Bimatoprost for eyelash and eyebrow regrowth
Eyelashes and eyebrows often fall out with chemotherapy and can be slow to return. Bimatoprost, a glaucoma eye drop approved for thin lashes, applied along the lash line each night increased lash length and thickness in a randomised trial that included people after chemotherapy.
Overview
Bimatoprost 0.03 percent, a prostaglandin analogue, was approved by the FDA in 2008 for eyelash hypotrichosis after it was noticed that glaucoma patients grew longer lashes. A randomised, double-masked, vehicle-controlled trial (Glaser et al., British Journal of Dermatology 2015) enrolled adults with idiopathic hypotrichosis and a cohort who had completed chemotherapy at least four weeks earlier; nightly application to the upper lash margin significantly improved lash prominence, length, thickness and darkness by month 4 in both groups, with continued benefit to 12 months and mainly local side effects (conjunctival redness, eyelid skin darkening). Off-label use on eyebrows is common with less evidence. Iris darkening, a known effect of glaucoma drops instilled into the eye, is rare with lash-margin application. Lashes usually regrow unaided within a few months after chemotherapy, so bimatoprost is for those who want faster or fuller return, and is not used during active chemotherapy.
How it works
Prostaglandin F2-alpha analogue signalling prolongs the anagen phase and increases the proportion of follicles in growth, lengthening and thickening lashes.
- Approved drug with a randomised trial including post-chemotherapy patients
- Once-nightly topical use
- Reversible on stopping
- Cosmetic prescription, rarely reimbursed
- Local irritation and skin darkening
- Not for use during active chemotherapy
Latest papers
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