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| TSMD CONSUMER PRODUCT REVIEW An Eyelash Growth Product Review  
The past few years have realized a "growth" in the number of products "claiming" to enhance lash appearance. Consumer and doctor confusion triggered by this issue led to this unbiased review. Since 1996, an FDA approved prescription ingredient known as Latanoprost has been used to treat Glaucoma. An interesting cosmetic side effect of lash growth was noticed. Several physicians reported this eyelash growth in several medical journals. A few years ago several companies delivered on their "claims" AND actually "grew" your lashes. Sounds too good to be true? It WAS true, however, those products were NOT legally compliant and infringed upon certain legal Patents. Those products that actually grew your lashes still exist in name only; however, they are no longer effective. We will detail the TRUTH behind the products in question.
The eyelash growth enhancer products on the market are sold over the counter (OTC) even at a doctor's office, as opposed to either an FDA approved manufactured pharmaceutical product or a written prescription from your doctor that is compounded adherent to strict stability and sterility regulations.  Three Product Classes - a) Cosmetic Products that claim fuller lashes but do not claim to grow your lashes, only enhance the appearance of your lashes that do NOT actually grow your lashes: Too many to discuss - almost all mascara companies. These products work by making your lashes "appear" thicker and do make them appear thicker. . . however some products actually "grew" your lashes. b) Cosmetic Products sold (OTC) without a doctor's prescription that actually "grew" lashes: Jan Marini - a cosmetics company Revitalash - Michael Brinkenhoff, M.D. MDLash - Susan Lin, M.D. c) Currently only one "product" is available with a doctor's prescription that actually "grows" lashes: Doctor-written prescription for pharmaceutical compounded LATANOPROST - ACCP doctors are certified in the art of compounding medicine. Behind The Issues - Do the above products actually grow lashes? How does it work? Pay close attention, as much has transpired in this industry. Our investigators and industry analysts have monitored this story since its inception. Did Jan Marini, Revitalash, MD Lash ALL "grow" lashes when they were first brought to market. YES. How did the "products" grow lashes? Each contained a prescription ingredient, a prostaglandin analogue that has been proven to grow lashes. Read more about prostaglandins under The Science section, under Active Ingredients. ** Either secretly or discreetly, the prescription ingredients were added to their product and manufactured without a doctor's prescription and without pharmacy oversight. Do those same branded "products" grow lashes today? NO. 
Why?
The FDA either seized the products or asked the manufacturers to remove the ACTIVE PRESCRIPTION INGREDIENT as they realized that the products were illegally being distributed (read article below) ***
Your FDA (Federal Drug Adminstration) oversees all activities surrounding drugs and was developed to protect the safety of consumers.
Those products (Jan Marini, Revitalash, MDLash) are still sold today, do the work? NO. They are selling products, based on the reputation that they DID work. This is actually a consumer travesty as consumers continue to be duped. What about the NEW products on the market, do they work? IF they work they are illegally manufactured and the FDA will rectify that situation. What are our ALTERNATIVES? The only legal and compliant source of a product to grow lashes must come from a Pharmacy and your Physician. Allergan, maker of Botox, is currently developing a product for "Hypotrichosis" Physicians will write prescriptions for patients who suffer from this rare yet severe medical condition. Hypotrichosis is a well known condition in patients after chemotherapy. www.ACCPonline.org Innovative Cosmetic Physician Organization ACCP is an organization of innovative cosmetic physicians who compound Latanoprost** the only proven prescription ingredient currently available. Compounded Latanoprost is available for clients who don't suffer from any medical conditions, but would simply like to grow their lashes as a cosmetic indication. Current survey of ACCP doctors with over 3000 patients using the compounded Latanoprost reveal over 90% satisfaction. STATEMENT of FACTS: 1) Any ACTIVE ingredient contained within any formula must be clearly labeled 2) The ACTIVE ingredient is the ingredient that actually does what the product claims 3) Any product that changes the structure of the hair or lash is regulated by the FDA and is considered a DRUG. 4) DRUGS are available only with a doctor's prescription in the U.S. 5) The ACCP is the country's only organization for innovative cosmetic physicians who specialize in the art of compounding medicine for individual patients ** (www.accponline.org) 6) Prostaglandin Analogs are proven to grow lashes in medical journals ** (www.accponline.org/wp)  Any product sold without a physician's prescription that claims to grow lashes CANNOT possibly work as detailed in the information in the FDA government's legislation. IF a product actually alters the human body, it is a DRUG and it should be prescribed by your physician who understands the anatomy and physiology of your body.  Save your money and do NOT buy lash growth formulas sold without a prescription. See an ACCP cosmetic physician to see what is right for your lashes. It is surprising that consumers would use a product that could alter their body without having a physician properly educate you on "how" it works and what the side effects could be. It is also equally shocking that these non-prescription products are sold by some medical spas and physicians. Here are some questions for the person selling you an eyelash grower or other cosmetic product: 1) What is the ACTIVE ingredient in this product? 2) Show me the proof in writing that this product's claims are approved by the FDA and is legally compliant 3) Where are those cosmetic Products manufactured? 4) What is the dosage of the ACTIVE ingredients? 5) How is the product stabilized? 6) Is the product manufactured under cGMP? (certified good manufacturing practices)  "The spotlight on Latanoprost just got brighter this month when the Archives of Ophthalmology published a well documented incidence of how a 53 year old woman regrew all her eyelashes with the help of Latanoprost." http://groups.google.com/group/alt.baldspot/browse_thread/thread/ f3f8ab758e02c612/d51dad8da6ae627a?lnk=st&q=latanoprost "Eyelash Formation Secondary to Latanoprost Treatment in a Patient With Alopecia" "Archives of Ophthalmology", Vol. 118 No. 5, May 2000, http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/118/5/718 Potentially Harmful "Cosmetic" Eye Product Seized - "FDA considers Age Intervention Eyelash to be an unapproved and misbranded drug because Jan Marini Skin Research has promoted the product to increase eyelash growth. Before a new drug product may be legally marketed, it must be shown to be safe and effective, and approved by FDA." Nov 19, 2007 - http://www.fda.gov/CONSUMER/updates/cosmeticeye111907.html "Prostaglandins were founded in 1935 and are found in virtually all tissues and organs. Prostaglandin analogues have been used in Ophthalmology to treat Glaucoma." "Latanoprost (pronounced la-TA-noe-prost) ophthalmic solution is a topical medication used for controlling the progression of glaucoma or ocular hypertension, by reducing intraocular pressure. It is a prostaglandin analogue that works by increasing the outflow of aqueous fluid from the eyes. - Bimatoprost Similar structure and effects." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostaglandin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latanoprost Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (or Is It Soap?) The legal difference between a cosmetic and a drug is determined by a product's intended use. Different laws and regulations apply to each type of product. Firms sometimes violate the law by marketing a cosmetic with a drug claim, or by marketing a drug as if it were a cosmetic, without adhering to requirements for drugs. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-218.html What the FDA says about pharmacy compounding. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdcact5a.htm#sec503a |
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