# Eyelash Compulsion and the Skincare Brand Turnaround > A 31-year-old woman overcame 18 years of trichotillomania by launching a skincare brand after a financial crisis. - Title: Eyelash Compulsion and the Skincare Brand Turnaround - Summary: A 31-year-old woman overcame 18 years of trichotillomania by launching a skincare brand after a financial crisis. Isobel Perl, 31, managed trichotillomania… - Keywords: isobel perl, trichotillomania, eyelashes, skincare brand, financial crisis, tiktok, lash serum, natural oils, hertfordshire, university of nottingham, pandemic, alcohol - Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/lifestyle/beauty/article-16139727/compulsion-pull-eyelashes-tweak-beat.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss - Published: 2026-09-18T16:31:16+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: isobel perl, trichotillomania, eyelashes, skincare brand, financial crisis, tiktok, lash serum, natural oils, hertfordshire, university of nottingham, pandemic, alcohol ## The 18-year struggle For 18 hellish years a compulsion saw me pull out my own eyelashes. > For 18 hellish years a compulsion saw me pull out my own eyelashes. ## The condition Trichotillomania, also known as 'trich', is a condition that leaves sufferers with an uncontrollable desire to pull their hair out. > Trichotillomania, also known as 'trich', is a condition that leaves sufferers with an uncontrollable desire to pull their hair out. ## The start I was 13 when I started picking at my lashes due to stress at school. > I was 13 when I started picking at my lashes. ## Family support My parents noticed my habit, especially my mother who gently tapped my hand to stop. > Mum’s also a therapist ## Early strategies At 14, I saw a therapist and wore an elastic band on my wrist to manage urges. > They also encouraged me to wear an elastic band on my wrist so that when I felt the urge to pull lashes I’d ping the band to give a similar sensation, which did help. ## The compulsion Feeling stressed, tired, or bored triggers pulling out eyelashes for quick pain relief. > The quick sting of pain when the lash is pulled out, followed by the sense of relief when it’s gone, is compulsive. ## Cyclical pattern Trichotillomania settled after GCSEs but flared during A-levels and university. > Trich for me has been cyclical, settling down after my GCSEs, but rearing up again during my A-level exams and while studying biology at the University of Nottingham. ## Self-consciousness I carefully pencil in brows and use fake lash strips when lashes are few. > During periods when I’ve pulled at my brows, I carefully pencil them back in. And whenever I’m down to my last few lashes, I use fake lash strips or individual ones to fill the gaps. ## Financial crisis In 2023, I lost my job and moved back home after a poor business decision. > In 2023, when I was 28, I experienced one of the worst episodes of trich in my life after a poor business decision left me in dire financial straits. ## Skincare brand I launched a skincare brand during the pandemic after losing my job. > What began as a kitchen-table experiment to lift myself out of a rough patch ended up turning into my skincare brand. ## TikTok impact Two million views on TikTok led to messages from women about their hair-pulling. > Via TikTok I told my customers that I was likely going to have to close down, and in the same video I opened up about suffering with trich. Two million views later, I was inundated with messages from women saying they too pull out their hair. ## Lash serum reaction A lash serum caused purple hyperpigmentation, leading to a natural oil solution. > I invested in an expensive lash serum, only to suffer a reaction to the chemicals in it. The skin around my eyes was covered in purple hyperpigmentation. ## Natural solution I developed a natural oil treatment to promote healthy lash regrowth. > It gave me the impetus to develop my own lash treatment using natural oils to promote healthy regrowth. ## Lifestyle changes I gave up alcohol in 2024 and prioritized rest to manage stress. > That’s part of the reason why I gave up alcohol in 2024, after realising that the tiredness of a hangover was a trigger. ## Current control I manage trichotillomania by taking care of my mind and avoiding triggers. > The more I’ve opened up about it online, the less I feel ashamed. I hope doing so will help other sufferers, too. ## The future Trichotillomania will always be part of me, but I’ve improved my control. > Trich will always be part of who I am, but I’ve got much better at keeping it in check. ## Key takeaway Isobel Perl, 31, managed trichotillomania by creating a skincare brand after financial struggles and online support.