I harp on about this a lot, but I think it is worth repeating. A gentle skin care regime is a good thing for your rosacea. We know from some small studies that rosacea sufferers can benefit from a moisturizer that improves the stratum corneum skin barrier function.

How do you go about finding a good moisturizer for your rosacea? There are so many on the market, some from big name cosmetic companies, and some from relatively unknown companies.

Well, one way, I hope, is to look at the user reviews collected here at rosacea-support. So far there are pages for moisturizers such as Rosaclear,  Cetaphil RestoraDERM, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion,  Clinique Redness Solutions, Rosaliac, Rosacure, Aveeno Ultra Calming, and Eucerin Redness Relief.

So what about Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream? Vanicream has one of the shortest list of ingredients you are likely to find. For many rosacea sufferers, simple is good!

This product does contain cetearyl alcohol, propylene glycol and petrolatum which may raise some concerns to those with hyper sensitive skin. A useful background post from Dr. Sy on Cetyl Alcohol and Liquid Cleansers may be worth reading here too.

The makers of Vanicream, Psico tell us that it is formulated without common chemical irritants like parabens, irritating preservatives, dyes, lanolin and fragrances.

Vanicream is available as both a Skin Cream and Lite Lotion. The ingredient listings for both contain the same items, but it appears that the lite lotion contains more propylene glycol and the skin cream contains more sorbitol solution.

Vanicream User Reviews

So with no more ado, lets look at some reviews from real people who have tried Vanicream.

Artist said “I then switched from Cerave moisturizer to Vanicream Lite Lotion (found at the drug store). I chose the Vanicream because it is very simple and specifically made for super sensitive skin, no frills. I was then able to tolerate the Finacea, which has since helped my skin quite a bit. It’s not perfect, but it’s more normal acting and looking if that makes sense. So, the big idea is that I found a moisturizer (Vanicream Lite Lotion) and my skin is better for it. I think moisturizing enabled me to tolerate the topical medication, Finacea, through the rough beginning period when your skin adjusts to it.”

further Artist said: “I like Toleraine Dermo Cleanser to wash with and Vanicream Moisture Cream to moisturize with. I use a hat in the sun since sunscreens tend to irritate. I use a good, soft scarf made of that soft felt-type material to protect my skin from cold winds in the winter.”

Linda said: “The Vanicream seems too thick when first applied, but soaks in well. In about 10 – 15 minutes I can put on my Bare Escentuals mineral powder makeup.” as well as “I have found Vanicream products to be the absolute best. When I developed rosacea, I had to drop all the moisturizers that I normally used. Even Cetaphil moisturizer and cleanser burned.”

Pinky said: “Mild soaps such as hypoallergenic Dove, etc. burned my face during my first flare of Rosacea. My dermatologist offered me a sample of VaniCream, a bar soap. Extremely gentle. Didn’t feel any sting while using it.”

seachange said: “I read some of her [Artist] backposts and discovered Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream a few days ago. My skin just loves it and feels totally protected and moisturized. I had a bad flare-up last week from some harsh wind, and subsequently got that oh-so-sexy red blotchy face. Almost all the redness and irritation is gone. I use the thicker cream at night then the lite lotion for daytime wear. I also splash on a bit of jojoba oil with water for cleansing, and that has also really softened my skin. It does have petrolatum as a main ingredient, and I think that might be a issue for some rosaceans, but luckily my skin can tolerate it. The most amazing thing–to me at least–is that Vanicream is only $15 at Walgreens and you get a ginormous container. I probably won’t need lotion for the next decade or so. The thing is biiiig.”

Maureen said: Like many rosaceans, I have extreme facial sensitivity and can’t tolerate most cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc., all of which sting and burn. I use Vanicream moisturizer, which I want to mention since it’s not on the list above and it works for me. You can occasionally but rarely find it in drugstores; I buy it from drugstore.com. Has a very simple list of ingredients that you can check out on the drugstore.com website. Also, surprisingly inexpensive. It comes in a light lotion and in a thicker cream, which does take a little time to melt into your skin, but is altogether worth it.

Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream Ingredients

Purified water, white petrolatum, sorbitol solution, cetearyl alcohol, propylene glycol, ceteareth-20, simethicone, glyceryl monostearate, polyethylene glycol monostearate, sorbic acid and BHT

Where to Buy

The Vanicream range is available from Dermadoctor , from drugstore.com and even from Walgreens.

Featured Product

Your Thoughts

Vanicream is not a product from one of the large or well known pharmaceutical companies. Would you recommend it to your fellow rosacea sufferers?

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• Vanicream Sunscreens User Reviews
• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Well Tolerated
• Sensitive Skin Care Products for Rosacea Sufferers
• Gentle Cleanser is Important
• Exotic and expensive cosmetics, do they work ?
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The idea of using an American Academy of Dermatology Poster session paper to introduce research around a new product is nothing new. Getting a poster session approved is easier than a full journal paper, so this path is certainly an attractive way to publicize your research.The AAD Poster Sessions are therefore one way in which rosacea sufferers get a glimpse into the leading (or indeed bleeding) edge of rosacea research.

