Soolantra Topical Cream (Day 9)

After using Soolantra (ivermectin 1%) for nine days, I have decided to offer a follow-up.

I have found this medication to be quite beneficial. I have used it daily (a.m. application) with much success. I have noticed a decrease in overall redness and pustules, which are often associated with rosacea. Additionally, the overall appearance of my face is more uniform, which is always a good thing! Unlike Mirvaso, my face maintains its natural color with a matte appearance.

The topical cream goes on well and is absorbed by my skin without leaving a greasy residue behind. Initially, I was afraid that it may increase acne flare-ups, but it has not created that reaction. I will continue to use this medication on a daily basis and offer additional updates.

From Mirvaso to Soolantra

Yesterday, I had an appointment with my dermatologist. During the appointment, my doctor revisited my "rebound effect" from having used Mirvaso. She asked me to pilot another topical rosacea treatment, called Soolantra. (Soolantra, like Mirvaso, is manufactured by Galderma Laboratories.) She said that it was different from Mirvaso in that it treats a skin mite, called demodex, which is thought to be a contributing cause of rosacea (gross!). My doctor also explained that it has an anti-inflammatory property that would be beneficial to my overall skin health.

My rosacea is fairly mild, and it contributes to periodic pustule breakouts on my face, in particular around my nose, cheeks, and jawline-area.

Now, I try to be an informed patient, so I did a little research on Soolantra before taking the prescription to my pharmacy. It turns out that the chemical in Soolantra, called ivermectin, is indeed a parasitic treatment! In fact, it is used as a topical treatment for scabies and lice. I was mortified with the prospects of asking my pharmacy to fill the prescription, with the thought someone working there may think I'm receiving treatment for such conditions. After looking at the Galderma website for Soolantra, however, I discovered that this particular formulation is strictly for the treatment of rosacea, which means no one there should attribute my use of it as having lice...or scabies (crabs, O-M-G).

With that said, today is my first treatment with the medication. I am excited (yet cautious) about the results. Galderma states that I should see noticeable results in the next two weeks, so we shall see! In the meantime, I am not receiving treatment for scabies or lice. :)

Mirvaso, Onreltea Follow-Up

After a bad experience with Mirvaso (Onreltea in Canada) on my face, I recently discovered another use for it. I have eczema, which shows up on my hands often as itchy, red spots. I have had persistent spots on two knuckles on my left hand. I had used prescription strength topical steroids with no success. I thought about redness and what Mirvaso was supposed to be able to control. I decided to apply a small dab of brimonidine to each of my persistent eczema spots. I am happy to report that it remedied the redness!

One spot is completely gone and the other one is fading fast. I'm sure this is an off-label use of this medication, but that's what we do by nature: experiment. I wonder what the implications of its use might be on scars, etc.?

Galderma, if you use this idea, I expect complete compensation.

Mirvaso Topical Gel, Part 4

Last week, was the "healing week." On Monday, I experienced another embarrassing flare-up on my cheeks, but it was short lived, compared to the previous episode of flushing. Monday was my last visit from the complete face redness.

Last week, I did notice that my face is very dry. My skin is sensitive and I have been using products to correct that issue. As of this posting, my face feels rather normal compared to where I was at last week. Before, I had pain, then stinging, and now all of that has subsided. I think once the dryness is alleviated, then my red-face will be done. I'll see where I am at in the coming weeks.

I have done research online and noticed there are few resources about Mirvaso and Onreltea. I did see the big, red banana in a Mirvaso commercial posted on YouTube. Yes, that was my face after using Mirvaso! Geez!

I would be interested in receiving comments from other people who have used it and are experiencing positive results from its application. I want to use it and have the beneficial results remain. I am tempted to try it again over my Christmas holiday break, but I am not so sure. Perhaps, if I used moisturizers with it to abet the dry skin. Also, I wonder if using a single pea-size on my face would alleviate the extreme reaction?

It's under consideration! Until then, enjoy the red banana. Ha! Ha! It looks wrong!

Mirvaso Topical Gel, Part 3

Okay, today has been extremely better! My skin didn't have a major meltdown today. The only redness I have noticed is in the last hour. It is on my right cheek next to my nose. Instead of heat, it is mildly warm and it has a tingly sensation, which is new.

I was thinking last night, after my last post, that it is interesting that my forehead and chin never displayed the same symptoms of the skin on my nose and cheeks. Both forehead and chin received a pea-sized application of Mirvaso. When I was having my 10 hour reaction, those parts of my face returned to their regular skin tone and color. It's too bad that my cheeks and nose didn't follow suit; otherwise, I could have continued on the Mirvaso treatment.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will be asymptomatic!

