Mirvaso and Burning: What Users Say

• Bin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2020

For Rosacea "Absolute garbage. Used it for maybe a week. The first time my redness (which was very mild) completely drained away, to which my fiancé told me I looked really ill. Any time after that, it didn’t really make much of a difference. That was until yesterday afternoon when I went as red as a postbox, and it has not died down since. My face is burning hot, redder than it has ever been... I’ve tried all I can think of, but it’s not going anywhere. I have a pot of sudocrem next to me, which I’m just reapplying constantly. Even an ice-cold shower didn’t help. I am so angry that I was stupid enough to use this and am utterly terrified that it might never go away. I’ve ruined my face. Do not ever use this monstrous product."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2017

For Rosacea "I have mild/moderate rosacea with no bumps. My dermatologist recommended I try a new topical gel called Mirvaso, and I started using it every day in January 2014. At first, everything was going awesome. Would reapply when redness/heat would start. Side effects gradually took hold. Rebound redness was 10 times worse than originally. My face would randomly flush. It would burn so bad and go completely cherry red. My original problem was nowhere near that bad. Eventually, I got weeping, rashy patches all over my face. The gel reduced in effectiveness to the big mess it caused. I finally weaned myself off this vicious cycle in September 2014. Had to walk around looking like a freak. Took forever to return to normal. NOT WORTH IT!"

• Tra...
• February 24, 2020

For Rosacea "Initially, super impressed. Really seemed to reduce redness. After a couple of days, my skin reacts almost immediately and feels like it is on fire and looks severely burnt wherever the cream has been applied. It looks so bad that I cannot contemplate leaving the house looking like this."

• Sar...
• June 27, 2016

For Rosacea "Stay away from this medication. The 1st day used, I was impressed, but 2 days later, I had a rebound and my face was burning like hell. I waited like 4 days to reapply and see what happens, but I lost sensation in my lips and they got swollen. Then, after 24 hours, the rebound got worse and was like two weeks after my skin stopped burning. I still don't understand how this product was approved by the FDA."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2016

For Rosacea "If this could be marked in the negative, I would be marking it as so. My GP gave me a sample as it costs $85 in Aust. I asked what the warnings were on this product, and he said, 'I'm not sure, but the leaflet should tell you.' In my opinion, if doctors don't know the basics of what they prescribe or even look it up, then don't prescribe it!!! I used it for nearly a week, and then all of a sudden it felt like my cheeks were on fire and my face went itchy. In the last 24 hours, my face, which had mild rosacea and pustules, has exploded into a burning, itchy mess. I have been in tears all day, and now knowing when I put makeup on so I can leave the house burns even more, I am devastated. I need to take and pick up my son from school... how can I face people."

• Val...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 23, 2020

For Rosacea "The same for me, my dermatologist prescribed me Mirvaso. The first day I put it on my face, it made my face worse. Plus, my face color was not just red, it looked purple. It was expensive! It felt like my face was burnt! Do not recommend this product."

• Jon...
• February 16, 2019

For Rosacea "I applied it as directed and saw immediate great results. I would apply a small amount in the morning and be good for the day. After, I started having to apply it again mid-day. I became an addict and needed more and more and more to get the same effect. I finally realized that it wasn’t that I didn't have out-of-control rosacea, that the cream was causing it. The first day off Mirvaso was absolutely horrible and I was totally embarrassed at work because it looked like someone poured acid on my face. I am now on day 4 and have seen good improvement. I have been using Eucerin Redness Relief Night Cream. For those that have made it this far into my comment, DO NOT START USING THIS MEDICINE. My skeptical side feels like the product is designed to make people need to use more and more so they can get $400-500 per gel pump."

• Pen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2019

For Rosacea "Please stay well clear of Mirvaso! I wish I had read the reviews before using this cream! I tried it for the first few days and thought it was the best thing... UNTIL day three. I put it on the affected area, and all of a sudden my face felt on fire and bright red, it lasted a good few days before the redness died down! I went to bed with ice packs on my face to try and cool it down! There are so many other creams out there that have worked for me, it's just finding the right one! But please, please stay away from this one!"

• Dan...
• May 24, 2016

For Rosacea "I was prescribed Mirvaso from my dermatologist for rosacea. I suffer from flushing/red face - especially my cheeks. I applied it at night to see how it worked, and I was very impressed! All the redness had disappeared. I continued to use it every day for about a week (only a little bit in the morning before I did my makeup). I thought it was a miracle cream. Every now and then, I would have hot cheeks and redness, but I put that down to my rosacea and being flared up by something like coffee. But then I started having rebound flushing, my face felt like it was on fire, my cheeks were red/purple. It was hard to work or function in life. I had never experienced burning and flushing like that before. Stay away from this product!"

