Lash-lengthening treatment earns FDA OK

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Long, thick eyelashes may be a chemical treatment away now that the U.S. drug watchdog has approved a prescription medication, the maker says.

Latisse, created by Allergan, the company behind the anti-wrinkle drug Botox, is intended to treat hypotrichosis, a condition of having a less-than-normal amount of eyelashes, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday. When applied once a day to the eyelid with a disposable applicator, Latisse's developers said improves the length, thickness and color of the lashes.

Allergan recently won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell the prescription medication.

Continued use is necessary to maintain thicker lashes, and carries several side effects, including eye redness and itchiness, a darkening of the eyelid skin and a permanent darkening of the whites of the eyes, the British newspaper said.

Latisse's main ingredient is the chemical prostaglandin, which is believed to aid the development and re-growth of hair follicles, the newspaper said. The same chemical is used to treat glaucoma.

Latisse is the first prescription product for lengthening eyelashes, Allergan said. It is expected to be available in early 2009 and a 30-day supply is expected to cost $120.