TLDR The girl in "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" might have had alopecia areata, causing her lack of eyebrows and sparse eyelashes.
The article explores the dermatological aspects of Johannes Vermeer's painting "The Girl with a Pearl Earring," focusing on the possibility that the subject may have had alopecia areata, as she appears to lack eyebrows and lashes. The painting's subject, possibly a 'tronie' or the artist's daughter, wears an unusual turban that might suggest scalp alopecia. Sparse eyelashes detected through advanced imaging suggest madarosis, which can result from various causes, including alopecia areata, syphilis, or other conditions. Despite these medical speculations, the painting remains a representation of idealized beauty.
6 citations
,
October 2022 in “American journal of clinical dermatology” The review shows how to properly diagnose and treat the loss of eyebrow and eyelash hair.
36 citations
,
January 2012 in “International Journal of Trichology” Losing eyelashes or eyebrows can be a sign of many different health problems and needs a careful approach to treat effectively.
33 citations
,
November 2006 in “Survey of Ophthalmology” Madarosis is the loss of eyelashes and eyebrows due to various health issues and requires thorough examination to diagnose and treat the underlying cause.
10 citations
,
February 2015 in “Clinics in Dermatology” The document concludes that changes in eyelashes and eyelid skin can indicate various local and systemic diseases.
Some vaccines, like the hepatitis B vaccine, might be linked to the hair loss condition Alopecia Areata, but more research is needed.
11 citations
,
August 2012 in “Canadian journal of ophthalmology” Eyelash alopecia areata often goes undiagnosed and can lead to complete eyelash regrowth, especially in younger patients.
