Rhofade and Acne: What Users Say

• But...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2019

For Rosacea "Dr. Emily Goeller prescribed this cream for my very mild rosacea. I had slight redness but no bumps or pustules on my cheeks only. After one use of Rhofade on one cheek only, I had a flare-up with pustules all over my face, and my eyes burned. There are many bad reviews for this cream, but that's typical for rosacea treatment. However, this cream is much worse than most other treatments. Almost everyone has a bad reaction, and it takes months to heal. Compare Rhofade reviews to azelaic acid reviews. Azelaic acid is much better. I recommend that you don't risk it."

• Per...
• March 17, 2019

For Rosacea "Horrible. Was prescribed this by a dermatologist for mild rosacea, without any warning about possible side effects. I used this in conjunction with Plexion daily wash. Used no other facial soaps at all. Only other skin regimen was to use the recommended neutral moisturizers. Within 5 days of using Rhofade, the redness had become much worse. Before treatment, I just had a smooth, simple blush. After 5 days of this 'medicine,' my skin had become much more red, over much more area. Instead of smooth slight red, it's bright red and blotchy, with bumps and breakouts forming. Dry and rough and yet looks very shiny. Itching became so bad that I could not sleep (I did resist the urge to scratch). I stopped the meds 2 days ago, but the symptoms persist. With so many negative reports here, how did this medicine pass approval? The studies claim only very low (like 2%) have adverse reactions. What is the truth here? How long will it take to recover? Or is the damage permanent?"

• PKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2018

For Rosacea "DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT!!!! I was prescribed Rhofade for mild rosacea and facial redness. I was very open-minded and excited to try this product. After 4 days of use, my face has broken out with pustules, severe inflammation, and is fire engine red. It is itchy and painful at the same time. Nothing seems to give me relief. Just in time for Christmas too. I am absolutely furious this product is on the market and being recommended."

• LRA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2018

For Rosacea "Had mild rosacea, red but not always, never pimples. Derm prescribed Rhofade, now I am covered in pimples, BRIGHT RED skin worse than ever before. In fact, I have horrible skin that cannot be covered with make-up. This should be taken OFF THE MARKET! It has ruined my skin on my face. THIS IS AWFUL! DO NOT DO NOT USE."

• LBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2021

For Rosacea "Rhofade ruined my skin. I used Rhofade for about 5 days or so, and noticed toward the last few days that it had started to really sting my skin when I applied it. I started developing dry, severely itchy patches of skin, acne on my face, and my skin became intensely red and burning. The itching is so intense and painful, I am considering going to urgent care. My whole face is inflamed, and I am miserable. I stopped this cream 2 days ago, and the symptoms are persisting. Run from Rhofade. It has left my skin 1000x worse off than I was before."

• CC1...
• November 22, 2017

For Rosacea "This is an absolutely terrible medication. It made my rosacea so, so, so, so much worse and caused acne and rosacea bumps that I've never had before after only about 5 days of use. My face feels like it is on fire now, even though I have discontinued this medication. I am constantly red. Everything is so much worse than before I started this."

• del...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2018

For Rosacea "Same as other reviews, tried Rhofade for mild redness due to rosacea. After only a few days of use, face started burning, redness increased, overall bumpy texture plus acne. I wish I’d have Googled reviews before use (lesson learned), but blindly trusted my dermatologist. I wondered if it was a coincidence and something else was the trigger, but too many reviews sound exactly like my experience for that to be the case."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2021

For Rosacea "DO NOT use this product. Heed the other reviews. My derm prescribed this for some moderate flushing, and honestly, I wish I'd just dealt with the redness, because now my skin is covered in bumps and pustules. I stopped using and pray for a rebound. Seriously, my skin was basically clear apart from redness before using this product, and now it's bumpier than even during my teenage years. I pray for a speedy recovery..."

• Fof...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2019

For Rosacea "I have used this product for three days, and my mild redness turned extremely red and developed pimples. The package claims one should call the doctor if the condition worsens. This product is designed to reduce the dilation of blood vessels, and it appears the opposite occurred."

• Sry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2021

For Rosacea "God, I wish I would have read the reviews on this cream before I bought it. Before using this product, my rosacea was mild. I would have a flare-up either due to heat or if I drank alcohol. A few days of using the cream, my rosacea was clearing up. It was a miracle! AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN throughout the week my face became hot, beet red with pustules all over my face. My face has been like this for about a week now, and I stopped putting the cream on. I’m very upset that my dermatologist did not tell me the side effects of this product. DO NOT USE, PLEASE."

• Bek...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2019

For Rosacea "I had very mild redness on my cheeks, no bumps, just a very rare small pimple. I received this from my derm as a sample, and she told me to use it twice a day. At first, it seemed as if the redness was better, but I noticed that I would wake up with red, itchy eyes. I did not make the connection between the Rhofade and my eyes, I just thought it was something else. On day four or five, I was waking up with a beet red face and eyes. Bumps erupted on my cheeks, and my face and eyes burned. I realized it must be the Rhofade and immediately discontinued. Then I went online and saw all of these similar experiences. I am concerned whether this will be permanent damage and cannot seem to get any clear info regarding this anywhere. This drug should be taken off the market."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2018

For Rosacea "Why is Rhofade still prescribed? I wish I had read reviews first. Used only twice and I feel like it's ruined my skin. Increased redness and now I'm dealing with pustules...which I never had prior to use. If I could rate this a zero, I would."

