Does Latisse Help Eyelashes Grow After Chemotherapy?

Your lashes will improve after completion of your chemotherapy.   Once the lashes have stabilized LATISSE will aid in lengthening and thickening.  To sustain the improvement of you must continue its use otherwise the will go back to their usual length and thickness.

I hope your recovery goes well.

Dr. ES 

Interestingly, there is currently a study planned which attempts to evaluate its effectiveness of Bimatoprost (Latiesse) on post chemotherapy eyelash loss aka madarosis, alopecia, hypotrichosis. In all likelihood, it will be effective but is currently considered an off-label use.

Bimatoprost, the active ingredient in Latisse has been shown to stimulate eyelash growth. In fact, a competitor product called Revitalash was developed by an opthalmologist to help his wife regrow eyelashes after her chemotherapy for breast cancer. Latisse is the only FDA approved product available to stimulate eyelash growth, and it will work for your needs.

Latisse is FDA approved for hypotrichosis of eyelashes, otherwise known as short or sparse eyelashes. To understand how it works you should understand that hair has 3 phases: a growing phase, a resting phase and a falling out phase.  Latisse helps to lengthen the anagan phase (growing phase) of eyelashes so that instead of falling out after a short growth phase, eyelashes will continue to grow before falling out.  I have seen this work very well in chemotherapy patients.  What a wonderful option to offer patients. 

The FDA found Latisse useful in growing eyelashes longer in people with short eyelashes. Latisse acts by getting more follicles (the skin units producing a hair shaft) to remain in the growth phase AND to stay in it longer. The result, longer richer eyelashes. Using Latisse for other hair growing purposes is legal as an "off label" use done under your doctor's discretion based on his/her experience. It may not be covered by your insurance company. Talk to your doctor.