What is LATISSE®?
Many people find that, as they age, their eyelashes begin to thin, just as the hair on the rest of the body does. Some people are simply born with sparse, thin lashes, a condition called hypotrichosis. A lot of women—particularly blondes and redheads—may have enough eyelashes, but they're short and so light, they're hardly visible without mascara. If any of these situations apply to you, and you want to improve the look of your eyes without having to put on false lashes or layers of mascara, LATISSE® may be the answer.
Created by Allergan in 2001, and approved by the FDA in 2008, LATISSE® is a prescription treatment to grow longer, thicker, darker, and more eyelashes.
How LATISSE® Works
The active ingredient in LATISSE® is bimatoprost, a synthetic prostaglandin (a fatty acid that performs hormone-like actions) that is used to treat glaucoma. When patients were treated for glaucoma with bimatoprost, physicians found that a side effect was the growth of lusher and darker eyelashes—and thus LATISSE® was born.
Bimatroprost works by prolonging the active growing cycle of a hair follicle (known as the anagen phase), and increasing the number of hairs growing. While bimatoprost treats glaucoma in the form of eye drops, LATISSE® is applied directly along the lashline, and is not meant to be used in the eyes.
How to Use LATISSE®
It's important to remember that LATISSE® is not a cosmetic, but a pharmaceutical, and it must be used in the specified manner to avoid complications and minimize the possibility of side effects.
- Use LATISSE® once a day at bedtime.
- Remove contact lenses, if worn.
- Gently cleanse the eye area.
- Dry skin completely.
- Using the included applicator, apply LATISSE® to the base of the upper eyelashes only.
- Gently blot the eyelid with a tissue to remove excess solution.
- Once the solution has been absorbed, and the skin is completely dry, contact lenses may be reinserted, if necessary.
You may notice a difference in the appearance of your eyelashes after just a few weeks, but the full results will be achieved after 16 weeks of consistent use. Because every hair on our bodies eventually sheds, you'll need to continue using LATISSE® as directed to maintain results.
When you come in for your consultation, we'll explain the instructions to you in detail, and answer any questions you have about using LATISSE®.
Possible LATISSE® Side Effects
Possible side effects include, but are not limited to:
- itchy and/or dry eyes
- hair growth in other areas (if LATISSE® came into contact with those areas, and on a consistent basis)
- an increase or development of brown pigmentation in the iris
- a darkening of the skin on the eyelids
LATISSE® may not be suitable for those with eye pressure problems, and may not be effective for those suffering from alopecia areata.
