How Do Eyelash Growth Products Work?

Posted by Siofan | Wednesday July 27, 2011

Who hasn’t wished at some point to have longer lashes? Just looking at the number of reviews for mascara on ChickAdvisor it's pretty clear how many of us women want to plump and lengthen our eyelashes. While mascara may do the trick for many, some may find that there’s no amount of makeup that will help them achieve their dream. Last year Latisse launched in Canada, Claire Danes has been a spokesperson for the product and shared her results, and just last month Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks was announced as their newest spokesperson. We've met a few gals at cocktail parties who've used it on their lashes and even to thicken brow hairs, so we got curious as to how the product works.

So what is the difference between a prescription-only eyelash growth product and a mascara that claims to lengthen and thicken lashes? “Hair has a growth cycle, and what these groups of medications do, and there are several of them,” explains Dr. Sandy Skotnicki-Grant of Toronto's Bay Dermatology Centre, “they actually extend the anagen stage of the follicle, so it’s going to stay in a growth period longer before it falls out.” Hair goes through three stages, and for growth, the most important is anagen. By extending that phase, hair continues to grow and doesn’t shed when it normally would. With more hair follicles in the anagen phase, rather than having fallen out and not yet growing again, you have more follicles with hair, and thicker lashes. Lashes continue to grow past the stage they normally would have fallen out, so they grow longer as well.

So what of non-prescription eyelash growth products? Dr. Skotnicki explains that many of these contain a protein-based formula that coats the hair, giving the appearance that lashes are longer and thicker. Wash it off though, and it’s gone.

If you have thin and short lashes the product will help you, however those with sparse hair won’t see lashes begin to grow where no follicle exists. (So if your boyfriend asks to put it on his hairline, tell him to move along.)

More by Siofan
More on Eyes, Lips, Face

Pin It

Hair Treatments for Sun Damaged...

Summer Vacation Guide: Style in...

6 Comments

	on August 22, 2011 eunice said: Looks great! you have a awesome blog.! I'm impressed.. Mascara will just brittle my eyelashes and more prone to breakage, I've tried it before. :( But.. now I do have Thick eyelashes, it looks natural because of eyelash products.. :)
	on August 02, 2011 siofan said: @beachbabe A dermatologist would prescribe this product to you, do not get it from anyone unlicensed. @TammyK like anything you put on your skin, there's a chance of irritation, but my understanding is that these cases are pretty infrequent and clear up right away when you discontinue use.
	on July 27, 2011 satojoko 2,556 said: I make a product for my own lashes with castor oil and a load of other ingredients which has defnitely made a big difference in my eye lashes. They are far longer and also thicker, and fall out far less than they used to. My eye lash curler also doesn't wind up pulling them out when I use it. It's definitely non-prescription, so it's not true that only prescription lash products work. It also causes no redness or blotchiness around the eye area. For the hair, stay away from silicone based products altogether, which create an occlusive barrier on the hair, as well as the skin. Horrible stuff for the skin as it won't allow it to breathe and excrete toxins properly (which can lead to acne and other skin problems of all sorts). I also made another product specifically for the hair on my head which is formulated with castor oil and quite a lot of other very well known ingredients, along with some that are not so well known, which has gotten rid of my dry scalp and really made my hair feel and look in far better condition. That has also made quite a big difference. There is just too much crap on the market right now in hair and skin care, and most products have a lot of silicones in them at the moment. The only good thing is that it's forcing me to come up with a lot of my own stuff which is of far higher quality than anything I can find in the stores.
	on July 27, 2011 beachbabe 4,164 said: I'm just curious what sort of doctor you'd have to go to in order to get a prescription for this. A dermatologist perhaps? Although sometimes you still need a referral and if not, I don't see a derm. taking a new patient specifically for eyelash enhancer prescriptions! I just can't imagine too many doctors, dermatologist or otherwise, that would prescribe this except for a select few unless you already see a specialist on a regular basis. No?
	on July 27, 2011 asiangoddess 787 said: soooo, is there something like this for our hair? I would do anything for thicker, longer hair! :(
	on July 27, 2011 TammyK 1,073 said: Wow really informative and helpful! I was considering trying out a lash growth product but I heard from many people that it may cause the skin around your eyes to become red and blotchy so I decided against it. Has that ever happen to anyone? And why does it happen?