Good news for Rosacea sufferers: The FDA just approved a gel to treat the facial redness (erythema) associated with rosacea. Mirvaso, created by Galderma Laboratories, is brimonidine topical gel 0.33%.
And you won’t have to wait too long; the company expects that Mirvaso will be in pharmacies as soon as September.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a skin disorder that primarily appears on the face; it involves flare-ups that usually include redness and sometimes swelling, irritation, and acne-like symptoms (American Academy of Dermatology). It generally appears after age 30, and often starts with as excessive blushing. Eventually this redness spreads from the nose and cheeks and onto the forehead and chin (National Rosacea Society). It can even extend to the ears, throat, and chest.
As it goes on, it can worsen, causing more redness, a ruddier complexion, and even the appearance of visible blood vessels on the skin. In cases where rosacea goes untreated for a prolonged period, the nose can swell and develop a bumpy appearance. If you know what comedian, writer, and actor W.C. Fields (pictured) looks like, you’ve seen the “bulbous” nose that can go along with rosacea.
While rosacea can affect many different people, it’s commonly seen in those with fairer skin and those who blush easily. There is no cure, but there are ways to manage symptoms.
What is Mirvaso (Brimonidine)?
In addition to recent studies on its ability to treat Rosacea, brimonidine has been used to treat open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It’s an alpha-2 andrenergic antagonist that’s believed to work as a vasoconstrictor, meaning that it constricts the dilation or expansion of blood vessels, and so reduces the reddening of the face (Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy; Drugs & Aging). Researchers recommended applying a small (pea-sized) amount to areas affects by Rosacea on a daily basis.
But it’s not for everyone. If you have certain disorders, including Raynaud’s phenomenon, thromboangiitis obliterans, scleroderma, depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Sjogren’s syndome, or serious or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease you should be careful using this drug (MedPage).
And, remember, you should always communicate with your physician clearly about conditions you have and medication you’re taking to ensure that you have no negative interactions.
Study Results of Brimonidine Gel on Rosacea
For FDA approval, researchers did two phase 3 clinical trials that lasted a month and included 550 participants as well as a long-term trial that involved 276 patients applying the gel for up to one year (MedScape). Studies have observed that there are improvements as soon as 30 minutes after application for some patients. Adverse effects tended to be mild, temporary, dermatologic, and only slightly more prevalent with the brimondine gel than with the vehicle gel (Journal of Drugs and Dermatology; British Journal of Dermatology).
In the short term, the most common negative reaction was redness (erythema), flushing, a burning feeling on the skin, and contact dermatitis in fewer than 1% of the participants. In the long-term study, the most common reactions were flushing for 10% of participants, redness (erythema) for 8%, nasopharyngitis for 5%, rosacea for 5%, a burning feeling on the skin for 4%, an increase in intraocular pressure for 4%, and headache for 4%.
Bottom Line
Recently FDA-approved Galderma Laboratories Mirvaso (brimonidine topical gel 0.33%) should be a boon for rosacea sufferers. By constricting the blood vessels that cause redness, it can work in conjunction with avoiding triggers and other management techniques to help keep rosacea in control.