From the description of the Rosacea Treatment System contained in this abstract, it seems clear that this regime is the Obagi Rosaclear System.

Obagi is a registered trademark of OMP, Inc. OMP stands for Obagi Medical Products. OMP are listed as commercially supporting this trial.

Obagi promote the Rosaclear System as a containing ;

• a “gentle cleanser that soothes your skin while helping to remove bacteria and other irritating residues”. It contains Aloe.
• a Hydrating Complexion Corrector that “protects and moisturises your skin while helping to reduce the appearance of redness by utilizing multiple calming agents and light-reflecting minerals”
• a Skin Balancing Sun Moisturizer SPF15 – a chemical free tinted UVA/UVB moisturizer which easily blends with your skin to help reduce the appearance of redness and blotchiness”. The ingredients list Zinc Oxide 15.5% and Titanium Dioxide 2.0%.

The 4th part of  the regime is a generic version of 0.75% Metronidazole Topical Gel available via prescription only.

We are told that the calming agents are licorice, aloe, lavender, sea whip and Mica.

P301 Evaluating a rosacea treatment system containing a cleanser, metronidazole, hydrating complexion corrector, and sunscreen

AAD Summer Academy Meeting 2010, August 4-8, 2010, Chicago Ill.

http://www.aad.org/posters/presentations/_doc/SM2010/Abstracts.pdf

James Leyden, MD, KGL, Inc., Broomall, Pennsylvania, United States

Introduction: A rosacea treatment system (consisting of four components—cleanser, metronidazole 0.75% gel, hydrating complexion corrector, and sunscreen SPF30) has been developed to treat rosacea pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically. The system aims to reduce the appearance of redness as rapidly as possible while also providing other clinical benefits in the longer term.

Methods: Adult women with mild or moderate rosacea, and mild or moderate erythema on the malar area of the face, were eligible to enrol in this investigator-blind, parallel-group study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of the following three treatments for 28 days: the rosacea treatment system; the rosacea treatment system minus metronidazole; or metronidazole 0.75% gel plus standard skin care (standard cleanser and moisturizer/sunscreen). Each product was applied twice daily except the sunscreen in the rosacea treatment system was applied each morning and as needed.

Results: Overall, 30 patients enrolled and 29 (97%) completed. The proportion of patients who, at day 28, had at least slight global improvement (≤ 24% improvement) was 90% with the rosacea treatment system, 60% with the rosacea treatment system minus metronidazole, and 67% with metronidazole plus standard skin care. The proportion with at least moderate global improvement (25-49%) was 40% with the rosacea treatment system, 10% with the rosacea treatment system minus metronidazole, and 11% with metronidazole plus standard skin care.

At day 14, the mean erythema score had declined in the rosacea treatment system group and remained unchanged with metronidazole plus standard skin care.

At day 28, the proportion of patients considering their study regimen to be very effective, effective, or somewhat effective in reducing dryness was 90% with the rosacea treatment system, 90% with the rosacea treatment system minus metronidazole, and 78% with metronidazole plus standard skin care.

Also at day 28, the proportion of patients who reported their skin was easily irritated at least sometimes was 40% with the rosacea treatment system, 70% with the rosacea treatment system minus metronidazole, and 89% with metronidazole plus standard skin care. Two adverse events were reported (both in the metronidazole plus standard skin care group)—dry chin and burning sensation.

Conclusion: The rosacea treatment system may offer superior efficacy and tolerability to metronidazole plus the standard skin care used in this study.

Commercial Support: Supported by OMP, Inc.

My Thoughts

It is encouraging to see a company that is promoting the use of a complete, gentle skincare regime. For many rosacea sufferers, being able to find the best combination of a moisturizer, sunscreen and cleanser is a good step toward finding relief.

The Rosaclear web page has a nice morphing Before & After gallery tab for 2 patients who have used the regime for 1 or 4 weeks. You would have to say that the improvement shown in these photographs, though, is on the mild side.

Time will tell whether the combination suggested by Obagi is going to be find success as a complete rosacea skincare regime.

User Reviews

moree65 says “I’ve had a great experience so far with these products. The face wash seems to calm burning and the moisturizer works for dry flaky skin, and also goes on white so it hides flushing when I do have an episode. Seems to make a big difference so I will continue using”

and also

“I actually got the Rosaclear samples from a spa that has a doctor on staff. I would not agree to purchase until they gave me samples because I’ve spent too much money on products that don’t work. I did purchase the kit after using the samples for 10 days. The kit includes a face wash, skin corrective moisturizer, and metro gel that is the same strength as the prescription one. You only use just a small amount so it should last quite awhile. Look online and see if there is a spa close to where you live that carries the line. Good luck and I hope it works for you too.”

