- 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?
My eyelashes have become very thin over the years. Is it safe to use the new prescription product that's supposed to grow eyelashes?
Answer
from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
The product you're referring to is bimatoprost, marketed under the brand name Latisse. Latisse is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for 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 — it's not to be applied to the lower eyelid — Latisse gradually encourages growth of longer, thicker and darker eyelashes. You must use the product daily for at least two months before you see the full results. Eyelash improvements remain as long as you continue to use the medication. Once you stop using Latisse, your eyelashes eventually return to their original appearance.
Potential side effects of Latisse include:
- Itchy, red eyes
- Dry eyes
- Skin darkening on the eyelid where Latisse is applied
- Permanent, increased brown iris pigmentation
- Hair growth around the eyes if the product regularly runs or drips onto this area
A small study showed that Latisse wasn't effective in people with complete eyelash loss due to alopecia areata — a medical condition that causes temporary hair loss.
If you're concerned with how your eyelashes look, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons of using an eyelash-growing medication.
- Latisse (prescribing information). Irvine, Calif.: Allergan, Inc.; 2009. http://www.allergan.com/assets/pdf/latisse_pi.pdf. Accessed Dec. 14, 2009.
- Abramowicz M. Bimatoprost 0.03% solution (Latisse) for eyelash enhancement. The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. 2009;51:43.
- Ochoa BE, et al. Instilled bimatoprost ophthalmic solution in patients with eyelash alopecia areata. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2009;6:530.
- Alopecia areata. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/common_alopecia.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
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