Sunday, March 29, 2009

Longer Lashes

I 've been contemplating trying Allergan's new Lash enhancer. First there was Jan Marini, then RevitaIash, and Dermalash, plus others. The FDA put a stop to Jan Marini's formulation. I tried the orginal formulation and saw my lashes lengthen, of course they reversed back to normal after i stopped. I have also used RevitaIash and DermaLash. RevitaIash made my eyes lashes longer and filled in some hairs on my brows. I have not tried the new formulation. DermaLash has peptides, no significant change, but my eyelashes do appear to be healthier.

For those of you who do not about the controversy , it has to do with the drug, prostaglandin for glaucoma that was in Jan Marini's original formulation. The FDA put a stop to the manufacturing of the product. Now Allergan has gotten FDA approval for Latisse. See Below.

Here is the press release for Lastisse:
Allergan, the makers of Botox, announced that the FDA has approved LATISSE (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% as a treatment to increase eyelashes in length, thickness, and darkness.

Bimatoprost, the active ingredient in LATISSE™,was first approved in 2001 as a medical product to lower intraocular pressure in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Available only through a doctor, LATISSE™ is a once-daily prescription treatment applied to the base of the upper eyelashes with a sterile, single-use-per-eye disposable applicator.

According to LATISSE™, users can expect to experience longer, fuller and darker eyelashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results in 16 weeks, BUT in order to maintain long, thick, dark eyelashes, you have to continue using LATISSE. If you discontinue using it, eyelashes will gradually return to where they were prior to treatment over a period of weeks to months (average eyelash hair cycle).

COST: For a year's worth of long, thick, dark lashes, expect to pay almost $1,500 a year -- or $120 a month.

SIDE EFFECTS:

Eye redness (3.6%)
Itchy eyes (3.6%)
Skin hyperpigmentation (2.9%)

WARNINGS:

Allergan warns against applying LATISSE to the lower eyelid because it may cause darkening of the eyelid skin which may be reversible.
LATISSE™ use may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent.
It is possible for hair growth to occur in other areas of your skin that LATISSE™ frequently touches.
It is also possible for a difference in eyelash length, thickness, fullness, pigmentation, number of eyelash hairs, and/or direction of eyelash growth to occur between eyes.
These differences, should they occur, will usually go away if you stop using LATISSE™.


So, the verdict is still out. I have spoken to several woman who are currently using it. Their comments are stinging eyes at first but it goes away and a little redness. The lashes that I have seen are long and dark. Mmmmmm ........ It is tempting.

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