Liz says: Working well so far. Was put on the Rosaclear system about four weeks ago – I really like the cleanser a lot because it cleans extremely well and leaves my skin feeling soft and not tight at all. Smells fresh and takes very little to get the job done.

Donna says: “Just thought I’d share…I recently started using the SPF 30 in the Obagi rosacea line of products and I’m really happy with it. It has a bit of tint which helps hide the redness, and it soaks in without feeling greasy. I apply a dime size amount to my face and wait about 10 minutes before applying my mineral foundation (Alima). I find I don’t need much foundation to cover the redness. It’s a bit pricey, but I bought mine on eBay for about US$22. This is my new
favorite.”

How To Buy

Obagi are favouring selling their products through professional offices or official country distributors.

Alternatively, it appears that you can purchase rosaclear from Amazon and also Dermstore.

Featured Product

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Thanks to a comment from Aimee for highlighting a new product available from DERMAdoctor that looks both innovative and potentially beneficial for rosacea sufferers.

The makers claim that DERMAdoctor Photodynamic Therapy enables users to “experience continuous exposure to anti-aging red light through the mere application of a lotion” and call it a “ground-breaking, patent-pending solar powered technology in lotion form captures UV light transforming it into visible red light, a proven energy source for eliciting anti-aging effects on the skin”.

Would it be too cynical to discount these sorts of claims out of hand? The story sounds compelling, something that one might even wonder why it hasn’t been created before.

This so called `solar powered lotion form of red light therapy’ works by acting as a selective sunscreen. Morinda Citrifolia, also known as Indian Mulberry, is the listed as the base active ingredient that allows red light around 648nm wavelength to pass through the applied lotion.

From: DERMAdoctor PDT Page

How Does It Work?

Morinda Citrifolia Extract (Noni Fruit) contains a special polyphenol that specifically captures the sun’s rays then converts and emits this energy as a highly focused visible red wavelength of light (648nm) equivalent to that of a red LED.  Encapsulating this polyphenol with an inert tricalcium phosphate particle creates a complex capable of transmitting the visible red light to the skin where it works to firm the skin.

Certainly a novel concept, to filter out the harmful parts of the sun and allow through a particular wavelength that is thought to be beneficial for rosacea skin.

It would be helpful know to if this product also contains ingredients that are considered likely to irritate to rosacea sufferers. The few ingredients that are listed do not include how this product achieves its SPF30.

Lets look at the ingredients that are listed.

Powerful Antioxidants
Pomegranate, Ubiquinone, Vitamin E, Cucumber and Green & White Tea Extracts work to fight against free radical environmental damage to the skin.

We do know that Green Tea helps with the efficacy of Red Light Therapy.

Vitamin D
Photodynamic Therapy contains the sole non animal Vitamin D source available: sun exposed shitake mushrooms, to help boost levels of this vitamin so critical to overall well-being.

We can read in Myceliuim Running, How Mushrooms Can Help Save The World (By Paul Stamets, Ten Speed Press 2005), “Freshly picked indoor-grown shiitake mushrooms when dried indoors, had only 110 IU vitamin D, but when placed outdoors to dry in the sun produced an astonishing 21,400 IU of vitamin D per 100g”.

Benzylidene Dimethyoxydimethylindanone (C₂₀H₂₀0₃)
Sunscreen booster. This is said to enhance SPF proection by blocking the AhR receptor, shields DNA & provides cellular defense.

Questions I’d like Answered

How long do they expect 30ml to last – $85 is a lot for a tube of anything, let alone an amount as little as 30ml.

What ingredients are being used for the sun protection?

Is the product safe based on prolonged exposure to an extreme UV environment?

The suggested directions include instructions to apply daily, 15 minutes before exposure and reapply every 2 hours while outdoors, and to not seek additional sun exposure.

Game Enough to Try?

As this product has received high profile exposure on Dr. Oz we can probably expect that this product will become more visible to rosacea sufferers.

If you do decide to invest in this lotion, please do let us know how you get on.

Related Articles

• Vitamin D3 – Rosacea Supplements & Resources
• LED Therapy Gaining Popularity
• Green Tea helps Red Light Therapy
• RSRP: Green Tea Topicals
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Liked by rosacea sufferers for being mild, elegant and reasonably priced, Vanicream Sunscreen SPF30 and SPF60 offer strong sun protection in a formulation worth trying out.

Vanicream Sunscreen is available in SPF30, SPF35 and SPF60. The SPF30 and SPF60 formulations contain physical sun blocking elements Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide, whilst the SPF35 formulation also contains Octinoxate.

The extra sun protection of the SPF60 compared to the SPF30 formulation is achieved by increasing the amount of the physical sunscreen components from 5% to 7.5%.

