Q: How long has Latisse been on the market?

A: Latisse has only been on the market for about 6 months, but its related safety record as an eye drop solution spans well over 10 years.

Q: Why do I need a prescription for Latisse?

A: Latisse can result in eyelash improvement of 105% in thickness and over 25% in length. Latisse is not an over-the-counter medication. The FDA approved Latisse as a prescription medication to treat hypotrichosis, i.e. reduced amount of eyelash growth

Q: How can Latisse enhance my lashes?

A: Latisse is thought to affect the growth stage of eyelashes by increasing the duration of the growth phase while increasing the number of hairs in the growth phase.

Q: How do I use Latisse?

A: Latisse is applied to the base of the upper eyelashes nightly for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, the application can be reduced to every 2-3 days to maintain growth. Latisse is not applied to the lower eyelashes. However, during sleep some of the medication will diffuse across to these lashes increasing them as well.

Q: When will I see results?

A: Most people begin to see an increase in their lashes after about 3 or 4 weeks. By 16 weeks the lashes will have reached their full length and thickness. Discontinuation of Latisse will result in a return of the lashes to their previous state.

Q: Is Latisse expensive?

A: In Dallas, the price of a one-month supply of Latisse has been about $100 to $120.

Q: Are there Latisse alternatives that work the same way?

A: Right now, there are no comparable products on the market. Other products that claim to increase lash thickness and length are usually conditioners, which will not stimulate eyelash growth.

Related Links

• Latisse website
  
• Video: Latisse used during chemotherapy
• More about Latisse in Arlington, Texas

The origin of Latisse is in topical prostaglandins, drugs frequently used to decrease intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma patients.  In patients who used these prostaglandins, researchers and physicians documented a ‘complication’ or side effect called “hypertrichosis,” a condition characterized by darkening, thickening, and lengthening of the eyelashes.

The Food and Drug Administration gave clearance for Allergan to market a glaucoma drug (and topical prostaglandin) called Lumigan in 2001, at which point two important precursors to Latisse occurred.

• The FDA seized over 2 million dollars worth of product from Jan Marini Skin Research Inc because the products – Age Intervention Eyelash – contained the same chemical formula as Lumigan, which had not yet been approved for cosmetic use.

• Doctors began prescribing Lumigan off-label to patients who wanted enhanced eyelashes.

After clinical trials and further research, Allergan received FDA clearance for cosmetic use of Latisse.  In one study, 278 healthy adults with minimal to moderate eyelash prominence applied Latisse or a placebo to their lash line.  The results were favorable; researchers observed “statistically significant differences in eyelash growth and resulting patient satisfaction” while only 3.6 percent experienced itchy eyes and redness, and only 2.9 percent experienced hyperpigmentation on the surrounding skin.