Wish you had beautiful, thick lashes? Learn about Latisse®
If you’ve ever dreamed of having voluptuous, voluminous lashes without the hassle of mascara, pesky extensions, or dubious serums, then you need to learn all about Latisse® — an FDA approved treatment to help grow eyelashes in people with inadequate or not enough lashes.
Latisse® has helped many people achieve dramatic improvements in their eyelash length, thickness, and fullness. The treatment has been on the market since 2008 and has been solving eyelash woes ever since. It has been studied in scientific trials and has been found to encourage the growth of long, lush eyelashes over time.
But what exactly is it? And how does it work? Let’s delve into everything there is to know about Latisse®.
What Exactly is Latisse®?
Latisse® is an FDA approved eyelash treatment that is approved for the purpose of growing longer and thicker eyelashes. It is a 0.03% bimatoprost ophthalmic solution and was originally a prostaglandin prescribed in the treatment of glaucoma. Doctors found that patients using bimatoprost ophthalmic solution experienced the curious side effect of thicker and longer eyelashes. Thus, the clinical trials began.
Latisse® has been tested on a group of women of varied races, skin tones, and eye colors. It was found effective in up to 91% of patients who tested it over 16 weeks. Patients saw improvements in fullness, length, and darkness of their lashes. Some women even saw their eyelashes double in fullness.
Further, since Latisse® has been on the market for 10 years and counting, it has a very public record of efficacy and safety.
How Does Latisse® Work?
We mentioned earlier that Latisse® is a prostaglandin based ophthalmic solution — and that’s the key to how it works. Prostaglandins are hormone-like compounds that produce specific effects in the body. Our bodies’ natural prostaglandins are usually present at the site of damage or infection, where they facilitate the healing process.
So how does that translate to eyelash growth? To understand that, we need to understand how eyelashes grow. Eyelash growth is cyclical and happens in 4 major phases. The phases are known as the anagen phase, the catagen phase, the telogen phase, and the exogen phase. The eyelash grows during the anagen phase, stops growing and transitions during the catagen phase, rests during the telogen phase, and falls out during the exogen phase.
The anagen phase (the growth phase) is where Latisse® comes in. Usually the growth phase of the eyelash lasts about 30–40 days, but application of Latisse® extends that growth phase so that the eyelash can grow for longer. Since eyelashes grow for a longer period, they become longer in length and thicker in width. Latisse® also encourages the growth of more lashes.
Since eyelashes are all in different phases at different times, it takes up to 16 weeks to start seeing the full effect of Latisse® on all of your eyelashes. Usually, after the initial 16 week period, patients transition into maintenance, using Latisse® only a couple times a week.
How to Use Latisse®
Initially, when Latisse® was used as a glaucoma treatment, it was used inside of the eye, like an eyedrop. However, for the eyelash growth application, Latisse® is recommended as a topical treatment.
Using Latisse® is simple. Latisse® should be applied once a day, in the evening, to clean, dry skin. Patients using Latisse® are provided with disposable brushes that can be used and disposed of daily. The whole process takes just a couple of minutes.
Steps for Applying Latisse®:
- Clean and dry eyelash area
- Ready applicator and apply solution to applicator
- Use applicator to apply Latisse® to top eyelid, just above the lash line
- Wipe off excess solution
- Dispose applicator
Simple!
Most patients are prescribed daily treatment for about 16 weeks, after which they can move on to using Latisse® 2 to 3 times a week as maintenance.
Keep in mind that, as with any medical treatment, you should keep an eye on your progress as well as any negative changes to the condition of the application site. It’s a good idea to be in frequent contact with your doctor until you know how your eyelashes respond to treatment.
Who Should Use Latisse®?
Latisse® has been FDA approved as a treatment to grow the eyelashes of people with inadequate or minimal eyelashes. Therefore, if you feel that you would like to grow your eyelashes, you can discuss Latisse® with a trusted medical professional.
However, people with certain allergies or pre-existing health conditions should inform their doctors before starting a Latisse® prescription. These conditions include pre-existing allergies to any ingredients in Latisse®, eye pressure issues, or current use of other prescription medications. Patients with glaucoma or a family history of glaucoma should inform their doctors before beginning Latisse®.
As is the case with all prescriptions, a thorough conversation with your doctor is your best bet to getting a treatment plan that works for you.
Talk to a Medical Professional to Try Latisse® Now
If you’re ready to give Latisse® a try, it’s time to reach out to a medical professional. You should be ready to discuss your medical and eye health history so that your doctor can rule out any negative medication interactions or reactions. We want to make accessing a medical professional simple and easy, so contact us when you’re ready to grow full, beautiful lashes with Latisse®.