Vanicream SPF30 Ingredients

Active Ingredients: Titanium Dioxide (5%), Zinc Oxide (5%)

Inactive Ingredients: Alumina, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Capric/Caprylic Stearic Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate/Triethoxycaprylylsilane (Crosspolymer), Methylpropanediol, PEG 12 Dimethicone, PEG 30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Phenyltrimethicone, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Water Purified, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate,

Vanicream SPF35 Ingredients

8% Zinc Oxide (Z-Cote HP1), 7.5% Octinoxate (Octyl Methocycinnamate), Cetyl Dimethicone Copolyol, Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconal, Dimethicone, dl-Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glycerin, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Magnesium Chloride, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Polyethylene, Purified Water, Tridecyl Neopentanoate.

Vanicream SPF60 Ingredients

Titanium Dioxide (7.5%), Zinc Oxide (7.5%)

Inactive Ingredients: Alumina, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Capric/Caprylic Stearic Triglyceride, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate/Triethoxycaprylylsilane (Crosspolymer), Methylpropanediol, PEG 12 Dimethicone, PEG 30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Phenyltrimethicone, Polyethylene, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Water Purified, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Stearyl Dimethicone, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane

User Reviews

Melissa W says “I use vanicream spf 60 for sensitive skin and I like it. This is my second summer using it and so far so good. Good luck!” and “The Vanicream is a bit greasy going on but it works for dry skin. If your skin is on the oily side it probably will be too greasy for you.”

katwalker says “My biggest problem with it, however, was how white it looked on. I have VERY pale skin, so for something to look that white on it is striking. The whiteness comes from the zinc oxide. I found the whiteness caused by Vanicream to be more severe than the whiteness found in other sunscreens containing zinc oxide (e.g., Paula’s Choice Pure Mineral Sunscreen).”

Linda says “I switched to Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 30 which is fine for everyday use(found samples on eBay – 5 small tubes for $5.00). It also comes in 60 SPF for days when you’re going spending a lot of time in the sun.”

Artist says “The new sunscreen I’m trying is the new Vanicream SPF 60. There are no chemical sunscreens in it and the formulation is much less heavy and shiny. It has not made me break out in acne the way the original did.”

Canada Dude says “I have a nice lite brown tan on my face for the first time in years, and don’t burn in the sun like I used to on my face anymore. I do make sure I put on my “Vanicream” sunblock on if I’m going to be outside for a while.”

CrabbyCathy says “Well, I got the Vanicream SPF 30 for sensitive skin; it’s a bit thick and tacky, and left my skin with a noticeable sheen. Plus, it has much less zinc than the Zinco. Here are the ingredients, in case anyone is interested.”

Where To Buy

The Vanicream range is available from Dermadoctor and also from drugstore.com.

Featured Products

Your Thoughts

Vanicream is not a product from one of the large or well known pharmaceutical companies. Would you recommend it to your fellow rosacea sufferers?

Related Articles

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Already available in Canada, Cetaphil will introduce a new line of products for dry sensitive skin in August in the US. The line is called RestoraDERM and is targeted at Eczema sufferers who struggle to maintain the natural moisture balance of their skin. For

For those rosacea sufferers who also have eczema or also struggle with moisturizing extra dry or itchy skin, this range may be worth a try.

I suspect that the moisturizer may initial seem thick compared to other moisturizers familiar to rosacea sufferers. Please leave a comment below if you do try them. What are they like ? Do they help you battle with any of you rosacea symptoms ?

The Canadian web site for RestoraDERM tells us that the soap-free liquid cleanser is said to encapsulate high levels of moisturizing oils to cleanse and hydrate dry skin, whilst the lotion is said to contain patented ceramide technology to replenish the skin’s natural oils to help the skin to retain its natural moisture.

We are also told that both products are `clinically proven to be suitable for total-body use—including the face’ and are `ideal for the entire family’ and that the products have been demonstrated to relieve dryness and itching.

When Galderma acquired Collagenex in 2008, Collagenex listed a technology known as Restoraderm (along with Oracea and Sansrosa) as one of the assets acquired. Restoraderm at that time was described as a “proprietary, foam-based, topical drug delivery technology”. It isn’t clear to me whether this product is related to this technology or is something else entirely.

Ingredients

Thanks to sans002 for the list of ingredients for this new range.

Cetaphil RESTORADERM Eczema Moisturizing Wash Ingredients

water, shea butter, sodium trideceth sulfate, glycerin, sunflower seed oil, sodium chloride, sodium laurampoacetate, cocamide MEA, citric acid, niacinamide, sodium PCA, tocopheryl acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol and caprylyl glycol, disodium EDTA. guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, allantoin, potassium sorbate, arginine, methylisothiazolinone

Cetaphil RESTORADERM Eczema Moisturizing Lotion Ingredients

water, glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sunflower seed oil, pentylene glycol, shea butter, sorbitol, cyclopentasiloxane, cetearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, tocopheryl acetate, hydroxypalmitoyl sphinganine, cetyl alcohol, arginine, disodium ethylene dicocamide PEG-15 disulfate, glyceryl stearate citrate, niacinamide, sodium PCA, ceteareth-20, sodium polyacrylate, caprylyl glycol, allantoin, citric acid, panthenol, dimethiconol, disodium EDTA, sodium hyaluronate

Highlighted Product

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This just published paper details a `new’ product that comprises a slight twist on an old formula. It seems that much of modern research and development involves tweaking existing treatments to see how their efficacy and product lifecycle can be extended.

