Hypertrichosis of Vellus Hairs in the Malar Region After Unilateral Treatment with Bimatoprost

March 2004 in “ American Journal of Ophthalmology ”

Jeffrey L. Hart, George Shafranov

hypertrichosis vellus hairs malar region bimatoprost epilation eyelash growth cheek area Latisse

Studysummary This case report found that topical bimatoprost in a female Hispanic patient with glaucoma led to increased hair growth and pigmentation in the malar region, which resolved after discontinuing use and epilation. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document reports a case of hypertrichosis (increased hair growth) and pigmentation of vellus hairs in the malar region (cheek area) of a 53-year-old Hispanic female patient after 8 weeks of unilateral treatment with bimatoprost, a medication used to treat open-angle glaucoma. The patient also experienced increased eyelash growth. Upon noticing the hair growth, which was visible without magnification and cosmetically disturbing, bimatoprost was discontinued. The patient chose to epilate the hair due to its appearance, and two months after epilation, the hair growth did not recur. The case suggests that increased hair growth in the malar region can be an early side effect of topical bimatoprost usage. The study is an interventional case report, focusing on a single patient's experience.

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Research cited in this study

2 / 2 results

research Prostaglandin-Induced Hair Growth

162 citations , August 2002 in “Survey of Ophthalmology”

This study found that latanoprost induces significant growth and pigmentation of lashes and ancillary hairs, with effects mirroring both brief and chronic treatments observed in patients and animal models.

Hypertrichosis and Increased Pigmentation of Eyelashes and Adjacent Hair in the Region of the Ipsilateral Eyelids of Patients Treated with Unilateral Topical Latanoprost

research Hypertrichosis and Increased Pigmentation of Eyelashes and Adjacent Hair in the Region of the Ipsilateral Eyelids of Patients Treated with Unilateral Topical Latanoprost

216 citations , October 1997 in “American Journal of Ophthalmology”

This study found that unilateral topical latanoprost use for glaucoma was associated with hypertrichosis and increased pigmentation of eyelashes in the treated eye compared to the untreated eye.