How Latisse works to give you fuller lashes
Latisse Scottsdale
Long, full, dark eyelashes have long been a hallmark of youth and beauty, and most women prize them. After spending many years applying mascara daily or using eyelash extensions, many women are looking for a more permanent and natural solution.
Fortunately, we have one. Latisse is a topical treatment that makes the eyelashes grow thicker and fuller. How is this possible? How does Latisse work?
What is Latisse?
The generic name for Latisse is bimatoprost. It was originally developed as a glaucoma medication. Patients would put in eye drops each day to help control the pressure in their eyes. However, patients and their doctors started to notice strange side effects of this medication. It caused increased eyelash growth.
It was immediately apparent that this “side effect” was actually something that many people would want, and clinical trials soon began, to study the use of this medication for the purpose of thickening the eyelashes. In 2008, it became FDA-approved for this specific use. This approval means that it’s recognized to be safe as well as effective for this purpose.
How does Latisse work?
Latisse actually works in two different ways. One is that it increases the number of eyelashes that sprout. This has the effect of thickening the lashes. The other is that it lengthens the growth phase of the eyelashes. This means that each eyelash has a longer period of time to grow before it’s naturally shed, which has the effect of lengthening the eyelashes.
Latisse is a liquid solution. It’s applied to the eyelash line once a day, generally just before bed. Just a single drop is used on each upper eyelid. Some of it will naturally spread to the lower eyelids.
Are there any side effects of Latisse?
Although Latisse is extremely safe, there are certain potential side effects that are important to be aware of. One is that Latisse is very effective at promoting hair growth wherever it lands, so it’s important to ensure that it stays just at your lash line. This is why it’s only applied to the upper eyelids; if you put it on the lower eyelids, it could easily drip onto your cheek and cause some unwanted hair growth there. A specially designed applicator is used to help prevent Latisse from spreading to where you don’t want it.
One other possible concern is that Latisse can cause some darkening of the iris, which is the colored part of the eye. This doesn’t happen for everyone, but for a few people, the treatment stimulates cells called melanocytes to make a brown pigment in the iris. This generally won’t even be noticeable in people who already have brown eyes, but for those with blue or green eyes, it might be visible.
Serious side effects are extremely rare. Latisse can cause some eye irritation in up to 4% of people, but if you experience this, it will go away as soon as you stop using the treatment. It can also lower the pressure inside of the eye – remember that it was originally a medication for glaucoma, which is a disease of increased eye pressure. However, this generally occurs only to a small degree and doesn’t cause harm.
Latisse Scottsdale
Latisse has allowed many women the freedom to have the longer, thicker lashes that they desire, without the hassle of using mascara or eyelash extensions. Although it’s considered a very safe treatment, it’s important to fully understand all the possible effects of Latisse in order to decide if it’s right for you. If you’re interested in this treatment, we invite you to visit our office and talk it over with Dr. Caniglia. If you decide that Latisse is right for you, he can prescribe it for you. Please contact our front desk to book an appointment.