This new product is known as CLARIFOAM EF Emollient Foam, and is indicated for the topical control of acne vulgaris, acne rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis. The company web site boldly claims that Clarifoam EF effectively treats all 3 conditions.

In combination with sulfacetamide, sulfur has been reported to inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes thereby reducing the inflammation associated with acne.

The active ingredients of Clarifoam EF are a combination of 10% sodium sulfacetamide and 5% sulfur.

The Clarifoam Prescribing Information mentions two forms of application: The Wash-Off application and the Leave-On application. The Wash-Off application suggests a 10 minute application 1-3 times a day to clean dry skin and rinsing thoroughly with water. The Leave-On application suggests the same 1-3 times a day, but wiping off any excess and otherwise leaving the foam application untouched.

The product comes in an aluminium can which needs to be primed before its first use and shaken vigorously before each use. A Clarifoam Rebate Coupon of up to $30 is available until the end of December 2010.

Here is the abstract of the study suggesting that Clarifoam is useful in treat the 3 conditions at once.

Dr. Draelos is well known to rosacea sufferers being on the expert panel that recently published the Standard Rosacea Management Options, the Cetaphil Cleansing Bar and Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Clarisonic as well as cleansing and the management of rosacea.

The multifunctionality of 10% sodium sulfacetamide, 5% sulfur emollient foam in the treatment of inflammatory facial dermatoses. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010 Mar;9(3):234-6., Draelos ZD.

Prior to 1962, some of the most versatile drugs in dermatology were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) solely on the basis of safety.

One of these is the combination 10% sodium sulfacetamide and 5% sulfur. Sodium sulfacetamide possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties while sulfur is a nonspecific antibacterial and antifungal. A new emollient foam formulation of 10% sodium sulfacetamide and 5% sulfur allows a thinner application film and leaves behind no residue on hair bearing or non-hair bearing skin. The sulfur smell is also more quickly dissipated with reduced irritation.

This uncontrolled, observational, prospective, open-label, single site, eight-week study enrolled 24 subjects (eight with rosacea, eight with seborrheic dermatitis, eight with acne vulgaris) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this novel foam formulation.

At eight weeks, statistically significant improvement was seen in inflammatory rosacea lesion counts and the signs of seborrheic dermatitis. A 50% reduction was noted in the total acne lesion counts. These findings confirm the versatility of an emollient 10% sodium sulfacetamide and 5% sulfur foam.

Clarifoam EF is made by Onset Therapeutics which is a subsidary of Collegium Pharmaceutical.

Other products that also feature a combination of Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur include: Clenia, Rosaderm, Plexion, Ovace, Klaron, Rosanil, Rosac and Rosula. Yes indeed there is a lot of products you can choose should you wish to try out a formulation of these two actives.

User Reviews

1. Nora in the thread Clarifoam at the Rosacea Support Community;… However, he gave me a sample of Clarifoam and I used it for about 4 days. It made my skin so dry and chapped it was painful. I tried rinsing it off after application as the website says, but that didn’t help. I stopped using it and had to use Aquaphor for a few days to lubricate my skin. So, I guess this is not for me!!
2. harrysinghnyc in the thread Clarifoam at the Rosacea Form;I have tried pro-topic, metrogel and locoid lipocream and none could remedy my seb derm but today is the 2nd day I have applied clarifoam and i notice that the outbreak is 90% gone! I have never had this type of turnaround this fast! One day after using it, i am prescribed this foam lotion 2x daily, so this is awesome!
3. rf11 in the thread My rosacea is gone!! at the Rosacea Forum;Anyway, to update, I have been using clarifoam and Cerave soap for almost a month now, and my skin looks better than it has in years.
4. J-Mill in the thread clarifoam ef at the Rosacea Forum;I have tried this stuff recently and really like it. … In short, both medications attack some key Rosacea/Seb Derm aggravators. What I like about Clarifoam is I find the base really non-irritating, unlike most topicals I have tried. Everyone is different though and as always you should test patch topicals, especially one with sulfacetamide as some peopl are very allergic to it.
5. fyd in the the thread Clarifoam EF is the greatest! at the acne.org message board;… on Christmas eve my derm prescribed me with this stuff. He said that they were making my face look much more worse than it was and he was absolutely right. This product just came out about a month ago, so it’s brand new. I started using it on Christmas and in about a week and a half to 2 weeks, i saw a big difference. They were fading away, I couldnt believe it! To be honest, i couldnt stop smiling at what my face looked like. Now, they are very much still there, but very faint and they are starting to blend in very nicely. They are more of a light brown then red now. Ziana and Clarifoam are working great together.
6. [new] Barley says I was recently diagnosed with rosacea and my primary care doctor perscribed metrogel for me. I tried it, but it didn’t work well-plus it dried out my skin. So I then decided to see a regular dermatologist. The dermatologist recommended Clarifoam EF topically and Oracea orally. Clarifoam EFis a sulfur based topical treatment that I (thought) would be harmless. They had some free samples of the Clarifoam so I thought I’d try that before getting a perscription filled.Big mistake! Only after two days, I reacted horribly to it- My face broke out with blotchy pimples, is very red, texture is bloated and it’s very itchy! It was worse than the rosacea I was being treated for! I am now going to buy some cortizone cream to calm it down…but boy, am I glad I didn’t get that perscription filled! Also, I haven’t as yet started the Oracea pills yet. I wanted to wait till my face calmed down a bit.

