Do you wish your eyelashes were thicker and longer? Of course, wearing mascara helps, but by the end of the day it’s probably flaked off or you’re sporting the dreaded “raccoon eye” look. Waterproof mascara may stick around longer, but it’s a pain to remove every night, especially if you wear contacts. Luckily, there’s a simple, effective product on the market to give you the stunning long lashes you’ve always dreamed of – Latisse.
What Is Latisse?
Latisse is an FDA-approved medication to grow eyelashes for people with sparse or insufficient lashes. The medication was derived from a glaucoma medication called Lumigan. Doctors noticed that patients using Lumigan eye drops for glaucoma were reporting increased eyelash growth after several months of use.
How Does Latisse Work?
Like all hair on the body, eyelashes go through three constant stages: sprouting, growing, and falling out. The active ingredient, bimatoprost, makes the growth stage last longer while also increasing the number of hairs that sprout. Although scientists haven’t found the clinical reason bimatoprost spurs eyelash growth, participants in a 16-week study showed the following results after using it:
- Increased eyelash length up to 25 percent
- Thicker and fuller lashes up to 106 percent
- Darker lashes by as much as 18 percent
How Do I Use Latisse?
Applying Latisse is easy and effective when you follow the package instructions.
- Apply Latisse only once a day to your upper lash line only.
- Don’t use Latisse on your lower lashes.
- Put one drop of the medication in the cap and dip a clean eyeliner brush into it.
- Apply Latisse to the lash line on both eyes just as you’d apply eyeliner.
- Immediately wipe off any excess medication that may have dripped onto nearby skin.
- Clean the brush after applying.
For best results, use Latisse in the morning. You can use it at night, but you might inadvertently wipe off some of the medicine on your pillow while asleep. Make sure that you only use one drop of Latisse per application. Using more won’t make your eyelashes grow any faster and will only serve to waste the product and possibly cause skin irritation.
How Long Does Latisse Last?
With proper daily use, you can expect to notice thicker, longer lashes about one month after you start treatment. Don’t get discouraged or discontinue use since this medication takes time to work. You’ll reach your peak results around 10 weeks. At this point, you can maintain your results by using Latisse every other day. However, if you stop treatment altogether, your lashes will eventually go back to their original condition.
Who Makes a Good Candidate?
If you have sparse lashes and are considering Latisse, you should meet the following criteria before using the medication:
- Have healthy eyes with no infections or glaucoma
- No history of shingles (painful rash) in the eye area
- No broken or irritated skin on the eyelids
- No history of darkened eyelid skin
What Are the Side Effects?
Side effects of Latisse are minimal. Although there has been widespread discussion about the medication permanently darkening eye color, that complication is extremely rare. The main side effects reported by Latisse users include:
- Dry eyes
- Red eyes
- Darkening of eyelid skin
If you’d like to find out if Latisse is right for you, make an appointment today with one of our highly trained dermatologists at Greater Miami Skin and Laser Center. Our team specializes in all areas of cosmetic and medical dermatology with convenient locations in Miami Beach and Hallandale Beach.
