Eyelash salve

People have been asking about the PG/Aloe/Alcohol "salve".

It's not really a salve; it is a colorless liquid. It's a make-at-home
itch-stopper inspired by the success of some people's use of over-the-counter
acne wipes and by the known effectiveness of propylene glycol on yeasts. The
aloe vera is in it for antibacterial purposes, and to make it more soothing,
just like Mike Grant found when he pioneered its use for TTM. So basically
the PG and AV are a wipe-on broad-range antiseptic as well as a quick
counterirritant (the alcohol). I haven't tried it on the lashes, but it works
fine on the brows, although as the alcohol evaporates it sometimes gets into
the eyes a bit and stings some.

The proportions aren't critical and the ingredients are cheap. One reason the
rubbing alcohol is used is to thin out the PG and AV, which otherwise are too
goopy to easily apply. Three parts rubbing alcohol to one part PG to one part
AV seems to work fine. The PG can be obtained from the pharmacist: it is
over-the-counter and FDA GRAS ("generally recognized as safe"), but probably
has to be ordered since there is not much call for it on the shelves when used
alone. (The pharmacies use it for compounding other lotions and creams.) I
paid about $8 for a pint made by Paddock Labs, with NDC 0574-0072-16; that
product number might be helpful in asking for it. I paid about $4 for 12
oz. of Fruit of the Earth's "Aloe Vera 100 Gel"; they have a web site
describing the product at http://www.fote.com    All three components are
mixable with each other, which means that no matter what the proportions are,
they all blend together perfectly.

I occasionally swab the mixture on my brows using a cotton ball or a cotton
pad. It works fine, but it seems to have more effectiveness if it is used
regularly. I haven't had any need to put it anywhere else, so I can't advise
anyone on how safe it would be nearer to the eyes. 

It does appear from people's reports, however, that lash pulling is often
precipitated by a small sharp local infection, so in theory an antiseptic on
the lashes could be useful. And, I have received a few reports that some lash
pullers have found this mixture useful. But lash pullers would have to
experiment very carefully. 

Lash pullers can probably try omitting the alcohol, and just using a
one-to-one mixture of PG and AV. I've tried *that* on my eyelids, scrunching
my eyes tightly shut. It is a bit thicker, and it still stings a bit from the
PG, which is a chemical cousin of the isopropyy alcohol in the rubbing
alcohol. Although I found that pure AV gel doesn't sting, it is probably not
as likely to be as effective against any yeasts, and it is really too thick to
spread on the lids easily anyway.

I don't know if anyone has tried any of these variations on the scalp yet.

As far as I can determine, there wouldn't be much reason to expect this
mixture to ever be commercially available already made up. Propylene glycol
is a principal ingredient in nearly every deodorant. Aloe vera is advertized
as a sunburn remedy. Not too many people suffer from sunburned armpits.

As ever, your mileage may vary, and be careful out there. This cannot by any
stretch of the imagination be considered medical advice; I'm just telling you
how I spent part of my summer vacation. I would however be interested in
hearing about other people's experiences with these or related products.

John