Related Articles

• Product Page: Clarifoam EF
• RSRP: Sulfur / Sodium Sulfacetamide Topicals

I have to admit that I hate shaving. It seems such a waste of time to me. Every morning I need to devote 10-15 minutes to scrape the dead wire-like hair off my face. Not only is it messy, but it hurts. I have tried an electric razor but it just doesn’t cut it. Only in recent years have I been able to shave with a blade razor. My facial skin has been too sensitive to cope with a razor blade. Any small cuts would turn into a pustule. Any small papule was in danger of being sliced open. The irritation from shaving certainly didn’t enhance the redness of my rosacea.

I have seen shaving oils talked about in the past. Surely they don’t work though right ? The best way to shave is to have a heap of creamy lather ? Well now I’m not sure. In fact I’m almost ready to discard shaving cream for good.

For the last 2 weeks I have been using Dermalogica Close Shave Oil. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I no longer cut myself during my early morning facial scraping. Not only do I emerge from the bathroom without several nicks (suggesting that I don’t know how to shave) I also have the closest and smoothest shave I can remember.

As the oil is clear and you apply so little, you can see exactly where you are shaving. Until you get used it actually working you won’t believe that something you can’t see actually does a good job.

The slight smell reminds me a bit of camphor oil, it is a little bit of an unusual smell, certainly not the perfume I used to.

The instructions say to shake a few drops into a wet palm and smooth over dampened area to be shaved. Rinse razor often. This last tip is important as the oil tends to cause the razor to become blocked with the accumulation of the stubble. If you don’t rinse often and vigorously, you will certainly clog the razor solid.

Afterwards I find that my usual cleanser – Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser doesn’t give a great feeling of washing off the oil. I moisturize anyway with Cetaphil Moisturizer and so far I haven’t noticed any bad reaction from the oil.

The price may seem a little steep for a small bottle, but 4 drops is enough for a strong beard. I expect my bottle to last several months at least. The oil is perfect for travelling, the bottle is so much smaller and lighter than a can of shaving foam.

Hey one last tip – it is great for shaving your legs too.

Official Product Description

“This slick oil is perfect for shaving goatees, moustaches and sideburns, or for those who prefer maximum visibility while shaving. Formulated with a rich blend of botanicals, Close Shave Oil comforts and soothes the skin while lifting the hairs for an irritation-free finish. Silicones allow the razor to glide evenly over the skin to minimize the risk of nicks, cuts and razor burn. Camphor diminishes irritation while thyme, clove, lavender and tea tree condition and soften the skin. Free of artificial colorants and fragrances, and suitable for shaving the head.”

Ingredients

The first ingredients give a clue to why to works so well – lubricants that help the razor smooth across the skin.

Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Amodimethicone, Dimethiconol, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citris Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Ocimum Basililicum (Basil) Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Flower Oil, Pinus Palustris (Pine) Oil, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Oil, Eugenia Carypophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Cedrus Atlantica (Cedarwood) Bark Oil, Melaleuca Leucadendron Cajaput Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Camphor, Limonene, Linalool.

Final Remarks

OK, I don’t think I have raved about a product in this way for a long time. It is nice to find a product that you really like, one that works as it is advertised. I think this oil will remain in my box of toiletries.

If you find shaving is causing you irritation, please let us know if this product helps you.

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Dermalogica Close Shave Oil

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Galderma announced in February a new SPF 50 Facial Sunscreen called Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50. Actually Galderma is not promoting this product as a sunscreen, but as a facial moisturizer.

Said to be non-greasy and hydrating, the UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50 contains 4 chemical filters as well as micronized titanium dioxide to offer a very high sun protection factor of 50. Thus the Defense 50 contains both chemical and physical sun protecting factors.

