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Prostaglandins & Hair Growth

Prostaglandins like bismatoprost are used to treat glaucoma and intraocular pressure in the eye. The Jonestone study in 1997 first found that during treatment of glaucoma, hair growth increased in patients taking prostaglandin.

  1. Mechanism

    • Prostaglandin reduces pressure in the eye that builds up, and the drug increases drainage in the eye to decrease the symptoms of certain types of glaucoma. In hair growth, prostaglandin affects two phases of the growth cycle. It increases the length as well as the number of hair follicles.

    Results

    • Hair, specifically eyelashes and eyebrows, will show growth within eight to twelve weeks of prostaglandin usage. Hair growth on the head can take longer.

    Precaution

    • People should avoid using prostaglandins while wearing contact lenses. Contact lenses absorb the preservative in prostaglandin causing irritation in the eye.

    Side Effect

    • Side effects for using prostaglandin for hair growth include redness, itching, swelling and darkening of the eye. Serious side effects are vision changes and sensitivity to light.

    Dosage

    • Prostaglandins are prescribed by medical doctors who calculate the appropriate dosage for each individual. It is unsafe to take prostaglandins for hair growth without consulting a physician. Latisse used for increasing the growth of eyelashes has been FDA approved and has to be prescribed by a doctor.

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