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2018

For Rosacea "DO NOT USE!!!! Used for just over 1 week with reasonable results in reducing mild redness. Then on the 9th day of use, I had a major reaction - burning sensation like I had just had my face directly over hot steam. I now have severe chemical burns on my face, which are a thousand times worse than my rosacea ever was, more than 12 months later. My dermatologist says, unfortunately, this is me for the rest of my life unless I have laser, which may or may not work. It has ruined my self-esteem, have no idea what to do."

• XxC...
• February 23, 2020

For Rosacea "If it seems too good to be true, it usually is." Used it once, got rid of the redness completely for about 12 hours, worked amazingly. The next day, my face felt like it was on fire, and the redness was back, much worse than before for a very long time. Please read the reviews before using this product and think twice before using it. My sample tube of Mirvaso is now in the trash can where it belongs."

• clo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2020

For Rosacea "This stuff appeared to work initially, though it gave my face a bit of a strange pale hue. After 3 days of using it as directed, just like many other reviewers on here, an intense 'rebound' red has come on and it's terrible. My redness is far beyond what my rosacea symptoms were before I tried this. I think it's burned my skin. I will not use it again."

• JJ9...
• January 31, 2017

For Rosacea "This cream is absolutely horrible. I will admit the cream initially does what it says it will do: gets rid of the redness. However, this is completely temporary, around 6 hours in my experience. What comes afterward is a serious rebound. I spent the day outside in the cold weather (normally a trigger for me, which would normally warrant redness), and when I came back in around 6 hours later, my face has never felt hotter in my life. My skin burned and was unbelievably deep red, it looked as if I had held my face up against a fire. This lasted around 2-3 hours. I used it once more thinking my skin needed to get used to it, and the results were even worse. I threw away all of my samples after 2 days."

• Bos...
• March 11, 2016

For Rosacea "I'm a 36-year-old male, Celtic bloodlines on both sides and until 9 years ago of suitably pale disposition! Have rosacea for 9 years and have been on antibiotics (Minocin 50 mg) for 8 of them, along with annual IPL therapy. Was off the Minocin until last week for a year when my dermatologist put me on 100 mg and also prescribed me Mirvaso. I seem to have a reaction to the 100 mg with red blotches and spots, so after 3 days, I tried the Mirvaso. Used 3 times over 4 days. Worked like a dream the first day, but effectiveness wore off. Last 2 days have suffered very, very bad rebound flushing, tingling on cheeks followed by burning sensation. Hottest parts of flushing nearly purple. Booked in for IPL today to try and reduce redness/purpleness. Avoid."

• Reg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2018

"There is light at the end of the tunnel for those going through rebound. If this helps one person, then it’s worth it. It took me over 2 weeks to largely recover, though I am on meds. Time will depend on many variables, may take longer for some. The volume of rebound stories calls into question drug approval organizations. Something is very wrong here and should be a priority in the best interests of patients. My dermo no longer prescribes based on the volume of negative stories, yet GPs dish out like confetti. After 1 application of Mirvaso, I woke up to what looked like chemical burns on my face, continued for 10 days with little improvement. 5 days after rebound, I was prescribed Eumovate, which seemed to help. Day 10 I started applying a thick layer of Sudocrem and using a fan. This was the turning point, burning skin, redness, and flushing reduced. Day 13 started lymecycline for heat/redness flare-ups. It could well just be time. Sudocrem is the turning point for me, that is. Hope this helps someone."

• joo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2019

For Rosacea "I applied this cream as directed for four days before accidentally forgetting to apply it on the fifth day. By lunchtime of this day, my face had turned purple, with huge welts across my face. My face was also burning and stinging. I also had a thumping headache, stomach upset, and ectopic heartbeats. It took me a few hours before I realized it was a rebound effect from the Mirvaso cream. I then searched reviews of this cream online and was horrified to find hundreds of people who had had the exact same experience as me. I was then terrified that my skin would not return to normal. I spent two further nights with Sudocrem all over my face while it burned throughout the day and night. Even a week later, my skin has not completely returned to normal. It is much redder and is still burning."

• Ang...
• March 1, 2019

For Rosacea "I used this cream 3 months ago for persistent mild redness on one cheek. I used it only for 3 days and noticed it made no difference either way, so I decided to stop. That day, I developed my first flush. It was all over my face even though I’d applied the cream to one cheek only. For 3 days after that, I had constant severe burning, stinging, and heat. A nurse said I had a bad chemical burn. Since then, my skin hasn’t been the same. I had never had heat or flushing before, and I now have it nearly every evening for no identifiable reason, plus anytime I get hot, stressed, or am out in the cold. It happens across both cheeks, nose, and sometimes forehead - it is very hot. I worry that my skin will deteriorate further since the flushing is now persistent and never existed before I used this. I regret my decision every day."

