Latisse eyelash drug can make your eyelids turn purple

Sunday, October 03, 2010 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer
Tags: Latisse, eyelids, health news

(NaturalNews) In violation of federal law, the popular eyelash-enhancing drug Latisse is being widely sold without a prescription -- with no one warning customers that the drug could turn their eyelids purple or permanently stain their irises brown.

Manufacturer Allergan originally developed the drug under the name Lumigan, as an eyedrop treatment for glaucoma. When the company discovered that the drug carried a side effect of making eyelashes darker, fuller and longer, it applied for and received permission to market the drug for that use as well.

Since Latisse's approval in 2009, the drug has gained a wide following, earning Allergan $73.7 million in its first year alone. Now the drug is easily purchased online and is regularly sold at salons without a doctor's supervision.

"If it was completely safe to use without doctor supervision, they would have deemed it over-the-counter," warned Carmen A. Catizone, the executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

Well-known side effects of the drug include growing hair in undesired places (if a patient accidentally brushes their cheek with the applicator), painful ingrown lashes that can scratch the cornea, redness, itching, irritation and permanent discoloration of the iris.

Another, less-known, side effect is Latisse's ability to stain the eyelids purple both above and below the eyes.

Cynthia O'Connor of Minneapolis said that she purchased Latisse from the person who does her facials. Although the practice operates out of a plastic surgeon's office, O'Connor never saw a doctor, was not asked her medical history and was not warned of any side effects. She discontinued the drug after a "very dark purply" discoloration appeared on her eyelids and under her eyes.

"It looked like I hadn't slept in a month," she said. "It was horrible."

Five months later, he skin color had not yet fully returned to normal.

"Let's say you use the product once inappropriately, or outside the approved guidelines, you might get away with it," said Andrew G. Iwach of the Glaucoma Center. "But this drug is being applied repeatedly over weeks, months and potentially years. The consequences, or risk of consequences, add up over time."

Sources for this story include: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/health/02l....