Mirvaso Gel

What is Mirvaso?

Mirvaso gel is a treatment you apply directly onto your skin. It reduces facial skin redness brought on by rosacea. Rosacea is a common skin condition that can affect your cheeks, chin, forehead and nose.

How does Mirvaso work?

Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes facial redness, flushing and spots. This happens because of increased blood flow due to the dilation of small blood vessels in the skin. Mirvaso contains the active ingredient brimonidine, a type of medicine known as an alpha agonist. Brimonidine acts on the alpha receptors in the blood vessels, causing them to contract and narrow. This leads to reduced skin redness.

How long does Mirvaso take to work?

Mirvaso works around 30 minutes after you apply it. The effect lasts for up to 12 hours at a time.

How effective is Mirvaso?

Mirvaso is effective at reducing facial skin redness for up to 12 hours at a time. When applied daily, Mirvaso is an effective ongoing treatment for rosacea.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Mirvaso gel is brimonidine.

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients in Mirvaso gel are carbomer, methylparahydroxybenzoate (E218), phenoxyethanol, glycerol, titanium dioxide, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, and purified water.

Mirvaso dosage

The dose of Mirvaso gel depends on the size of the affected area of skin. The maximum daily dose of Mirvaso is approximately 1 gram (a pea-sized amount of gel) applied thinly across the whole face.

How to use Mirvaso?

Always use Mirvaso as instructed by a doctor or pharmacist. You should start by applying a small amount of Mirvaso gel so your skin can get used to it. You can gradually increase the amount of gel you use each day. Spread a pea-sized amount of gel over the affected area, making sure you cover your skin thinly and evenly. Do not use more than 1 gram (approximately 5 pea-sized amounts) each day.

Mirvaso side effects

Mirvaso can cause side effects in some people. Common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people include):

• Flushing
• Excessive whitening to the treated area
• Skin redness, burning or itching

Less common side effects of Mirvaso, which can affect up to 1 in 100 people, include:

• Acne
• Dry mouth
• Cold hands and feet
• Feeling hot
• Headache
• Nasal congestion
• Skin rash, pain, discomfort, irritation or inflammation, dryness, warm sensation, tingling or sense of pins and needles
• Swelling of the eyelids
• Swelling of the face
• Urticaria
• Worsening of rosacea
• Dizziness

Rare side effects can affect up to 1 in 1000 people. If you experience any of the following, stop using Mirvaso and contact a doctor immediately:

• Angioedema, a severe allergic reaction causing swelling of the face, mouth or tongue
• Hypotension (decrease in blood pressure)
• Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

Contraindications

Do not use Mirvaso if you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed. Mirvaso is not suitable for use in children under 2 years of age.
Before using Mirvaso, talk to your doctor if:

• The skin of your face is irritated or has open wounds
• You have depression
• You have decreased blood flow to the brain or heart
• You experience a fall in blood pressure when you stand up
• You have decreased blood flow to the hands, feet or skin
• You have Sjögren’s syndrome
• You have or have in the past had kidney or liver problems 
• You have had or plan to have any laser procedure on your skin

Drug interactions

Do not use Mirvaso if you are taking certain medicines for depression or Parkinson's disease. For example monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or tetracyclic antidepressants.

Before using Mirvaso, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including over the counter medicines. In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:

• Medicines used to treat pain, sleep disorders or anxiety disorders
• Medicines used to treat psychiatric disorders
• Medicines such as other alpha agonists, clonidine, alpha blockers or alpha antagonists
• Cardiac glycosides used to treat heart problems
• Blood pressure lowering medicine such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers

Mirvaso and alcohol use

You should avoid drinking alcohol while using Mirvaso. Tell your doctor if you regularly consume alcohol as this could affect your treatment.

Dietary changes to help rosacea

You can try making some changes to your diet to reduce the impact of rosacea on your quality of life. Try cutting down on fatty, processed and sugary foods. In addition, alcohol and spicy foods. You can also try adding foods to your diet that are thought to reduce flare-ups. Green vegetables, nuts, and foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids can be anti-inflammatory and can help reduce skin redness. It is thought that rosacea is in part triggered by an imbalance in the microorganisms in our gut and skin. Try increasing your intake of fibre, prebiotics and probiotics to help promote a healthy environment in your gut.

Mirvaso vs other rosacea treatments

Mirvaso is a relatively new treatment for rosacea. If your rosacea presents as papules or pustules on the skin, Rozex (metronidazole) or Finacea gel (azelaic acid) are available from Dr Felix. A doctor may also prescribe an oral antibiotic to help reduce skin inflammation. A more expensive option is laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment, which causes blood vessels to shrink without causing damage or scarring to the surrounding area.

Can I use Mirvaso with other skin products?

You can use Mirvaso with other skin care products such as moisturisers and creams. Do not use other products directly before applying Mirvaso. You should apply Mirvaso first and wait until it has been fully absorbed by your skin. Your skin should be dry to the touch before you apply any other ceams or cosmetics.

Can I wear makeup when using Mirvaso?

You can wear makeup when using Mirvaso, but you should wait until the gel has been fully absorbed by your skin first. Then you can apply makeup to the affected area.

Is Mirvaso safe to use continuously?

Mirvaso gel can be safely used continuously. It should be applied daily for as long as your doctor prescribes.

What should I do if I forgot an application?

Mirvaso needs to be applied daily to work. If you miss an application, your skin redness will not be reduced for that day. Do not apply extra Mirvaso to make up for a missed dose, just carry on applying the gel as usual.