Successful Use of Bimatoprost in the Treatment of Eyelash Alopecia
November 2009
in “
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology
”
Studysummary This case study describes a 16-year-old girl with alopecia areata affecting her eyelashes and eyebrows, who showed very limited response to treatment with topical mometasone furoate and subsequent partial hair loss upon stopping the treatment.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In a case study, a 16-year-old girl with alopecia areata affecting her eyelashes and eyebrows was successfully treated with bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analogue originally used for glaucoma. Previous treatment with mometasone furoate had limited success. After starting bimatoprost, eyelash growth was observed within 4 weeks, and continued application led to further pronounced growth at 8 weeks. To confirm the drug's effectiveness, treatment was stopped for one eyelid, resulting in lash loss, while continued use on the other eyelid maintained growth. Bimatoprost's mechanism is believed to be related to prostaglandin receptors in hair follicles, but is not fully understood. This case demonstrates bimatoprost's potential for treating difficult areas like eyelashes, with significant improvement in a short period and sustained results without serious side effects, positively impacting the patient's psychological well-being.