The Cetaphil range of moisturizers and cleansers are reasonably well tolerated and liked by rosacea sufferers. My daily regime still includes the Gentle Skin Cleanser and Moisturizing Lotion.

Although some rosacea sufferers may not be able to tolerate the chemical sunscreens in this product, it is good news for those who can because the Cetaphil range of products are easily available and generally quite affordable.

The web site for the Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF 50 lists the following components

Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 7%, Oxybenzone 6%, Titanium Dioxide 5.7%

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Aluminum Hydroxide, Dimethiconol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Cyclopen-tasiloxane, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylparaben, Chlorphenesin, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum

What do YOU think ?

This product doesn’t appear to have been used by many rosacea sufferers to date.

The Cetaphil UVA/UVB Defense SPF50 reviews at amazon.com do suggest that users are liking the high sun protection offered, as well as the product being quite moisturizing and easy to apply.

If rosacea sufferers can get past the 4 chemical sunscreens in this product then it may well become a good choice for when you need super sun protection.

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For me acupuncture has always been part of some kind of ancient mythology. Humans are controlled by a brain that has complex neurological pathways to all corners of their bodies. Can inserting fine needles in to the so-called meridians along energy flows in these pathways help your rosacea ? If you are looking for hard evidence as proof, well then the answer to this question is plainly no.

A lot of intellectual effort has been invested in trying to obtain hard evidence that acupuncture is effective. Good evidence of the sort that is considered generally convincing has been hard to come by. My reading of the research suggests that the likely benefits of acupuncture can be attributed to the placebo effect and that you might also expect some relief from some forms of pain.

A trip around the online rosacea boards finds only a couple of relevant posts;

From The Rosacea Forum user: eastwest, 14 months of acupuncture;

It’s now been 14 months of regularly going to acupuncture and being on the herbal therapy. I have been very disciplined about all of this and have rarely missed a day of taking the herbs that the TCM doctor gives to me and rarely miss a week of acupuncture. When I started this, I was going to acupuncture twice a week and that lasted for 6 months (I think). After the 6 month point, I started going once a week.

My rosacea is now at the point where most days I can’t even feel having it. There is a tiny tinge of redness on the corners of my cheeks, but it’s very minor. My face is cool to the touch most of the time. I told the acupuncturist the other day that I am glad that I continue to get better all of the time but how it has been a bit frustrating that it has taken so long. She said that it took the body many many years to get into this state and because of that it will take some time to get balanced again. In my case it took about 35 years to get out of whack. She says that I have shown very very good patience and that I am doing very well for it.

From Rosacea Support Community: Re: acupuncture

i tried accupuncture for rosacea for about 8 mos & it really had no effect on the rosacea, but did improve my overall quality of life.

From Rosacea Support Community member: phlika29, Re: acupuncture

This is something I have tried. A few years ago I went to a number of sessions which did have quite a major effect both positive and negative. Negatives-during each session I had a major flush which really took it out of me. Positives- after the sessions my flushing would completely alter and tended to be confined to my nose. Long term effects were negligible for me and only lasted whilst I continued regular treatments. I stopped due to the intense flushing whilst the needles were in.

From Rosacea Support Community member: bubblensqueek, Re: acupuncture

My Chinese doctor said I need 12 once a week sessions and probably can go down to once every two weeks after that. An acupuncture treatment with her is always followed by accupressure. you should give it a try. Just make sure you find someone who knows what she/he is doing.

The following recently published paper teases us with a mention of rosacea. How indeed does acupuncture relate to modern dermatology ? This Rosacea News post was inspired by this abstract being published – the authors ask “what can we learn from the ancients with regard to their use of acupuncture as part of a holistic system of medicine, and how does this relate to the practice of modern dermatology?”

I hope that holistic medicine does have something to offer rosacea, but so far that benefit is elusive.

Acupuncture in dermatology: an historical perspective., Int J Dermatol. 2009 Jun;48(6):648-52, Tan EK, Millington GW, Levell NJ.

Classical acupuncture focuses primarily on treating the person, and secondarily treating the illness. The “symptoms” are regarded as “branch” expressions of a “root” (constitutional) imbalance. Different root imbalances can produce the same symptoms. Five patients with eczema, for example, may reveal five distinct root imbalances and would all be treated very differently. Because acupuncture treats the whole person, it has something to offer almost every condition. In many cases, acupuncture aims to bring about a complete cure; in others, it aims to manage the problem.

Acupuncture remains a substantial part of the traditional Chinese medicine, which is used to treat many conditions including acne, alopecia, dermatitis, pruritus, psoriasis, rosacea, systemic lupus erythematosus, urticaria, herpes zoster, chicken pox, impetigo, leprosy, vitiligo, and tinea.

This review introduces the historical context of acupuncture within Chinese medicine and how it relates to skin disease. Specifically, a key question is, what can we learn from the ancients with regard to their use of acupuncture as part of a holistic system of medicine, and how does this relate to the practice of modern dermatology?

