Is mirvaso as bad as people say online?

The studies of Mirvaso (Onreltea gel in Canada) suggest a very effective treatment for persistent redness, and not so much for blood vessels (need laser or IPL) nor for pimples and pustules. It is applied in the morning, kicks in at about 30min, and lasts for about 12hrs. Most people tolerate it well, and it is an ongoing treatment (not a cure). A few people may get rebound or get used to it, but in the studies that was uncommon, and has yet to be my experience. Best to chat with your dermatologist about your type of rosacea and best treatment options, which often involve a few things.

Mirvaso can be good for a very few select rosacea patients, however this is not the be all to end all for rosacea. It takes a week or two before perfecting your Mirvaso regime- if its going to be of benefit. Rosacea is very complex and a tailored treatment program give the best results. This is because there are many types of rosacea (telengtctatic or capillaries, flushing and redness, acne like rosacea, ocular rosacea and even rhinophyma rosacea.)

To add to the complexity, everyone has different flare factors- Sunlight, stress, foods, chemical irritants, creams, changes in temperature, alcohol. The list goes on. 

A detailed history, together with a treatment tailored according to YOUR type of rosacea will give the best results. As a guide, I use a combination of -

1. Lasers ( to treat redness, broken capillaries, rhinophyma, flushing)- best laser is the V BEAM. IPL can be used, but usually not as effective. Laser toning using the long pulse Nd Yag at 1064 can help with background redness. 

2. Creams - anti inflammatory

3. Tablets -anti - inflammatory and sometimes low dose Vitamin A. 

4. For females- Mineral make up is recommend, over make up that contains parabens. 

For the best results, consult a dermatologist for both medical and laser treatment options. 

Kind regards.

Dr Davin S. Lim.

Laser Dermatologist.

Brisbane, Australia. 

Rosacea is characterized by increased blood vessels too close to the top of the skin, usually due to chronic sun exposure in people who have more of a tendency for inflammation.  When the vessels are too superficial, there is too much activity in the surface of the skin, leading to flushing, blushing and sweating.  Mirvaso is a vaso-constrictor, making the superficial blood vessels close.  Some people report a rebound effect when they stop using it, but I've found that most people do not experience this effect.  The best treatment is to close down the blood vessels with the PhotoFacial procedure.  Another possibility for patients who have a significant amount of blushing and flushing is to use low dose clonidine, a blood pressure medication.  It acts in the brain to decrease the flushing and blushing.  I would suggest trying Mirvaso and see if it works for you.  In the long run however, it may be more cost effective to simply close the vessels down with the PhotoFacial procedure.