At Central CosMedic, Dr Danielle Waxman offers consultations for prescription eyelash growth serum for patients across Havelock North, Hastings, Napier and the wider Hawke’s Bay.
If your eyelashes are thin, short or sparse, a prescription eyelash growth serum may help them grow longer, fuller and darker over time. This page explains how it differs from the eyelash serums sold in shops, how to use it and what to expect.
Prescription eyelash growth serum is a medicine applied to the base of the upper eyelashes each night. It works by extending the growth phase of the eyelash, so lashes grow for longer and become longer, thicker and darker.
Many people search for eyelash serum in NZ and find a wide range of products online. Most of these are cosmetic serums with conditioning ingredients. A prescription eyelash growth serum contains an active medicine, which is why a doctor needs to check it is suitable for you first.
Prescription eyelash growth serum may suit people with:
It is not suitable for everyone. If eyelash loss is sudden or patchy, there may be an underlying cause that should be looked at first.
Eyelash growth serum is only prescribed after a consultation, and only when it is a sensible option for you.
Dr Waxman takes a full health history, including any eye conditions, eye drops or other medications you use.
She looks at your eyelashes and the skin around your eyes, and checks for any reason the serum may not suit you.
You will hear the potential benefits, risks and side effects in plain terms, along with the costs, before you decide anything.
If you go ahead, Dr Waxman prescribes the serum and shows you how to apply it safely, with a review to check how you are getting on.
The serum is applied once a night to clean skin along the base of the upper eyelashes, using a fresh applicator for each eye. It is not applied to the lower lashes. Contact lenses should be removed first and can usually be put back in after about 15 minutes. Any serum that runs onto the surrounding skin should be blotted away.
Changes start to show from around 8 weeks, with the full effect usually seen at around 12 to 16 weeks. Results vary from person to person. Eyelashes gradually return to how they were if the serum is stopped, so ongoing use is needed to keep the result.
Common side effects include itchy or red eyes, dry eyes and darkening of the skin along the eyelid where the serum is applied. Hair may also grow on other areas of skin the serum regularly touches. These effects usually settle if the serum is stopped.
Less commonly, the serum can cause a permanent darkening of the coloured part of the eye, particularly in people with light-coloured eyes. It may not be suitable for people with certain eye conditions, including those using eye drops for glaucoma, and it is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Your health history is reviewed before anything is prescribed, and Dr Waxman will talk through the risks and potential benefits so you can make an informed decision. If you have any concerns during treatment, stop using the serum and contact the clinic.