Mirvaso Topical Gel, Part 2

It has now been 3 days since I last applied Mirvaso to my skin. As I outlined in my previous blog, my dermatologist prescribed Mirvaso for rosacea. Unfortunately, for my skin, it did the exact opposite. It works well when applied, but after about 10 hours it loses its effectiveness. At that point, I say hello to the redness.

Today, you would think, would be a normal day. It was not. Today was a bad day for my skin. After my lunch, my face began its transition from its everyday appearance into its new red version. It started with my nose. I didn't realize it was happening at the time. Someone commented that my nose looked really red! I looked in the mirror and I could have been Rudolph's twin nosed brother. It was glowing, and yes, I mean glowing! My nose has never done that before. Then, if that wasn't bad enough, it began to spread to my cheeks. My nose turned to its normal color as my cheeks lit up. By the end of the work day, I was no longer Rudolph, but Bashful, from the Seven Dwarfs. (To tell you the truth, I think I had bashful beat, because my cheeks were rocking a full flush.)

Yes, people laughed at me. I heard comments like "Are you feeling bad?" "Do you have a fever?" "Ohmygosh, what is wrong with you?!" I was almost tempted to put the gel on my face to get the redness gone, but I resisted the temptation, and accepted the unsolicited ridicule that it brought.

So, it wasn't awkward at all. Thanks, Mirvaso.

As I write this entry, My nose is red, my jaw-line on the right side of my face is scarlet, but the middle of my cheek is pale white. It would make the birthmark on Mikhail Gorbachev's head jealous. If someone saw me right now, they would think I am a burn victim. My left cheek is its normal color at this time. It's cool to the touch, and the right is burning up. Is that normal?

I am thankful that it is the weekend. It is my sincerest hope that it will subside shortly. I don't know why the effects of this medication are lasting so long. I would have thought it would wear off by now. My body is on overdrive, it would seem. I'm not sure if this is an allergic reaction or just a symptom of withdrawal. I was just on the stuff for about a week! It's a topical gel, not cocaine. I think the FDA has a website for reporting adverse drug reactions. I may go there, because people need to know this stuff isn't benign. I'm sure many people use it without a reaction, but I'm in the minority (as usual).

As for pictures, I will probably take some for my dermatologist so she can have a reference for what I am currently going through. If it isn't better by Monday, I will have to call or go back to the dermatologist's office, because I can't function in this condition.

I think Galderma markets this drug as Onreltea in Canada.

Mirvaso Topical Gel

My dermatologist recently prescribed a medication, Mirvaso, for the treatment of facial erythema, which is better known as rosacea. I am of northern European ancestry, which means that my skin is quite light and prone to redness around my nose, forehead, and chin. I was very excited when my dermatologist suggested this medication, because my face is never a single color. There are usually red blotches, which range in size.

After my first application of this gel, I was able to see an evenness in my skin tone. The redness was gone and my skin looked smooth as if I were wearing foundation. It was a truly exciting time for me!

Galderma Laboratories, which manufactures Mirvaso, suggests that a pea-size amount be applied to the forehead, nose, each cheek, and the chin. Of course, you work the gel into your skin. My skin quickly absorbed the gel, which I liked.

As I said before, my skin usually exhibits signs of redness, but it's not readily noticeable to other people. I don't have the jolly cheeks of Santa Claus...until now. That's right. The drug, brimonidine, wears off after about ten hours. It's not that my skin simply goes back to the way it was before I applied the medication. Instead, my skin went bright red. In fact, my cheeks looked almost purple! And the unsightliness of my appearance wasn't enough. It literally hurt. My cheeks, especially, felt as if they were on fire. I was at the point where I was applying the gel twice a day to keep the redness and pain under control.

After a week of regular use, I have quit this medication, because of the side effects. Unfortunately, I am still experiencing the side effects. After almost 48 hours of being Mirvaso free, my skin is still prone to breaking out in random, fiery redness. I am using cold compresses and ibuprofen to counteract the effects of the medication. As I write this, my face looks fairly normalized in appearance. My skin has a "just got back from the beach" look to it. Happily, the pain is gone.

I hope that my skin will return to its "old ways" in the next 24 hours. I can handle that!

My suggestion for using Mirvaso is to make sure that you suffer from severe facial erythema. If not, I would not recommend using this medication. It is certainly meant for people who have heavy duty skin redness, and not for casual use.