• ver...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2018

For Rosacea "I tried this for mild redness on my cheeks, nose, and chin. The first few days, my face seemed to improve, but then it got worse. This is the worst my face ever looked. I started to get some acne and dark red bumps on my cheek. I haven't had acne in the last 30 years. This medicine is terrible. My face burns. I stopped for the past two days, but my face still has the bumps. I am also angry that my dermatologist prescribed this without mentioning these issues. DO NOT try this medicine! I wish I had read all these reviews."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2022

For Rosacea "I’ve had very mild rosacea triggered only by certain kinds of alcohol or perhaps when I’m stressed. Usually lasts 3 hours. I tried Rhofade one night, and it’s now 2 days later. I’m suffering from a persistent flare-up and now developing pustules I haven’t had in 15 years. After reading comments here, I’m a bit concerned when this will end. Do not use. I don’t believe the study statistics after seeing the proportion of negative reviews here."

• Shr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

For Rosacea "My dermatologist prescribed me Rhofade after being diagnosed with rosacea. After using the cream for about 2 weeks, my face went from moderate to pretty severe. The redness worsened, and my cheeks, nose, and forehead broke out in these painful, big, hard, pimple-like bumps. Going back to my dermatologist to try something else."

• V20...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2017

For Rosacea "I had very mild redness and was surprised when my dermatologist gave me a few Rhofade samples. I only applied it once and discontinued because of weird tingling sensations all over my face. In about two days after that, my face turned red and was covered with tiny pimples. I’ve never had those before. It’s been a week since, and my face is slightly less red and no more pimples, but overall it’s still much worse than before Rhofade. I’ve never had any reaction to alcohol until then either, but now a single drink makes my face red. I reported my case to the FDA and will be looking for a different dermatologist. I think it’s totally irresponsible to give out samples of medication that can cause lasting damaging effects."

• And...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2019

For Rosacea "I am having the same issues that others had reported. I have mild redness from rosacea. When I first put on the Rhofade, my face gets much redder initially, but then fades. I have noticed I have pimples now. I think I’ll stop using Rhofade to see if the pimples go away. I didn’t really think of these being caused by the Rhofade until I read that others were seeing pimples after using it."

• Liz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2019

For Rosacea "I asked my derm for the prescription for Rhofade. I used it for a few days and saw great results with redness, but after a few days, I developed several large pustules. I stopped using it, and things cleared up. I thought it could be a coincidence, so I started using it again a few months later. Well, same thing. Not a coincidence. I have two huge pustules on my nose. That's it. Done. I'm glad I went online for the coupon to pay no more than $50 for the tube. $49.78 wasted, but better than hundreds of dollars."

• RRa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2018

For Rosacea "Awful product, do not use!!! Much like others here, after only a few days using Rhofade, my rosacea has gotten much, much worse! I now have pimples I’ve never had before, like a teenager with a face full of acne. Every spot that garbage touched is a red little bump. This product is an absolute waste of money, do not let your dermatologist prescribe it!"

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2018

For Rosacea "I have previously managed my mild rosacea with metronidazole cream and Finacea cream (the latter with better results). My dermatologist prescribed Rhofade as lately I've been flushing more often. I did note immediate improvement in facial flushing, and I feel a slight tightening sensation to my skin when I would normally expect my face to flush (e.g., moving from cold to hot), but my face doesn't go red. However, a week after using Rhofade, I've broken out in pimples across my face, and my skin is also sore, so I will have to stop using Rhofade."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2018

For Rosacea "I saw an ad for Rhofade and asked my derm for a sample. Contains oxymetazoline, which used to be the vasoconstrictor ingredient in Visine eye drops, so it made sense to me. Didn't see much effect for a couple of weeks; then, all of a sudden, all redness broke loose! My face turned bright red, was covered with pustules, and itched like mad. It took weeks of coating my face with hydrocortisone to resolve."

• Efm...
• February 19, 2018

For Rosacea "I have been using Rhofade for the past 2 months. I am very happy with the results. My redness is about 50-75% less. This means that I am not using foundation on weekends and days I don't go to work. My face has some redness, but it looks healthy. In addition to the flush improvement, my face is not as dry and scaly as it was before using it. Unlike a lot of reviewers here, I have not had pimples or any other reaction. My derm told me Rhofade is 50/50. Some love the results, and some don't. I guess I got lucky."

• Anonymous
• January 30, 2019

For Rosacea "Do not use this product. I used it for a month religiously, then all of a sudden my skin broke out. It was even worse than before. I’m worried it won’t get better. It seems like this happened to a lot of people. How long did it take to heal?"