LATISSE is a prescription medication primarily used to treat hypotrichosis of the upper eyelashes, a condition characterized by inadequate or insufficient eyelashes. It helps to grow eyelashes. The main reason for LATISSE treatment is to address people who have shorter eyelashes and want longer ones. Many people have benefited from LATISSE treatments, which are easy to acquire after a quick consultation for a prescription. While LATISSE offers a solution for those seeking longer, thicker, and darker eyelashes, it's crucial to understand its potential side effects, risks, and necessary precautions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of LATISSE, its mechanism of action, usage, and safety considerations.
LATISSE is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hypotrichosis of the upper eyelashes. The active ingredient in LATISSE is bimatoprost ophthalmic solution. Bimatoprost (Latisse) is commonly used to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, which is a condition where there is not enough or few eyelashes. Bimatoprost helps increase eyelash growth in terms of length, thickness, and darkness. The medication is approved after an initial consultation for people who are 18 and older.
Originally, the active ingredient in LATISSE was used in a prescription medication called LUMIGEN, which treats high intraocular pressure (IOP), a potential sign of glaucoma. A side effect of LUMIGEN was eyelash growth, which led to the development of the eyelash-growing serum.
Bimatoprost is part of a group of medicines called prostaglandin analogs. The way it works for eyelash growth is not exactly understood. It is thought to work by increasing the number of eyelash hairs.
Like the hair on top of your head, eyelashes also sprout, grow for a while and eventually fall out. Latisse both extends the growth phase and increases the number of hairs that sprout.
Read also: Latisse Results
Bimatoprost is available as a 0.03% solution that is applied to the skin at the base of the eyelashes.
To use Lumigan® eye drops:
First, wash your hands. Tilt your head back and, pressing your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid, pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
Remove any excess solution around the eye with a clean tissue, being careful not to touch the eye.
If you think you did not get the drop of medicine into your eye properly, repeat the directions with another drop.
Read also: The Science Behind Latisse
Immediately after using the eye drops, wash your hands to remove any medicine that may be on them. To keep the medicine as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip to any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed. Serious damage to the eye and possible loss of vision may result from using contaminated eye medicines. This medicine comes with patient information insert. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. Use only the brand of this medicine that your doctor prescribed. Different brands may not work the same way.
The most common side effects of bimatoprost are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.
LATISSE® does have some side effects, the most common of which are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness. These were reported in approximately 4% of patients. Other less common side effects typically occur on the skin close to where LATISSE® is applied, or in the eyes. These include eyelid skin darkening, eye irritation, dryness of the eyes, and redness of the eyelids. Eyelid skin darkening is a result of increased melanin in the skin, making your eyelid skin look a little darker close to where the solution is applied to the skin.
While less common, the most serious side effects of bimatoprost are described below, along with what to do if they happen.
For eye doctors, the most concerning ingredient in Latisse is its active ingredient, bimatoprost. Bimatoprost is a chemical known as a prostaglandin analogue. Prostaglandins are chemical compounds which are found in naturally in almost all of our body’s tissues, which are responsible for signaling inflammation within the body. As such, it should come as no surprise that Latisse has been associated with common symptoms of inflammation around the eyes, such as:
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In addition to chronic irritation, Latisse has also been known to darken the eyelid skin and the iris color in people with light brown or hazel eyes, as well as potentially causing a “sunken eye” appearance by shrinking the layers of orbital fat around the eye socket.
At first glance, the side effects listed above might seem very minor when compared with other eye issues. However, ocular surface dysfunction and chronic dry eye can take a permanent and lasting toll on your vision quality and comfort. This is because every time we blink, the meibomian glands around our eyes secrete a tiny amount of oil to keep them moist. When prostaglantin analogues cause eye inflammation, the oil thickens, and can no longer spread evenly over the surface of the eye (just like, for example, toothpaste is harder to spread over a surface than olive oil.) The oil can even get so thick that it blocks and backs up in the meibomian glands. If this is not addressed, it can damage the glands permanently. Without any Meibomian glands, the body will not be able to moisten the eye. The result is irreversible and often severe dry eye.
Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in the specific bimatoprost products they stock.
Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if bimatoprost is right for you.
In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.
There are no known interactions between bimatoprost eyelash drops and foods or drinks.
It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect bimatoprost eyelash drops.
Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any other prostaglandin analog eye medicine, such as latanoprost (Xalatan, Xelpros, Iyuzeh), bimatoprost (Lumigan, Durysta), or travoprost (Travatan Z, iDose TR), which is a medicine used for high pressure in the eye.
This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with bimatoprost eyelash drops. Always check with your healthcare provider. Does interact with other drugs you are taking?
Mixing LATISSE with a similar medication called LUMIGAN can cause unintended side effects. The active ingredient in both medications is bimatoprost ophthalmic solution, which can lower intraocular pressure (IOP).
If you crave longer, darker eyelashes, most optometrists strongly recommend using a high quality mascara, which has the same benefits with much fewer risks. However, if you are determined to use Latisse or a similar eyelash serum product, talk to your eye doctor first about the risks involved. Your eye doctor can monitor you for symptoms of chronic dry eye and other negative side-effects that may permanently damage your tear ducts and ocular surface.
Latisse is a pharmaceutical drug, not a cosmetic, which means you’ll need a prescription from your doctor. Be aware that not every doctor will be familiar with Latisse.
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