Friday, July 17, 2009

For Lash Pullers – Information on Latisse

Dear Readers, good morning! I have had an exceptionally busy week and I regret not posting sooner. It is a remarkable opportunity to share here, and I want to do so several times a week. Anyway, I wanted to talk about the glaucoma medicine that has been approved for growing eyelashes longer. The FDA has approved its sale under the name Latisse for assisting eyelash growth.

First I am going to post what Carol Novak, M.D., a member of TLC’s Scientific Advisory Board, has written about Latisse. Then talk about some posts I have seen of people trying it.

Dr. Novak says:

“Because the length of any individual hair depends on the length of the growth cycle, lengthening the cycle lengthens the hair. For trichotillomania this is not may not be especially useful. The product does not help hair grow faster or healthier, or start new growth faster. Lash pullers have shorter lashes because pulling out lashes prematurely shortens the growth cycle. If the follicles are still working, the lashes will grow back to their normal fullness and length if left to grow. A few key points: -Eyelash pullers most often re-grow lashes to their full length and thickness in approximately 12 weeks after stopping their pulling. Several more months may be required for traumatized follicles to recover. -No research of LATISSE™ has been done on patients with eyelash follicle trauma from chemotherapy or chronic pulling. -LATISSE™ works by lengthening the growth cycle of the eyelash follicle. It has not shown to grow eyelash hair faster, or stimulate new growth in previously-dormant follicles. – LATISSE™ seems to cost $140/month and the benefit ends if you stop using the product”

Very interesting! I remember when Fred Penzel, another member of our Scientific Advisory Board, started using this medication under another name for prevention of glaucoma, and boy does he have long lashes! But – he is NOT an eyelash puller.

Recently, I have seen posts by a man online who is using Latisse to help grow his lashes. He is a lash puller, and says not only are they coming in nicely, but his “urge” to pull is effectively gone. He has only used the medicine for about 3 weeks, so it will be interesting to see if this continues.

Along the same line, there is a product I heard of over a year ago called “Enormous Lash” (from a company called Beauty Society) that people said did the same thing. It was to be put on every night, and the claim was it would grow your lashes. I heard from a young woman, a severe eyelash puller, that the Enormous Lash completely stopped the desire to pull. After 4 months, she had a long set of lashes for the first time in years. I don’t know how she is today, though.

So here’s the interesting thing to me: I just googled the Enormous Lash and now it states that you put it on twice a day instead of once, and it states that it is “prostaglandin free” (it used to have something in it called 14-dihydro tinor pgf 2 (alpha) in it which I do believe is a prostaglandin! Sounds like they had something very similar to Latisse – which DOES have prostaglandin in it. Here’s a dictionary definition of prostaglandin:

n. Any of a group of potent hormonelike substances that are produced in various mammalian tissues, are derived from arachidonic acid, and mediate a wide range of physiological functions, such as control of blood pressure, contraction of smooth muscle, and modulation of inflammation.

As you can see, it makes sense to use something with prostaglandins in it for glaucoma, which is a buildup of pressure inside the eyeball, and a source of potential blindness.

Here’s what it says about ingredients on the official Latisse Website

“Bimatoprost is the active pharmaceutical ingredient in the formulation of LATISSE™ and is proven to be safe and has been approved by the FDA in 2001. Bimatroprost is a structural prostaglandin analog, a lipid compound derived from fatty acids designed to bind to prostaglandin (PG) receptors. PG receptors are present in hair, particularly in the dermal papilla and outer root sheath. Although the precise mechanism of action is unknown, PG receptors are thought to be involved in the development and regrowth of the hair follicle, by increasing the percent of hairs in, and the duration of, the anagen or growth phase.”

And here’s a before and after pic from their site: (if I can get it to paste…)

latisse-case-1

I have also heard that use of Latisse can actually have an effect on your eye color, to varying degrees.

I have never been a real eyelash puller (just a few here and there) but I would dearly love to hear some feedback if anyone has experience with this product or similar items. Much love, Christina

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