Update: British Journal of General Medicine says it Works!

Here is a really interesting critique of what seems to be at face value, an encouraging, prestigious peer-reviewed journal article finding support of some benefit from acupuncture as a generally beneficial treatment.

This is bad news for those who want proof that acupuncture is worthwhile, as this article soundly criticises the journal for such poor research.

Acupuncturists show that acupuncture doesn’t work, but conclude the opposite: journal fails

One wonders about the standards of peer review at the British Journal of General Practice. The June issue has a paper, “Acupuncture for ‘frequent attenders’ with medically unexplained symptoms: a randomised controlled trial (CACTUS study)”.

There is no need to wade through all the statistics; it’s perfectly obvious at a glance that acupuncture has at best a tiny and erratic effect on any of the outcomes that were measured.

But this is not what the paper said. On the contrary, the conclusions of the paper said

Conclusion

The addition of 12 sessions of five-element acupuncture to usual care resulted in improved health status and wellbeing that was sustained for 12 months.

How on earth did the authors manage to reach a conclusion like that?

…

My conclusions

(1) This paper, though designed to be susceptible to almost every form of bias, shows staggeringly small effects. It is the best evidence I’ve ever seen that not only are needles ineffective, but that placebo effects, if they are there at all, are trivial in size and have no useful benefit to the patient in this case..

(2) The fact that this paper was published with conclusions that appear to contradict directly what the data show, is as good an illustration as any I’ve seen that peer review is utterly ineffective as a method of guaranteeing quality. Of course the editor should have spotted this. It appears that quality control failed on all fronts.

We Need Your Help!

Only if we get to hear from real users of acupuncture will we ever know for sure. If you have tried acupuncture for your rosacea, or any skin condition please do let us know in the comments below. Thanks.

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I was alerted to the launch of a product called Promiseb by a comment left on the Sebclair for Seborrheic Dermatitis post. Since then the news web sites are also covering the press release. Promiseb (probably pronounced Promi-seb) is launching in the U.S. via Promius Pharma, after being licensed from Sinclair Pharma in 2007.

Promiseb Topical Cream (Sebclair) is a non-steroidal, prescription only cream for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. It has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Sebclair is approved for use in the European Union to treat seborrheic dermatitis. One of Sebclair’s (and now Promiseb’s) claims to fame is that it contains no corticosteroids or immunomodulating agents.

Promiseb is claimed to “Significantly reduced Malassezia yeasts, the organisms that may cause seborrheic dermatitis, by 94%”. These claims are more interesting when you consider the ongoing discussions like Malassezia Globosa causes seborrhea, Pyrithione Zinc is effective, Could M. Globosa Cause Rosacea? and Real cause of seborrhea discovered!.

For a description of the ingredients and suggested method of action see Sebclair for seborrheic dermatitis.

From the press release: Sebclair launched in the US by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’  subsidiary Promius Pharma, LLC

Jeff Wasserstein, President of Promius Pharma, said “We are very excited about Promiseb Cream because it has the potential to replace both anti-inflammatoryand antifungal treatments in patients with seborrheic dermatitis. In a clinicalstudy Promiseb was shown to have efficacy comparable to desonide cream 0.05% atdays 14 and 28 with fewer relapses.

“Promiseb Cream also has an excellent safety profile with no restrictions onage, duration of use or application on the face.” He continued, “We are very enthusiastic about this product because our clinical research shows thatPromiseb Cream may be used as a first-line treatment for seborrheic flares andfor long-term maintenance”

No Active Ingredients?

A supporting web site for Promiseb is online at http://promiseb.com/ contains a very interesting insight into the Promiseb product itself ;

What is the active ingredient in Promiseb Cream?

Promiseb Cream is a prescription-only, nonsteroidal FDA-cleared medical device and has no active ingredient. However, Promiseb Cream has demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties.

The makers of Promiseb do say that those who are allergic to shea butter or shea nut oil should not use their product though.

It does seem to be an unusual situation; a prescription only medicine that claims to have no active ingredients.

Promiseb Ingredients

Here is the full list of ingredients as detailed in the Promiseb Prescribing Information.

Purified Water, Isohexadecane, Butyrospermum parkii, Pentylene glycol, Ethylhexyl palmitate, Cera alba, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Bisabolol, Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, Tocopheryl acetate, Hydrogenated castor oil, Acifructol complex, Butylene glycol, Magnesium sulfate, Piroctone olamine, Allantoin, Magnesium stearate, Disodium EDTA, Vitis vinifera, Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, Glycyrrhetinic acid, Propyl gallate, and Telmesteine.

User Reviews

Auburn-NH has posted an early review of Promiseb, from using a doctor supplied sample.

Savings Coupon

Promiseb is offering a 50% discount off your co-pay or $40, whichever is less. For more information see Promiseb Savings Coupon.

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