Thinning eyelashes are a common problem and can occur as a result of various allergies, usage of certain eye makeup, as a side effect of different medications or conditions, in response to exposure to toxins, after eye surgery, and from nutritional deficiencies. The most common culprit is often age, as hair on many parts of the body starts to lose its fullness and luster.

Mascara and false eyelashes can provide the illusion of volume, but both of these solutions are temporary.

Now there’s a way to improve the quality of the eyelashes themselves.

Latisse, a treatment from the maker of Botox and Juvederm, has recently been FDA approved to stimulate eyelash growth. In clinical trials, users experienced longer, fuller and darker eyelashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results appearing within 16 weeks. A once-daily prescription treatment, Latisse is applied to the base of the upper eyelashes with a sterile, single-use-per-eye disposable applicator.

Although Latisse was just introduced for eyelash growth last year, its active ingredient has a long history of use. In 2001, bimatoprost ophthalmic solution was approved in the U. S. for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Its long-term safety was studied in 32 clinical trials involving more than 5,700 patients conducted over 13 years. During that time, eyelash growth was observed as a side effect of treatment, leading to the further study and eventual introduction of Latisse.