• Sma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2016

For Rosacea "I have no idea how the FDA approved this cream. It LITERALLY BURNS AND BLISTERS YOUR FACE. I always make sure I read the side effects on medications, and this one explicitly said there were 'NO COMMON SIDE EFFECTS,' only 'RARE SIDE EFFECTS.' The cream would work for maybe 5 hours tops before my entire face would start sweating and become increasingly red. At night, I would lay in bed with an ice pack on my face because my skin left my sheets burning hot. After a couple of weeks, I woke up, and my face felt scaly and had hundreds of tiny bumps, which turned out to be blisters. I literally wanted my old rosacea face back because it looked and felt like I had stuck my face in the sun and shook it around with this medication. Avoid at all costs."

• Kry...
• August 2, 2015

For Rosacea "I have rosacea. A dermatologist that wasn't worth his weight in gold gave me this medicine to use. Before I did, I researched it and found terrible reviews. All in all, I figured my doctor knew what he was talking about and ignored everyone saying how bad it was. I put it on, and my rosacea went away, then, 40 minutes later, it was so bad my face burned and turned tomato red. I stopped using it after 4 days, and my face was permanently red for 5 days after using this product. I would have figured I was the only one with a bad reaction if other people didn't complain about it too. Please! Find another product to use!!! How many bad reviews does it need to steer you away?!!"

• Hot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2016

For Rosacea "I have been recently diagnosed with rosacea that makes my cheeks and under my eyes extremely hot! I just began using the expensive Mirvaso. It helps sometimes, doesn't last for very long. I'm in terrible discomfort. I'm still in hopes Mirvaso will soon help with my horrible burning sensation that makes life difficult, as a fan on my face constantly is my relief. I'm still going to give it time. Also praying. Please respond if anyone has had the hot burning sensation."

• Des...
• November 19, 2015

For Rosacea "Had beautiful skin. Spent life caring for it. Developed light flushing as a side effect from antibiotics. Went to the derm (as recommended online). Derm prescribed Mirvaso. With 1st use, it completely destroyed my life. My skin went dead pale, and my ears turned hot and red (didn't apply it to ears). 48 hours later, the entire face turned red (did not apply it to the entire face). Face began developing a rash, getting worse and worse for 3 months. For 3 months, have had a severe flushing disorder induced by Mirvaso (not better yet). All food caused flushing. Have health problems from weight loss. On a strict diet (there are 21 foods I am able to eat). Can't lie down. Lost job. Nerve pain in nose, jaw, gums, lips, eyes, ears. Burning soap in eyes feeling."

• Dee...
• May 17, 2015

For Rosacea "I didn't give Mirvaso a 0 or a 1 because it really does what it claims. I had mild rosacea, and it seriously took it away within 30 minutes to an hour. The effect lasts about 10-12 hrs, and even by the time I'm going to sleep, the returning pinkness is only very mild...but then in the morning, it's on fuego. I don't feel my face burning or anything, but it's redder than my original starting point. I kept with the Mirvaso for a few days because even with the seemingly stronger redness I would wake up with, the Mirvaso would always erase it like magic for 10-12 hrs. Eventually, the redness got so strong in the morning I stopped using it. It's been 3 days, and my face is still way redder than usual with a few pimples, which I usually don't get."

• Tho...
• December 6, 2017

For Rosacea "I used it for 3 days straight, worked wonderfully. The rebound redness would come on after about 5 or 6 hours, so I just put on more medicine. Started to have stomach issues, not sure if related, but figured I'd stop the treatment to see if that fixed the issue. The rebound redness came back, and 3 days later hasn't left. I had very mild rosacea before this, now I look as if I've been sitting near a fire. My face is so red it's almost purple, and it burns like crazy. I feel like my face is several degrees hotter than the rest of my body. I have NEVER had such a red face! I will never use this stuff again. If you are going to try it, start out using a very, very small amount, as maybe I used way too much. As for me, never again!"

• jum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2015

For Rosacea "Wish I had read these reviews before wasting $86. First application was at night. Next morning, the redness was gone. Second night, a little while after using, had bright red cheeks. Gave it one more try, my cheeks and nose were red and had pimples over my nose. Face very hot and burning. This took days to settle down. Have gone back to using Rozex. Galderma must know this product causes more problems to us who suffer from rosacea. They should have to refund money wasted on this product. Don't touch this product, bad news."

• Wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2016

For Rosacea "My rosacea is only noticeable/active during the winter and after hot showers. I was mostly being vain when asking for this and truly learned my lesson. I used Mirvaso twice (pea-sized amounts), and while it made getting ready in the morning easier for those two days because it worked almost instantly, on the third day my face was a plum. I had dark purple-ish welts/bumps all over my cheeks. Later, my entire face was red, swollen, burning, itching for 2 weeks. Absolutely nothing worked to make the burning redness stop (Benadryl, soothing creams, natural remedies). I never in my life experienced anything this terrible. It's been a while, but I feel like I still have an uneven complexion in comparison to before."