May 2011

When the eyelash enhancing drug Latisse was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration more than two years ago, one of the big concerns was hair growth on the eyelids and around the eyes in those who were a little messy when applying the liquidy substance.

Latisse's hair growth potential has probably led some doctors to start prescribing the treatment "off-label" for baldness, ABC News reports. One woman said she used the treatment to restore her over-plucked eyebrows before her wedding.

And those treating baldness with the only two prescription remedies on the market -- Rogaine (a lotion) and Propecia (a pill) -- agreed that it would be nice to add a third.

But, like all drugs, Latisse has some side effects like eye irritation, skin redness, and the potential to alter the pigment of the eye turning, say, blue eyes, brown.

Actress Claire Danes, pitching the product in the commercial posted above, said on the Latisse website that she initially had some skin irritation that went away after about a week.

It's not known whether these same side effects -- or different ones -- would occur from rubbing a whole lot of Latisse into the scalp to help hair grow.

Allergan, maker of Latisse, is starting clinical trials in June to test Latisse for the treatment of baldness, according to an email sent to me by Allergan vice president Caroline Van Hove. "We cannot comment on its potential efficacy or safety...at this time," she said, but the company is hoping to have FDA approval by 2013. More details here on the clinical trial.

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