Latisse, which will be available by prescription only contains the active ingredient of the glaucoma drug Lumigan, which is also made by Allergan says Kevin Kevork Niksarli, MD.
Dr. Kevin Niksarli also says that eyelash growth is a known side effect of Lumigan, but Lumigan and Latisse are used differently. Lumigan is an eye drop, and Latisse gets dabbed along the
lash line on the upper eyelids to promote longer, thicker, lusher lashes.
Allergan states that Latisse users can expect to experience longer, fuller, and darker eyelashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results in 16 weeks. But Dr. Kevin Niksarli states
that if Latisse is stopped, eyelashes will gradually return to their previous appearance as new eyelashes grow in.
Allergan also notes that Latisse may cause darkening of the eyelid skin, which may be reversible, and it may also cause increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye, which
is likely to be permanent.
Some side effects of Latisse may also promote hair growth in other skin areas that it frequently touches, so Allergan recommends blotting it off any skin other than the upper eyelid'ss
lash line to prevent this side effect.
According to Kevin Niksarli, M.D., Latisse was well-tolerated in its clinical trials, with the most common side effects being eye redness, itchy eyes, and skin hyperpigmentation.