Risks associated with wearing Kajal

Over the years, wearing kajal has become part of casual eye make-up in Indian households. As far as beauty is concerned, kajal definitely highlights with added sparkle.

With its popularity, kajal pencils have become integral to any make-up kit. Anyhow, whether wearing kajal is hygienic or not is a different question altogether. 

As the whole informal make up is directly associated with eye, the impact of kajal cannot be ignored either.

Dr. Radhi Malar, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Fortis Malar Hospital has discussed vividly on various aspects of wearing kajal and its impact on health of an individual.

Prolonged use of kajal can cause the following

             Conjunctivitis - chemical, toxic & infective

             Allergy

             Toxicity / Chemical Reaction

             Meibomitis

             Style & Hordeolum - infections of the glands of the eyelids

             Corneal ulcer - which can potentially lead to blindness

             Uveitis - certain chemicals in kajal can cause inflammation inside the eye

             Glaucoma - some constituents can increase eye pressure leading to glaucoma

             Dry Eye - regular use of kajal can be associated with scarring of tear / lacrimal glands causing dry eye syndrome

             Conjunctival discoloration

Infection caused by kajal

             Kajal is applied on the Meibomian gland and the lids can cause infection which can lead to style, blepharitis - infection of the lids.

             It can cause bacterial conjunctivitis

             Rarely corneal ulcers

             Allergic conjunctivitis

             Foreign body sensation

Does natural kajal damage your eye?

Natural kajal has the following natural ingredients; almond oil, castor oil, damask rose, Triphala and camphor. Any cosmetics can be dangerous if it is used beyond the expiry date.

Steps to taken while using contacts

             Wash and dry your hands. Before you apply any makeup to your face or put your contacts in, it’s important that you clean your hands well with soap and water. This will ensure no bacteria gets into your eyes as you apply your makeup and touch your contact lenses.

             Clean your contacts and then put them in. Always put your contacts in before you apply any eye makeup. This will ensure you can see properly as you put on your makeup. This will also prevent you from having to put your contacts in after your eye makeup is done, which could cause some of the makeup to transfer on to your contact or into your eye, leading to discomfort and a possible eye infection

             At night when you are ready to remove your eye makeup, always remove your contact lenses first before washing off your makeup.

             Replace your eye makeup every three months. Though your cosmetics may seem like they can last forever, they do have expiry dates. Switch out your eyeliner and mascara every three months to avoid getting bacteria from the products into your eyes.

There is no substitute to healthy make-up. After all, there is no point in inviting trouble with such prolonged use of kajal.