Hair and Thair ~ Private Eyelashes

Check out Alice's comment on yesterday's post.  It turns out the hair growth is not as odd as it seems.  But the way it seems is more fun. :)

I recently found a two-page ad for a new product called Latisse.  Latisse is a prescription "treatment" to grow eyelashes "longer, fuller, darker."  They even adopted a word for what they're treating: hypotrichosis ("inadequate or not enough lashes" is their definition.  I don't think it's life-threatening).

I'm interested in longer lashes.  I think most women are interested in longer lashes, although I can't find a good evolutionary reason for that.

The front of the ad is a large picture of a woman and a close up of her eyes at start of treatment, after 16 weeks, and after 16 weeks with mascara.  I suspect week 0 with mascara would look similar to the week 16 with mascara.

There is a bit of large-font text to catch your (presumably sadly, eyelash-deficient) eyes.  Then comes the smaller text.  The bottom third or so contains Important Safety Information.

Excerpts (taken from the website so the phrasing is different, although similar):

LATISSE^® solution use may cause darkening of the eyelid skin which may be reversible. LATISSE^® use may cause increased brown iris pigmentation of the colored part of the eye which is likely to be permanent. While very infrequent, increased iris pigmentation has occurred when LATISSE^® was administered.

It is possible for hair growth to occur in other areas of your skin that LATISSE^® frequently touches. Any excess solution outside the upper eyelid margin should be blotted with a tissue or other absorbent material to reduce the chance of this happening. It is possible for a difference in eyelash length, thickness, fullness, pigmentation (darkness), number of eyelash hairs and/or direction of eyelash growth to occur between eyes (e.g., results may vary for each eye). These differences, should they occur, will usually go away if you stop using LATISSE^®.

• Do not apply in the eye or to the lower lid.
• Only use the sterile applicators supplied with LATISSE^® to apply the product.
• Don't allow the tip of the bottle or applicator to touch fingers or any other unintended surface, as contamination by common bacteria is known to cause infections.
• Remove contact lenses prior to applying LATISSE^®. Contact lenses may be reinserted 15 minutes afterward.
• Remember, if you stop using LATISSE^®, lashes will gradually return to their previous appearance.

 Also: be careful if you're taking anything for eye pressure.  Only apply to the base of the upper eyelash.  Hair may grow in places the drug frequently touches.

Then page two of the ad is pretty much a FAQ with warnings interspersed among instructions.

I think I'll pass.

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