Comments on: Dermatology Times highlights Afrin and Sansrosa

By: David Pascoe

David Pascoe — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:00:29 +0000

Not sure how long it will be kept up for, but you can download a full copy of the PDF of the research paper that started this interest in Oxymetazoline here ;

Successful Treatment of the Erythema and Flushing
of Rosacea Using a Topically Applied Selective
α 1-Adrenergic Receptor Agonist, Oxymetazoline

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/143/11/1369.pdf

By: David Pascoe

David Pascoe — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:10:22 +0000

Indeed it is curious wanting to claim that the placebo effect should be credited for good results. The trouble is that the placebo effect as been proven to be quite powerful. Add to the mix the fact that some inactive vehicles are beneficial on their own, and you get a statistical nightmare. You are also right to mention the fact that rosacea for many is episodic – it can be difficult to match flareups with a list of triggers let alone with improving after any particular treatment.

Hence the need for double blind trials – to statistically prove that an active agent is the reason for any benefits seen. They take ages and are very expensive but they are one of the main tools to get through the FDA, so we are stuck with them.

By: J

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:49:03 +0000

Clearly whoever wrote this article doesn’t understand the condition well if they attribute the products longer lasting benefit to a placebo effect. Rosacea is notorious for going through stages of clearance and aggravation. No doubt the use of San Rosa would help calm inflammation causing the redness. Anyone can attest that after a week with relatively little flushing your rosacea looks great.

By: David Pascoe

David Pascoe — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:09:36 +0000

I think the point is that these two products were originally for a runny nose and a chronic eye disease – and thus it is quite surprising that they might be effective in treating rosacea.

Neither is currently officially approved as a treatment for rosacea, so one could also say that their release as a treatment is unlikely – but that seems counter to the good results and trials underway.

So the use of unlikely here refers to the surprising fact that afrin or alphagan-p might lead to new rosacea treatments.

By: J

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:58:18 +0000

What do you mean when you describe the treatment as ‘novel and unlikely’

“The Dermatology Times is running an article highlighting the novel and unlikely rosacea treatments based on a nasal decongestant and a glaucoma treatment.”

Are you implying the release of the drug is unlikely or that the very idea that such a treatment would be created was unlikely.