lashes start to look thinner with age, and this week I was quoted in their piece, If Your Eyelashes Are Thinning With Age, Experts Gave Us Tips For Achieving Fuller Lashes. It is a question I hear every week at ROW 89, in English and in Spanish: ¿por qué tengo las pestañas más finas? So here is the longer version of my answer, the way I explain it to patients in my chair on East 89th Street.

I am Rocio Romero, a certified physician assistant (PA-C) and Practice Director at ROW 89 on the Upper East Side. As a Latina woman who lives and works in New York, I know how much a little lash confidence matters, whether you are heading to the office, a family party or brunch on Second Avenue.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If your lashes are falling out suddenly or your eyes are red, itchy or painful, please see a doctor or an eye specialist.

Why lashes get thinner as we get older

Every lash grows in a cycle: it grows for a few weeks, rests, sheds and is replaced, over a period of several months. As we age, that cycle tends to slow down. New lashes come in a little finer, a little shorter and sometimes lighter in color, and the gaps between them become easier to see. A few things can make it more noticeable:

  • Hormones. Many of my patients notice changes in their hair, brows and lashes around perimenopause and menopause.
  • Dry, sensitive eyes. Eyes often get drier with age, and irritated lids lead to rubbing, which pulls lashes out.
  • Daily habits. Scrubbing off waterproof mascara, sleeping in makeup, pinching with a curler, or years of heavy lash extensions all add up.
  • Medical causes. Thyroid problems, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid margin), alopecia areata and some medications can all cause lash loss. Doctors call this madarosis.

When thinning is a reason to see a doctor

Gradual thinning on both eyes over years is usually normal aging. I send patients to their doctor or an eye specialist when lash loss is sudden, patchy, only on one side, comes with eyebrow loss, or happens alongside red, crusty or itchy lids. Those can point to something that needs treatment, and no serum or mascara will fix the cause.

Lash serums: what I tell my patients

Serums are the first thing people ask about, and it helps to know there are two very different kinds.

Prostaglandin-based serums

These use ingredients related to prostaglandins, the same family as some glaucoma eye drops. The only lash product approved by the FDA for growing lashes is a prescription one, bimatoprost 0.03% (sold as Latisse). Many over-the-counter serums use related compounds. In the HuffPost piece I mentioned Revitalash Advanced Eyelash Conditioner, a prostaglandin-based conditioner that I like for patients who want longer, fuller-looking lashes and are good candidates for it.

Prostaglandin-type products can work, but they are not for everyone. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, side effects can include redness, irritation and darkening of the eyelid skin, which usually fade after you stop, and, rarely, darkening of the colored part of the eye, which is permanent. Researchers have also described a loss of fat around the eyes with long-term use of this drug family. My rules:

  • Apply a tiny amount to the upper lash line only, once a day, on clean, dry skin. More product does not mean more lashes.
  • Expect to wait two to three months to judge results, and know that lashes go back to baseline if you stop.
  • Talk to your eye doctor first if you use glaucoma drops, have had eye surgery, have an eye condition, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Stop and call your doctor if your eyes stay red, itchy or sore.

Prostaglandin-free serums

Peptide and conditioning serums are gentler. They will not change the growth cycle the way a prostaglandin can, but they condition the lashes you have and can reduce breakage, which matters a lot when lashes are fine. They are a good place to start if your eyes are sensitive.

Make the lashes you have look fuller

Curl first, gently

A good curler opens up the eye more than people expect. As I told HuffPost, the Tweezerman ProCurl Lash Curler gives a nice lift and helps open up the eyes. Curl before mascara, never after, hold for a few seconds without tugging, and replace the pad when it gets flat or sticky.

Choose a tubing mascara

For everyday wear I love tubing mascaras like Blinc. Instead of painting lashes with pigment, they wrap each lash in a tiny tube. They come off with warm water and gentle pressure, so there is no rubbing or tugging at night, which is exactly what thinning lashes need.

Small habits that protect lashes

  • Take mascara off every night. Do not sleep in it.
  • Use an oil-based remover on a cotton pad, hold it on the lashes for a few seconds, then wipe down, not side to side.
  • Save waterproof formulas for weddings and rainy days. They are the hardest to remove.
  • Replace mascara about every three months and never share it.
  • Keep your lids clean. If they are often red or flaky, get checked for blepharitis or dry eye.

Lash lifts, tints and extensions at ROW 89

Our Nails & Lashes team on the first floor can give you a fuller look without daily mascara:

  • Eyelash lift ($139, 60 minutes). Lifts and curls your own lashes for weeks. Great if your lashes are long enough but point straight down. Call us to book this one.
  • Eyebrow and eyelash tinting ($39, 40 minutes). Darkens light or graying tips so lashes look thicker. Book tinting online.
  • Lash extensions, Natural Look (from $119). If your lashes are fine, ask for a lighter set. Extensions that are too long or heavy for the natural lash can pull on it over time and cause more loss, which ophthalmologists call traction alopecia, and some people react to the adhesive. Our technicians match the weight to your lashes and will tell you if a lift or tint is the better choice. See the full lash menu.

If you are also thinking about the skin around your eyes, fine lines, crepiness or hollows, that is a conversation for a consultation with me upstairs. I will always tell you honestly what will help and what will not.

Come see us on the Upper East Side

ROW 89 is at 219A East 89th Street, New York, NY 10128, between Second and Third Avenues in Yorkville, a short walk from Carnegie Hill and about five minutes from the Q at 86th Street. Nails & Lashes is on the first floor and Aesthetics is on the second, through the same entrance. We are open 10am–8pm every day, and we see patients in English, Spanish and Russian. Book online or call (212) 722-1959.

Con cariño,
Rocio

Sources

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