Getting the Red Out: Treating Rosacea with a Topical Vasoconstrictor

Patients tend to hate the redness of facial erythematotelangiectatic rosacea. The highly selective α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist brimonidine tartrate (BT) has potent vasoconstricting effects and might be effective as a topical vasoconstrictor. These investigators performed a two-part, phase II, randomized study to determine the efficacy, safety, and optimal dosing of topical BT gel for erythema of rosacea.

In 122 patients with severe facial rosacea erythema who received a single BT application, BT gel significantly reduced redness in a dose-dependent manner compared with vehicle alone. In a second, more definitive study conducted at 17 sites, 260 patients with moderate-to-severe erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and fewer than three inflamma…