Do eyelash growth serums work?

ajohnson · 28 June 2019 01:57

There are plenty of eyelash serum products on the market claiming to help your eyelashes grow longer/thicker/darker - from those marketed as ‘natural’ like Bondi Boost and Talika, to those with a more ‘scientific’ approach like Latisse which requires a prescription. They all have mixed reviews and it’s hard to know what is marketing spin, or genuine scientific evidence. Also, safety is a concern when you use a product so close to your eyes.

Does anyone use these serums and do they feel that they work as intended? Is there any scientific basis to the lash growth claims? Or any unpleasant side-effects? We’d love to hear your thoughts and as always, we’ll hand out BS Buster badges for those who provide well-reasoned or well-evidenced answers.

grahroll · 28 June 2019 02:19

Isn’t this a bit like any of the hair growth products sold by a plethora of businesses. I raised a topic about caffeine and it’s ability/inability to promote hair growth. The evidence really wasn’t there to support that ability to help. I would have the same scepticism about most of these serums. I believe there is an old blood pressure medication that may be used with some success but I do wonder if it is in any of these products at all and if so at what levels to even produce effects.

https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/news/how-minoxidil-was-transformed-from-an-antihypertensive-to-hair-loss-drug/11080942.article?firstPass=false

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-3503/minoxidil-topical/details#

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Minoxidil use in dermatology, side effects and recent patents.

A Rossi, C Cantisani, L Melis, A Iorio, E Scali and S Calvieri, Recent patents on inflammation & allergy drug discovery, May 2012

Minoxidil, a vasodilator medication known for its ability to slow or stop hair loss and promote hair regrowth, was first introduced, exclusively as an oral drug, to treat high blood pressure. It was however discovered to have the important side-effect of increasing growth or darkening of fine body hairs; this led to the development of a topical formulation as a 2% concentration solution for the treatment of female androgenic alopecia or 5% for treating male androgenic alopecia. Measurable changes disappear within months after discontinuation of treatment. The mechanism by which it promotes hair growth is not fully understood. Minoxidil is a potassium channel opener, causing hyperpolarization of cell membranes and it is also a vasodilator, it is speculated that, by widening blood vessels and opening potassium channels, it allows more oxygen, blood and nutrients to the follicle. This can also cause follicles in the telogen phase to shed, usually soon to be replaced by new, thicker hairs in a new anagen phase. It needs to be applied regularly, once or twice daily, for hair gained to be maintained, and side effects are common. The most common adverse reactions of the topical formulation are limited to irritant and allergic contact dermatitis on the scalp. There have been cases of allergic reactions to the nonactive ingredient propylene glycol, which is found in some topical solution especially if they are galenic. Increased hair loss which can occur during Minoxidil use, is due to the synchronization of the hair cycle that the treatment induces. In this review, we described its mechanism of action, use in dermatology and some patents related to alternative treatment of allergic reactions due to its use.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized clinical trial of 5% topical minoxidil versus 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men.

EA Olsen, FE Dunlap, T Funicella, JA Koperski, JM Swinehart, EH Tschen and RJ Trancik, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Sep 2002

Topical minoxidil solution 2% stimulates new hair growth and helps stop the loss of hair in individuals with androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Results can be variable, and historical experience suggests that higher concentrations of topical minoxidil may enhance efficacy.The purpose of this 48-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multicenter trial was to compare 5% topical minoxidil with 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in the treatment of men with AGA.A total of 393 men (18-49 years old) with AGA applied 5% topical minoxidil solution (n = 157), 2% topical minoxidil solution (n = 158), or placebo (vehicle for 5% solution; n = 78) twice daily. Efficacy was evaluated by scalp target area hair counts and patient and investigator assessments of change in scalp coverage and benefit of treatment.After 48 weeks of therapy, 5% topical minoxidil was significantly superior to 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in terms of change from baseline in nonvellus hair count, patient rating of scalp coverage and treatment benefit, and investigator rating of scalp coverage. Hair count data indicate that response to treatment occurred earlier with 5% compared with 2% topical minoxidil. Additionally, data from a patient questionnaire on quality of life, global benefit, hair growth, and hair styling demonstrated that 5% topical minoxidil helped improve patients' psychosocial perceptions of hair loss. An increased occurrence of pruritus and local irritation was observed with 5% topical minoxidil compared with 2% topical minoxidil.In men with AGA, 5% topical minoxidil was clearly superior to 2% topical minoxidil and placebo in increasing hair regrowth, and the magnitude of its effect was marked (45% more hair regrowth than 2% topical minoxidil at week 48). Men who used 5% topical minoxidil also had an earlier response to treatment than those who used 2% topical minoxidil. Psychosocial perceptions of hair loss in men with AGA were also improved. Topical minoxidil (5% and 2%) was well tolerated by the men in this trial without evidence of systemic effects.

It is more likely that it is the perception of the user that the eyelash looks thicker or has grown more because they want that to be the outcome. It could also be that these serums add colour, silicone based thickening/coating so the lashes look fuller and similar included chemicals/additives in these products that are purely cosmetic in their action.

The Latisse one has Bimatoprost the active ingredient which was developed to treat high pressure in the eye, a noticed side effect was that some had increased hair growth. It now has an approved use in the treatment of Hypotrichosis particularly for the treatment of small or underdeveloped eyelashes. They do warn about using it and that hair growth could occur outside the treated area.

So any that use those two drugs (minoxidil or Bimatoprost) indeed would likely have benefits but there are also potential drawbacks from using them and so caution would be advised and seeking medical advice before such use would be highly advisable.

From what I could see of the other serums they seem to use colours and oils and similar to simulate (not stimulate) improved hair colour and growth.

syncretic · 28 June 2019 08:27

I am sorry AJ but I cannot take this question seriously. There could be people who ingest growth serums in the world, or it could just be a twisted invention of the cosmetics industry.

From the OED:

serum

_(ˈsɪərəm) _

_Pl. sera (ˈsɪərə), serums (ˈsɪərəmz). _

_[L. = whey, watery fluid.] _

1. a.1.a Watery animal fluid, normal or morbid; spec. blood-serum, the greenish yellow liquid which separates from the clot when blood coagulates.

I really want to rub that on my eyes.

iand · 5 July 2019 04:31

I’ve been told by others and I also believe my eyelashes are thicker and longer since I’ve been using Xalatan/Latanoprost drops this is apparently one of the side effects a person can have to this product and as a side effect of something to stop me going blind I’m not going to complain

davo · 8 July 2019 05:34

Just use a sqigen of hexane free castor oil
works for all hair

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Do eyelash growth serums work?