Allergan Corporation (the makers of BOTOX and Juvederm) recently released their prescription eyelash booster, LATISSE. When people ask me if it really works, my response is an emphatic YES!
LATISSE is an FDA-approved, once-daily treatment applied to the base of the upper lashes with a sterile, single-use-per-eye dosposable applicator. Most users see significant results in two to four months. If use of LATISSE is discontinued, the lashes simply return to how they were before the treatments were begun.
Latisse has an interesting history. The main ingredeint is based on a glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, and its effects on eyelash growth were discovered by accident.. Several years ago, people who were using LUMIGAN (the glaucoma drug containing bimatoprost) noted spontaneous eyelash growth. Based on those findings, Allergan began investigating the use of this drug for eyelash growth. This history is not dissimilar to that of BOTOX, which was initially used for muscle spasms. When people noticed that it also made wrinkles disappear, it was eventually approved for the elimination of wrinkles as well.
Since LATISSE is from a respected pharmaceutical company such as Allergan, it makes sense that there is solid scientific data to support its safety and effectiveness. In terms of effectiveness, studies have shown that there is, on average, a 25% increase in eyelash length, a 106% increase in eyelash thickness and an 18% increase in eyelash darkness. In terms of side effects, there was a 3.6% incidence of eye redness, a 3.6 %incidence of eye itchiness and a 2.9% incidence of skin hyperpigmentation. Less common side effects included eye irritation, dry eyes and redness of the eyelids. Hyperpigmentation refers to a slight darkening of the eyelid skin, which may or may not be reversible. There is also a possibility of increased brown pigmentation to the iris, the colored part of the eye.
In my experience with Latisse, I have seen only a handful of patients complain of mild irritation or redness or itchiness, but these symptoms were mild enough that none of these patients discontinued the product. In general, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Many people are familiar with competing over-the-counter products that promise to make the lashes fuller. Many of these competing products worked quite well -- and that's because they were knocking off Allergan's ingredient! However, because bimatoprost is patented and, more importantly, because it is a drug, these companies were skirting the law. They would try to get around these problems by very slightly changing one or two molecules on the drug, but it was only a matter of time until Allergan came on the scene with the real deal.
At this point, why would anyone use anything but the patented, prescription-only LATISSE from Allergan?
Although any physician can prescribe LATISSE, it can be obtained directly from many plastic surgeons and dermatologists, who dispense LATISSE in their offices. The suggested retail price is $120 and one container lasts for up to two months.
More detailed information can be found at www.LATISSE.com.
Footnote: Last Thursday Allergan officially launched LATISSE with an event on La Cienega Boulevard in LA. The room was filled with beauty editors from all the top magazines as well as celebrities like Jewel, Debra Messing, Debbie Mazur, Mandy Moore, Debbie Matenopolous and others. The thing I found interesting was that almost one half of the people I met that night who requested LATISSE prescriptions from me were men -- I have a feeling that the male market for LATISSE will be significant.
