FDA Approves New Treatment For Rosacea
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Rosemary Stockinger sees a dermatologist to treat the red blotches on her face.
"It's very embarrassing if you are going on an interview or you are going out on a date," Stockinger says. "You are just very self-conscious about your face all the time."
Stockinger suffers from rosacea, a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the face.
To deal with the redness, her doctor prescribed Mirvaso, a topical gel recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
"What the gel is doing is constricting the blood vessels in the skin so you just don't see the redness in the skin," said Dr. Doris Day, an Associate Professor of Dermatology at NYU.
About 16 million Americans have rosacea. It is most common in women between 30- and 60-years-old.
The exact cause of rosacea is unclear, but some things make it better or worse.
"The triggers are stress, alcohol, and extremes in temperature and different spices for different people," said Dr. Day.
Mirvaso reduces the redness for up to 12 hours. Rosemary applies it in the morning and at night.
"I feel much better I really do," said Stockinger. "I feel like a whole different person right now."
She says your face is usually the first impression you give the world so you want it to look good.
Mirvaso can trigger some adverse reactions, including headaches and more skin redness. People with certain health issues, including depression and cardiovascular disease, should use it with caution.
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