Significant new treatments have emerged lately for rosacea.
Rosacea usually involves chronic redness of the skin, sometimes with broken blood vessels or capillaries. It is important to avoid heat, or triggers such as alcohol or spicy foods. In the past doctors could offer antibiotics and suggest gentle cleanser.
Health Canada has approved brimonidine gel in a topical form for the daily treatment of rosacea. It is well tolerated and can work within 20 min to 3 hours to control the flushing. How does it work? It reaches the capillaries and causes them to constrict, thereby causing less redness.
At Clarite Laser, our medical director has been prescribing this medication since its release with positive feedback from our patients. Visits for rosacea are OHIP covered.