- With Mayo Clinic dermatologist
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
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Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson likens bad health information on the Internet to food poisoning.
Consumers, he says, need to be aware and will find reliable information at MayoClinic.com.
Dr. Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology.
Dr. Gibson has served as the fellowship director for dermatopathology and as chair of the Laboratory Division in the Department of Dermatology. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin, including vasculitis, and in lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information has become a staple in the diet of a health conscious society," he says. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid 'indigestion' or, worse yet, 'food poisoning' by the ingestion of tainted information."
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Question
Latisse: The answer for longer, thicker eyelashes?
Is there a medication to thicken eyelashes?
Answer
from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Yes. The medication bimatoprost — marketed under the brand name Latisse — is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat inadequate eyelashes (hypotrichosis). Bimatoprost is also marketed under the brand name Lumigan, which is used in prescription eyedrops to treat glaucoma. Eyelash growth was an unexpected side effect of Lumigan, which led to the creation and marketing of Latisse.
With regular applications along the lash line of the upper eyelid, Latisse gradually encourages growth of longer, thicker and darker eyelashes. Latisse isn't meant to be applied to the lower eyelid. For full results, you must use the medication daily for at least two months. Eyelash improvements remain as long as you continue to use the medication. When you stop using Latisse, your eyelashes will eventually return to their original appearance.
Potential side effects of Latisse include:
- Itchy, red eyes
- Dry eyes
- Darkened eyelids
- Darkened brown pigmentation in the colored part of the eye (iris)
- Hair growth around the eyes if the medication regularly runs or drips off the eyelids
Although darkened eyelids might fade when the medication is stopped, any changes in iris color are likely to be permanent.
In one small study of people who have eyelash loss due to alopecia areata — a medical condition that causes temporary hair loss — Latisse triggered moderate eyelash growth for more than 40 percent of participants. Research isn't conclusive, however. In another small study of people who have alopecia areata, Latisse wasn't an effective treatment for eyelash growth.
If you're concerned about the appearance of your eyelashes, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons of using an eyelash-growing medication.
Next questionBotox party: Is it safe?
- Latisse (prescribing information). Irvine, Calif.: Allergan, Inc.; 2011. http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/latisse_pi.pdf. Accessed Jan. 20, 2012.
- Yoelin S, et al. Safety, effectiveness, and subjective experience with topical bimatoprost 0.03% for eyelash growth. Dermatologic Surgery. 2010;36:638.
- Ochoa BE, et al. Instilled bimatoprost ophthalmic solution in patients with eyelash alopecia areata. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2009;6:530.
- Vila TO, et al. Bimatoprost in the treatment of eyelash universalis alopecia areata. International Journal of Trichology. 2010;2:86.
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