Our shiny star Latisse is here to save us all from thin and short lashes! This can’t live without lash growth serum is the first and only brand name prescription treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for thin or sparse eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker.
With a simple one-a-day approach of one minute once a day to apply one drop per eyelid, you will see a visible difference in growth in as little as four weeks, with full results after sixteen weeks! We are no strangers here to the eyelash growth serum that everyone swears by, but are the rumors really true? Does Latisse really cause styes?
According to Justin Harper, M.D., “Latisse does not cause styes. However, if your eyelids get irritated and get infected by the bacteria on the skin, this will predispose you to develop styes. Even infected mascara wands can transmit the infection from one eye to another.”
If Latisse is applied correctly and as directed, there should be a very low chance, if any, of developing a stye. If one does begin to form, it is most likely due to outside influences, and not the lash serum itself.
What is a Stye?
A stye, also called a hordeolum, appears as a pimple on the margin of the eyelid around the root of the eyelash. It’s an infection that originates in the oil gland of an eyelash. Styes can be caused by make-up, dust, or debris getting into the gland and clogging it up.
Typically, a hordeolum can be associated with redness, tenderness, pain, and discomfort when blinking the eyelid. If infected, a bit of pus (appearing as a small, yellowish discharge) may also be present, and if the infection spreads beyond the gland, the skin and/or eye may be red.
To reduce your risk of getting a stye, be sure to wash your hands before touching your eye. Make sure to thoroughly disinfect your contact lenses and always take your make-up off at night. It is also good to replace your cosmetic products every 6 months.
Best Ways To Apply Latisse to Avoid Styes…
It is important that before you start to apply the serum to your lashes, your make-up is removed, your face is clean, your contacts are removed, and your hands are washed. This will help to prevent the spread of initial bacteria on the face and hands that otherwise would have been mixed in with the solution, introducing the possibility of developing styes.
Next, it is crucial that you only use the sterile disposable applicators (which are included with every box) when applying the product, and that you are using a new applicator with each use. This will ensure that every applicator is clean, and that there won’t be any spread of unhealthy bacteria when applying.
The Latisse bottle must remain intact when not used to avoid the tip of the bottle or applicator to come in contact with surrounding structures, fingers, or any other surface that may put your Latisse bottle or applicator at risk of common bacteria or infections. Serious infections can occur if the solution or applicator becomes contaminated. To avoid any risk, keep the bottle completely sealed.
What To Do If You Get a Stye…
In most cases, a warm compress can soften the infection’s contents and let it drain more easily, but otherwise:
- Run warm water over a clean washcloth.
- Wring out the washcloth and place it over your closed eye.
- Re-wet the washcloth when it loses heat; continue this for 5-10 minutes.
- Then, gently massage the eyelid.
Doing this 2-3 times a day may help the stye to drain on its own. Sometimes antibiotic preparations are needed, and in rare cases an incision and drainage is necessary. Recurrence is likely if chronic underlying conditions are not addressed such as blepharitis, a chronic inflammation along the edge of the eyelid or rosacea. Your doctor may recommend daily cleansing of the eyelids and eyelashes with a gentle soap (such as baby shampoo) or Avenova eyelid cleanser.
If you have a stye it is important to avoid squeezing and poking the stye, because it could lead to scarring of the eyelid or spread the infection. Do not pluck your eyelashes to get rid of the infection, this can cause other problems. Gently wash the affected eyelid with mild soap and water and it is a good idea to avoid wearing eye makeup until the hordeolum has healed. Contact lenses can be contaminated with bacteria associated with a stye, try to go without them until your stye goes away.
Is Latisse Really Safe?
Latisse is safe and protected when applied correctly and as directed. It is the first and only eyelash growth prescription to be recognized and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, guaranteeing that the results are legit and that many clinical trials were put in place to ensure the safety of the product.
Like all prescriptions, Latisse has its limitations and isn’t safe for everyone to use. Latisse is not safe to use for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have certain eye infections and/or conditions, or have recently had eye surgeries. To find out if Latisse is safe for you, please give us a call at 888-910-0623, or visit our website and set up a consultation with one of our providers.
Why We Love Latisse…
It’s a no brainer to want longer, thicker, and darker lashes, and with so many other brands and methods out there to obtain the same look, it can be difficult to choose what the best option is. The downside is that it takes at least 4 weeks to start seeing results and 16 weeks to get the full result, but the end result will be your real lashes so you won’t have to worry about getting a refill every two weeks.
In every bottle, a little goes a long way with the 3mL lasting up to 4 weeks and the 5mL lasting up to 10 weeks, making it so Latisse is also more cost-effective in the long run when comparing it to getting lash extensions.
It is important to remember that Latisse is the first and only brand name prescription treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration for thin or sparse lashes. Any other brands and/or off brands on the market did not have to go through the same approval and clinical trial processes as Latisse, making it so that the safety of those products are not guaranteed and that there is a greater risk of infection or serious side effects.
