A Topical Treatment for Rosacea

Rosacea is an embarrassing problem for many patients, but a new form of treatment can be highly effective when applied topically to problem areas. Brimonidine tartrate (BT), commonly used in eye drop form to treat glaucoma, was tested on 122 patients with severe facial rosacea erythema in a single application, and it was found to significantly reduce redness; in later studies, with more frequent daily application, even better results were seen. Mark V. Dahl MD, writing in Journal Watch Dermatology recently, commented that BT was  a "safe, effective medical treatment (which) represents an unmet dermatological need... In previous studies of treatments for papulopustular rosacea, redness scores  decreased but seldom sufficiently to satisfy either patients or treating physicians."

 Dr Nick Lowe supported the new findings, commenting: "This is a very important extra treatment for patients with face redness, an embarrassing aspect of rosacea. These are prescription drops but you should ask your dermatologist to consider them for you."