From Bogus to Bona Fide

Eyelash growth-enhancing products are being sold by an ever-growing number of cosmetics companies. Despite their trendiness, these types of products have been around for some time without any success because they were largely nothing more than empty promises as false as their models' fake lashes. All that changed when Allergan launched Latisse (about $120 for a two month supply), a prescription-only product for growing eyelashes. And it works! After applying it to the upper lash line for a several weeks most women will grow longer, thicker lashes than they ever thought possible. A lash growing product that really works (and works fast) doesn't happen every day or even in a lifetime—and Latisse is the real deal!

A Happy Accident

Much the way Botox was found to work for wrinkles, the same story is true for Latisse. Botox was discovered by an eye doctor treating patients for eye tics. The doctor noticed not only did Botox stop the twitching but the patients also had less wrinkles around their eyes. Latisse's saga is almost identical. Here's what happened: Latisse contains 0.03% of bimatoprost, whose actual chemical name is (Z)-7-[(1R,2R,3R,5S)-3,5-Dihydroxy-2-[(1E,3S)-3-hydroxy-5-phenyl-1-pentenyl]cyclopentyl]-5-N-ethylheptenamide. This nearly indecipherable ingredient is used for treating glaucoma or ocular hypertension under the brand name Lumigan. Just as with Botox, ophthalmologists just happened to notice that when their patients started using this medication as eye drops that their glaucoma got better and their eyelashes grew longer, darker, and fuller. Go figure!

Lash Growth Comes with Caveats

But of course there are risks. Latisse is a prescription-only medication and for good reason! There are minor side effects such as itching, inflammation, a burning sensation, and redness that can be persistent, but it will stop if you discontinue use. A far more serious but rarely-occurring side effect with Latisse is that it can increase blood flow to the eye making capillaries look far more pronounced. It can also darken the eyelid or skin under the eye, which can be reversible but in rare cases it can stick around indefinitely. Although not reflected in clinical studies, it's been reported that Latisse use may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye, which is likely to be permanent. All of these risks are heightened if a consumer purchases Latisse (or what they think is Latisse) over the Internet without a prescription. Even more of a concern, are those people who are using the actual glaucoma medication itself to grow lashes!

Not All Lash Growth Products are Created Equal!

What about the other cosmetic products claiming to grow lashes? Most of them are little more than hairspray with exotic plant extracts, while some contain peptides claiming to grow hair. What products like Marini Lash and L'Oreal's Double Extend Lash Boosting Serum all share is not a shred of research showing they do anything but shrink your wallet and stretch reality. Lastisse may be pricey and require a trip to the doctor, but it's the only lash growth product on the market with substantiated research to back its claims. An alternative to Latisse is Peter Thomas Roth's Lashes to Die For or Lashes to Die For Platinum. These products are sold at Sephora stores and contains a similar drug ingredient to Latisse. However, these are actually more expensive than Latisse, although also easier to obtain (no doctor visit required).

What about RapidLash? This over-the-counter lash growth product is an option though it has not been tested or proven in the same manner as Latisse. For more details on how RapidLash may work and other points to consider, see this blog post from Paula and her team.

 November 2007 (http://www.elixirnews.com/newsView.php?id=1149);