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Loutus Spa Aesthetican Manager Danielle Spak said Latisse has the appearance of liquid eyeliner and is applied to the top and base lash lines.

Lashes Poppin'

FDA approves new eyelash lengthening, thickening and darkening drug for use

By: Frank Pellegrino

Posted: 2/2/09

Women have been looking for ways to lengthen and add fullness to eyelashes since the beginning of time.

From mascara to eyelash curlers; any quick fix for a night is often desired. The problem was that as soon as the night is over, the results are lost, and the consumer involved is left with the same problem.

A report written by Miranda Hitti, medical writer for WebMD, the pharmaceutical company Allergan might finally have the solution.

Latisse, a product of Allergan, has become the first FDA-approved drug to promote eyelash growth.

Hitti reports that eyelash growth was discovered as a side effect of Lumigan, a drug used for glaucoma patients.

Danielle Spak, Aesthetican Manager at Lotus Spa, 4956 Bullis Farm Rd., said a lot of patients who were taking Lumigan came back and their eye lashes were extremely long.

After some research, doctors began to realize what was causing this dramatic change.

"What they found is that one of the key ingredients in Lumigan, some type of protein peptide, increases the growth cycle of your eyelashes from about two weeks to 10 to 12," Spak said.

Spak put this explanation into perspective.

"It's like when you try to grab an eyelash and like eight of them fall out; that's because they are on a two-week growth cycle together," Spak said. "Imagine how thick your lashes would get if you could extend that from two weeks to 12."

Senior Christina De La Rosa was surprised that a product like this could be developed.

"If it works I think it's a good idea," De La Rosa said. "I would have to get more information about the product … but if it works I would totally go for it."

Latisse is taken similarly as an eyelash growth serum. Having the appearance of liquid eyeliner, it is applied at the base of the lash line on the top lash.

Results for Latisse should be seen relatively quickly and are very common.

"You look for results in six to eight weeks … and they are pretty much typical across the board," Spak said.

Fuller eyelashes are not the only benefit to this new product.

"Doctors are currently looking into whether or not Latisse can help maintain the correct pressure in your actual eyeball," Spak said.

From a biological stand point there is another benefit as well.

"You need to look at why your eyelashes are actually there in the first place; it's to catch debris," Spak said. "With longer, fuller eyelashes it's harder for things to get in your eyes that you don't want there."

Some people also say they have used Latisse on their eyebrows and have found similar results. However, Spak said she hasn't heard enough positive feedback about it to say whether or not this actually works.

Like any new medical product, there are some problems with Latisse.

In her report Hitti said that Latisse was well tolerated overall, and only a few small side effects were discovered at clinical trials. The most common being redness in the eyes, itchy eyes and skin hyperpigmentation.

Spak had similar remarks about side effects.

"Some people started to get swollen eyelids," she said. "It's just like anything else you put in your eye. If you get it in there, it's going to cause irritation."

Another issue with Latisse, and similar products yet to be approved, is the price.

"They all run at least $100, but most cost around $140 to $160 for a 12-week period," Spak said. "The thing also is that you have to stay on the product, otherwise these results will go away."

De La Rosa thought the prices were steep but argued that it could be worse.

"That's actually really expensive. But I guess if you factor in how much mascara you buy in that same amount of time, you could even exceed that," De La Rosa said.

Other products yet to be approved by the FDA are Lumilash and Revitalash and can be purchased without a prescription, unlike Latisse.