Options for Fuller Eyelashes
Almost all women dream of having longer, fuller eyelashes. The cosmetic industry sells millions of dollars in products each year related to the appearance of longer or thicker eyelashes. From their teenage years on, most women wear mascara daily. For all the good it does, mascara can be a huge hassle! If you don’t wear waterproof it runs, if you do wear waterproof it’s hard to remove! Then there’s the clumping and don’t forget about the damage that it does to your natural eyelashes!
There are multiple remedies and tricks that you can try to improve the appearance of your eyelashes. Applying oil or Vaseline to your eyelashes at night after removing your makeup can help to thicken your lashes. Applying lip balm to clean eyelashes can make them more curled. Eyelash curlers are a good option for occasional use, but daily use can pull and cause damage to the eyelashes, actually making them counterproductive. Mascara is fine for daily use, but leaving it on all night can make your eyelashes brittle and thin.
Fake eyelashes, which are glued on whenever you want the appearance of thicker, longer eyelashes, are a good temporary option. For special occasions these can make your eyes look great for the big day. Care needs to be taken when removing the fake eyelashes because the glue can stick to the natural eyelashes and pull them out, causing thinning or breakage.
Eyelash extensions have become popular over the past few years. This is where individual synthetic eyelashes are glued onto your natural eyelashes. These can last several weeks since the extensions stay until the natural eyelash falls out. You need to have a “fill” done every 3-4 weeks to maintain the eyelashes. If you pull on the extensions or rub your eyes the natural lash that the extension is glued to can be pulled out, causing thinning of your natural eyelashes.
Many over the counter preparations are available and purport to grow your eyelashes. These preparations are considered “cosmetics” by the FDA and thus lack the requirements for proven efficacy and vigilance for safety issues. The mechanisms of many of these products are unknown or unproven. There is also a risk for contamination and infection, similar to that of mascara, given that you reuse the same applicator to both eyes every day.
There is currently only one prescription medication that is FDA approved for eyelash growth. Latisse (Bimataprost Ophthalmic) is a sterile solution with individual applicators for each day and for each eye. Latisse has been thoroughly studied, both as an eyelash growth stimulator and as a glaucoma medication. Side effects of Latisse can include itching and dry eyes. The most common concern of patients who have not yet tried Latisse is that it may change the color of your eyes. Bimataprost can stimulate an increase in the prominence of pigments in the iris, but this was generally noted when applied directly into the eye (when it is used as a glaucoma medication) and much less when applied to the eyelid (as it is in Latisse). The increase in the color was really only noted in patients with hazel or greenish eyes. Those with brown eyes already have prominent pigments and those with blue eyes don’t have much pigment in the first place, so they generally don’t get darker. Latisse does not damage your natural eyelashes and if you stop using it your eyelashes will go back to their previous state gradually (they won’t look worse).
If you would like more information on Latisse or other options for eyelash rejuvenation, the experienced doctors at Imagen Body Sculpting and Cosmetic Center can guide you in determining the best course of action to help you look your best. Please contact us or call our clinic at 402.509.8473 if you would like to schedule a complimentary consultation.