Brimonidine topical and Acne: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2018

Brimonidine topical for Rosacea "My rosacea has responded wonderfully to a combo of Metrogel and doxycycline. At my last dermatology appointment, she gave me a couple of samples of Mirvaso - she said it would help with the redness. I was willing to give it a try, even though my redness wasn’t that bad anyway. Well... it took me a while to figure out that this cream was WORSENING my redness. I thought, how could a cream that is meant to take away my redness cause it!? Every day for the past two weeks, I was panicking, thinking that my medications weren’t working anymore... I started breaking out and becoming redder than I have EVER been on this face cream. I also experienced extreme facial stinging and pimples on my nose and forehead. After skipping two days in a row of using this horrible cream, my face is now clear as can be, and it doesn’t even look like I have rosacea. HOW IS THIS DRUG ON THE MARKET? I will be complaining to my derm about it on my next visit."

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2015

Brimonidine topical for Rosacea "I have always had red cheeks. When I was really young, I loved having rosy cheeks, I always thought they made me look healthy. But as I got older, the redness increased 100%, and I would try every type of makeup and green concealer to cover my cheeks. I was so disgraced by them and could never take my makeup off in front of my friends, even close family. I went to the dermatologist, and they suggested Mirvaso. I have been so much happier ever since using it. My redness goes away completely after an hour and stays perfect for the whole day. My skin is so sensitive, and it doesn't irritate it or burn. But recently, my skin has broken out horribly, and I have hundreds of small bumps all along my cheeks. You can't see them inside, but in natural light, they seem to multiply and look 100 times worse. I don't know if it is from this product, but I hope it's not because I love having pale, non-red skin."

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

Brimonidine topical 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."

• Dee...
• May 17, 2015

Brimonidine topical 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."

• bwr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2015

Brimonidine topical for Rosacea "Bottom line: Didn't work for me. I had wanted to try this a few years back, but it was too expensive even with insurance. I went to (yet another) derm to see if he had any new suggestions for my redness, and he Rx'd this. He gave me a sample and info for a company he uses, IRMAT, that will guarantee a cost of $80 if your insurance will not cover. I used the sample, which only lasted 3 days, and thought perhaps it was working, so I filled the Rx. After about 7 days, my redness was worse AND I broke out, which I don't normally do. I had to stop using it and go back to my MetroGel, but the redness will not subside, and the breakouts won't go away either. So back to the derm I go...."

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

Brimonidine topical 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."

• Fla...
• December 16, 2015

Brimonidine topical for Rosacea "I had used Metrogel for years, but it didn't seem to be making a difference anymore, so I went to a derm, and he prescribed Mirvaso. I should have walked away when I saw the price! The first couple of days I used it, my face and along my hairline itched. Redness increased, and acne appeared. I stayed with it for two weeks; the flushing got worse, and my face burned, along with my ears and neck. Acne increased. But the worst effect was the headaches. I have migraines that I finally was able to manage with two prescriptions. The derm didn't tell me a side effect of Mirvaso. Did the FDA approve this?"

• Mir...
• December 18, 2015

Brimonidine topical for Rosacea "Do not use this product! I had/have all the same negative symptoms listed below by others. In addition, I had massive migraine headaches, sore throat, runny nose, stomach issues, itching in areas I did not use the product, acne, dry eyes, and a sty. I reported these issues to the FDA and highly suggest you do the same. They will re-evaluate the product if they have enough reports."

• Ank...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2018

For Rosacea "It causes more redness and pimples on my nose."