Latisse?

[liz56]

Has anyone seen the commercials for this product for eyelash enhancement? A prescription is needed, but the effects sound really scary to me.

I thought that these warnings should be enough for anyone to stay away from it, but I know that I am probably mistaken:

Important Safety Information

If you are using prescription products for lowering eye pressure or have a history of eye pressure problems, only use LATISSE® under close doctor supervision. May cause eyelid skin darkening which may be reversible, and there is potential for increased brown iris pigmentation which is likely to be permanent. There is a potential for hair growth to occur in areas where LATISSE® solution comes in repeated contact with skin surfaces. If you develop or experience any eye problems or have eye surgery, consult your doctor immediately about continued use of LATISSE®. The most common side effects after using LATISSE® solution are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness.

Really?!?

[Missie]

Oh I know ~ are they kidding with this...
What is Brooke Shields thinking promoting this...
I wish all I had to worry about was my eyelashes growing long and thick

It sounds like my brown eyes would get browner (if that is a word)
and I'd have permanent eye shadow (with the eyelid darkening this would cause)
and blindness comes to mind with this stuff.....

I really don't understand why this is even allowed on the market...

[Lucy]

Liz and Missie- I'm with you on this. In my opinion, anyone on this board for the obvious reasons has no business taking something like this. If you're "longing" for longer, darker lashes, you may have them growing elsewhere on your skin. Anyone for lashes along the cheeks? How about growing out of your ear. Well....don't say we didn't warn you.

There is a potential for hair growth to occur in areas where LATISSE® solution comes in repeated contact with skin surfaces. If you develop or experience any eye problems or have eye surgery, consult your doctor immediately about continued use of LATISSE®. The most common side effects after using LATISSE® solution are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness.

[Rebecca Petris]

I received one of the ads for this direct from Allergan - apparently because I am on the Restasis mailing list (no, I'm not a Restasis user but I signed up for the 'newsletter' years ago). Permanently soured me on the product. I think it's a bad idea in general and marketing it to dry eye patients is just dreadful.

[eyeswideopen]

Cannot believe our society is so vain!

You know, my first corneal specialist prescribed restasis drops some years back. Used them 2X, my vision blurred like crazy and then I had chills and fever. I was back in the next day and they were discontinued, after spending about $150.00 on them. Now I see all this stuff about Latisse and I cannot believe it--darkening of the skin and changing your eye color to brown (wouldn't hurt mine!). Because of my blepharitis, my eyelashes are less each day. Have tried mascara, which just looks freaky and irritates my eyes. I do miss them. Back in the 70's, putting on fake eyelashes was as easy and normal as brushing my teeth--but you still need your own to blend in with them. And I would be afraid of mascara at this time. Has anyone had any luck with certain mascaras?

[irish eyes]

I have found Jane Iredale mascara to be OK - although a tad expensive.

I don't use it everyday, only occasionally.

All her cosmetics are based on minerals so they suit people with sensitive skin.

http://www.janeiredale.com/

[eyeswideopen]

Thanks for suggestion!

Hi!
That is one brand of Mascara I have never tried. I will go to the site, wonder if it is waterproof., but I will look. I really miss my eye cosmetics!
eyeswideopen

[elvishthistle]

I have had good luck with Almay Mascara, it doesn't flake or irritate my eyes.

[ms11369]

latisse is SCARY

ok, I haven't touched the stuff...a derm i saw just gave me a RX for latisse b/c of the whole bleph/inflammation resulting in the crusting & loss of eyelashes. When I went to my eye doc for a check up and I told him about latisse he said it was A BAD idea. He said it might darken skin, inflame my eyes more..overall chances are it'd make it worse and I'd be better off having other supplements if I wanted lashes to sprout faster. But Latisse is a BIG No-No!

[Lisa0825]

I have used it with no problems. I am currently not taking it because my new ophthalmologist asked me to wait until I am into maintenance mode of the regimen he has started me on, to be sure that it is not interfering with anything. But once I have to go ahead, I will start again.

Eyelashes actually have a physiological function... to protect the eyes from dust and other debris. For those of us born with very sparse and fine lashes, this could be a really positive thing.

FWIW, the iris darkening has only been reported with the drops in the eye (glaucoma treatment), not using the brush at the lash line (the way you use it for lashes). My first career was in medical research, so I did my homework before trying it.

(edited to add) And the growth of hair in other areas was only noted in areas that came in repeated contact with the medication. If you are not putting it on your ears, you won't grow hair on your ears.

I don't have a lot of vanity, but I do have some. Plus, if I could grow thicker and longer lashes in a way that would not irritate my eyes the way MASCARA DOES, it would be good for both reasons.

[skygoddess]

I love latisse.
Against all odds I tried it, and I was so surprised.
None , absolutely No irritation.

Everything irritates my lids!
Shampoo, hair spray, styling products, make-up, nail polish , the list is endless.

If you read any product label, the potential side effects are scary.
Everything causes cancer in California!
Boy , am I glad , I don't live there!

Oh I forgot to mention, my lashes grew back!

[liz56]

It's good to hear from people who actually tried this product. The advertising comes across quite differently.

--Liz

[skygoddess]

I think they are just so scared of lawsuits.

I have to hide all the warning materials out of my 14 year old son's medication.
Otherwise he won't use anything !

Typical Americans we over do everything.
We either ignore common sense , example those that still smoke, but want to sue the tobacco companies

Or have the government or a jury decide I am not smart enough to figure out hot coffee in my lap may be a bad idea.

[liz56]

More Warnings about Latisse

I'm sorry to make something that sounds so promising to many of us with serious dry-eye problems sound bad, but I think people should consider this article in today's New York Times about Latissee, being sold on-line (against directives by Allergan) and being given to women at spas and salons without prescriptions, because it can cause problems.

[Betsy]

My mom and I have very thin short sparse lashes. We would love to have nice lashes and daily we see people with great results from Latisse. But what scares me is not only that it says it can cause dry eyes, but the BAK! Of all the preservatives out there, they had to use the cheapest one, the one that causes the most problems, the one that has actually caused permanent dry eyes in people who don't have dry eyes to begin with, from allergy drops or red eye drops. So that does worry me. But I do wonder if the risk is so tiny if it's not used as a drop directly in the eye as it is for Glaucoma? Are all these risks greatly reduced to the point where the risk is too small to worry about, even as a dry eye patient?

P.S. I don't know much about Latisse, I assume it will grow hair only where you put it. But just an FYI, Minoxidol for hair loss causes hair growth in places away from the scalp, even if it hasn't touched other areas, because it gets into your blood stream when you massage it on your head, so it has a systemic effect. I assume Latisse does not do that. But thought I'd mention this, because I saw it happen to a friend using Minoxidol, who was very careful, used gloves, never touched anything but their scalp.