Women Channel
Topics
Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Latisse
Available only by prescription, Latisse is approved to increase eyelash length, thickness, and darkness. The medicine comes in liquid form and is applied once daily at night. It is thought that Latisse works by increasing both the number of eyelash hairs and the length of time the hairs stay in place. Possible side effects include itching and redness of the eye.
Latisse® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) is a prescription medication used to enhance eyelashes. Specifically, it can increase lash length, thickness, and darkness.
(Click Latisse Uses for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)
Latisse is manufactured by Allergan, Inc.
This medication is only available by prescription. Any Web sites claiming to sell Latisse without a prescription are not legitimate pharmacies and, therefore, should not be trusted. There are no nonprescription eyelash products that work like Latisse.
(Click Nonprescription Latisse for more information.)
Latisse belongs to a class of medications known as prostaglandins. Interestingly, bimatoprost (the active ingredient in Latisse) was first used to treat glaucoma. People using this glaucoma medication (sold under the name "Lumigan®") or other similar medications noticed that their eyelashes were longer, thicker, and darker.
Latisse is believed to work by increasing the number of eyelash hairs that are in the active growth phase and by increasing the length of time the hairs stay in this phase.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD