Metronidazole (most commonly prescribed as Metrogel 1%) is a prescription drug that is available in several formulations. As an oral treatment metronidazole is known as flagyl. Topical metronidazole is available as noritate, metrogel, rozex, metrogel 1%, metrolotion and metrocream.
What is metronidazole ? well scientifically it is a white to pale yellow crystalline powder. Metronidazole is a member of the imidazole class of anti-bacterial agents and is classified as an antiprotozoal and anti-bacterial agent.
When taken orally, metronidazole is known as flagyl. Flagyl is used for a wide variety of infections including those in the adbomen, bones, joints, nervous system, respiratory tract, skin, as well as vaginal and intestinal infections.
A bit of history
Curatek Pharmaceuticals developed and submitted the New Drug Application for Metrogel in 1988. Since its introduction by Curatek, MetroGel has become the most widely prescribed therapy in the United States for rosacea. In 1993 Curatek Pharmaceuticals sold metrogel to Galderma Laboratories. Galderma has since introduced other variants of Metrogel, namely MetroLotion and MetroCream. Galderma is also an interesting company for rosacea sufferers because they have purchased Collagenex, who are developing a product we know as sansrosa.
Curatek, continued to market MetroGel-Vaginal (metronidazole vaginal gel, 0.75 percent) for bacterial vaginosis. MetroGel-Vaginal was introduced in the U.S. in 1992.
How does metrogel work ? well amazingly after all these products have been marketed and many studies done, the mechanisms by which metronidazole acts in reducing the inflammatory lesions of rosacea are in the main unknown.
Dermik markets a 1%, once a day formulation of metronidzole called Noritate.
Metrogel was responsible for generating sales of about $75 million in 2004.
The patent on the branded product by Galderma expired on June 6, 2006. Fougera is poised to make generic metrogel available, having had tentative approval to produce a generic metrogel.
In July of 2005 Galderma announced that 1 percent metrogel had gained FDA approval. The vehicle is a water-based formulation and contains no alcohol. The formulation was `enhanced with HSA-3′. HSA-3 is described as a combination of ingredients including betadex, niacinamide (vitamin B3), and propylene glycol.”
Metrogel Ingredients
METROGEL (metronidazole gel), 1% is an aqueous gel; each gram contains 10 mg of metronidazole in a base of betadex, edetate disodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylparaben, niacinamide, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol,propylparaben and purified water.
So Why all the Metro-products ?
Despite quite a lot of activity in the marketing and development of the metronidazole treatments (lotion, cream, gel, generic equivalents, nortitate 1%, metrogel 1%, once per day, twice per day etc) this particular research paper Metronidazole in the treatment of rosacea: do formulation, dosing, and concentration matter? suggests that the different formulations and treatment frequency make little difference to the treatment outcome.
Thus if you are already using one formulation of metronidazole, changing to another gel/cream vehicle doesn’t appear to be able to offer any additional benefits.
Does Metrogel help with the Redness?
Officially, Metrogel is only indicated for the papules and pustules of rosacea – this is what it was tested against. Some users of Metrogel do find a reduction in redness as a result of the anti-inflammatory actions of metronidazole, but you should probably consider this a bonus rather than a given.
Interesting Research
Some of the more interesting published papers on rosacea and metrogel, and other metronidazole treatments include ;
Topical Metronidazole Maintains Remissions of Rosacea
Topical metronidazole therapy for rosacea.
The efficacy of topical metronidazole in the treatment of ocular rosacea.
Metrogel Coupon
Galderma offers a Savings Coupon for Metrogel that offers 1% Co-pay Card, allowing you to pay no more than $20 when refilling your prescription. If you have insurance, that is. This current coupon offer expires at the end of 2011.
Featured Products
Related Articles:
- Galderma: 1 percent metrogel prescribing information
- So just How Does Metrogel Work ?
- 1 Percent Metrogel from Galderma
- Generic Metrogel soon Fougera
- Metrogel less irritating than Finacea
- Periostat and metrogel better than Metrogel alone
- Rosac Cream vs. Metrocream
- Galderma wants to own the Rosacea Market
141 Comments over 3 pages ↓
Hello,
I suffer from very dry skin around my nose and eyebrows. I also have a red bump on my nose that has been there for as long as I can remember. My dads nose is more or less the same, bur his has spider like veins and is redder than mine. Are these the symptoms of this? If so, would anti biotics from my doctor help? And also, how long would it take to cure?
Regards,
Julie
Help – I was diagnosed with Rosacea in January and was given Rozex gel to use which made a huge difference to me within a fortnight.
Apart from the odd bit of face pain everything was going well until I started getting pain in my eyes. I thought it was conjunctivitis and bought some eye ointment over the counter to treat it. The pain didn’t get any better and I’ve been to the Doctor – apparently this is due to the Rosacea.
As usual, when I got home I start to think about questions that I should have asked, such as ‘is my eyesight in danger.’ Can anyone fill me in on this condition please.
Thanks
i am sure that must be worrisome and although i dont’ have that problem i have rosacea. what i always want to tell people though is to cleanse, and then take out of your diet the inflammation causing things that your body is reacting to (try an elimination diet, first cleanse then slowly introduce foods one at a time back into your diet).
cleansing involves either a juice or water fast, colonics, sauna, infared, etc. check dr perricone’s diet on acne for clues to inflammation causing foods. he has a section on rosacea and with trial and error you will be able to see what you are doing to cause the inflammation. starches, sugar, caffeine, fried foods, etc are some of the big ones.
too many people want a cure all in a medication, which frequently masks the symptoms and doesn’t address the cause. i was a mess with symptoms, obsessed with my face, it was awful. i tried everything as i was determined to beat it. i also promised i would tell others if i was successful. i avoided antibiotics from the get go though and although i use the creams from the doctor i know what causes the rosacea in my diet and do so at my own risk. i get back into balance by juicing regularly and cleansing twice a year or more.
good luck.
Well, its been a week since I took Jill’s suggestion to use only Spring Water to wash my face and I must say with all honesty it really, really works. I notice a significant difference in just two days and I felt the difference immediately. My face felt less drawn and tight after using the Spring Water. I have lost a lot of the redness and swelling. There still is some acne looking bumps and pimples but they too have decreased. I am very, very pleased and for the first time feel hopeful that I may get this stuff under control.
I was ready to ask my PCP for some type of internal medication I could take along with the Metrogel 1% to try and slow the progress of the Rosacea on my face but now I feel I don’t have to. My skin looks better every day by just using Spring Water for cleansing. THANK YOU SO MUCH JILL. This may not work for everyone but so far it has for me.
My regime now is to: wash my face with Spring Water, apply Metrogel 1% [only at night], wait a few minutes then apply Ceptaphil as a moisturizer. Also, I will NEVER go outside without applying SPF50 skin lotion. This goes for summer or winter both temps are terrible for my skin.
Maybe I’ll have even better news a month or two down the road but for now I couldn’t be happier!
OMG BECKY!!!!
)
i am soooooo happy for you. {{{big hug}}}.thats all I use.. i buy the puffy hypoallergic make up remover cotton pads at CVS (like an inch or two big) dab it with spring water and a drop of ceptaphil cleanser ( to remove makeup ,dirt) and then another little pad just spring water to cleanse it off. I do NOT use a washcloth since these are washed in the same tap water in my washing machine and was irritating to my face.once my face healed and stopped letting everything irritate it (even moisturizer) i added that moistuizer i mentioned. go it at skinstore web site. and once in a while use witch hazel.and that it.no more 2% hydrocorisone which thins your skin out and is only temporary and no need to take predisone or anything else. i keep a small water bottle under sink with ceptaohil so its not clutter in my bathroom. I spent two years in agony and many dermy appointments when this was all i had to do which i figured out on my own.and All my eyelid issues never happened again either.
and if you feel like you really need to wash your face.use the ceptaphil alone ,then rinse with spring water. your face will thank you. before this. i looked like I had a serious chemical burn on my face and it was very painful and my eyes were puffy and had to get topical steriod gel for THAT. its torture. Little did i know i was aggravting every time i put cool tap water on face trying to sooth it.
i am sooo glad it is working for you..
there is something in our water
Jill
this is my original post.before i took everything away and used spring water:
Jills Journey.(42 yrs old).. i moved april 2007, beautiful skin until sept 2007 I got a red flat rash on face and blephtis (sp). Dr. gave me script for presidone, said it was contact allergy and eye doctor gave me eye drops. Dr also gave me 2.5% hydrocortisone for face.everything cleared up… Then it came back and stayed. went on predisone again. she said Nope ,it not allergy,its ezcema but no bumpy rash.presidone nasty medicine. i did feel like a superhero -makes you feel great but i had insomnia and gained weight, also put little blond hairs on my face so now i resemble a catcus.lol. tested for lupus TWICE, negative. went to allergist, test neg for everything, Got the patch testing on back (worse week ever.no shower) nothing really came up there.many days i would wake up swollen eyes and after showering in am, washing face,putting moisturizer on my face would burn and be beet red all day!( i have pictures in case it was clearing by the time i went to dermy) back for more presidsone. it wasnt a typical rash, it was a flat burn It burned on my cheeks and felt chapped. went to ANOTHER dermy.said i had rosacea. gave me sulfur medicine. did not like it. irritated it and smelled horrible. threw all my products away. used nothing.still red. got a humifier, got a air cleaner (still thinking allergy)had my water tested by the water dept. All clear there.Got blephitis again.Back to eye doctor. All the first dermy would do is to continue to give me hydrocortisone which is BAD for face. I stopped going out. i became obsessed with looking in mirror to see if there was any teeny weeny improvement from this pain burned face.I couldnt stop.day to day things like even eating were a chore since my face hurt so much. I bought rocacea care products online,This week i went and had IPL laser. not sure if it was the right idea. my face is still beet red and swollen up to my eyes that are now slits. I did get obaji rosacea care which is cleanser, metrogel .75%, moisturizer but i dont think its strong/thick enough since my face is very dry. and i puchased clinque sunscreen for rosacea.I have never used sunscreen.my bad. not sure of the order to put all this stuff on.If my face gets to normal size, i will try these products to see if they work or its BACK to the dermy who really doesnt know and throws things out there. I am afraid to take antibiotic cause i would not want to get pregnant my age but that still has not been offered to me.and accutane is prob not an option, i have high cholesterol and slight osteo from the depo shot.ugh more issues….. i think all the steriods i took over this year has given my steriod induced rosacea.Never have i had senstive skin before. i could do microderabrasions with the best of them,used any product., nothing bothered me till sept 2007 and its been a daily nightmare ever since. Triggers? no clue except the major stress/aniexty i have over this. i dont really drink or eat spicy foods, do have a small coffee twice a week. I can feel the burn crawling across my face anywhere, anytime.there is no pattern. very depressing since this basically has “taken over my life”
Does anyone know whether gently popping those white pustules with a clean tissue (and then washing face) is a problem? I hate them. Thanks. BTW, I am using the generic metrogel product (metronidazole). Has anyone used that only 1x/day versus 2x/day?
Jill / Becky
Thank you for giving me a new light. I have been crying for the last 3 days because my redness is getting worse and worse. I lived in the UK for 4 years, and I think the water in there started to trigger my rosacea, which got worse in the last 6 months. I just relocated to Houston and I am really worried that with the sun in here it gets worse. I wake up every morning with the redness and the itching sensation.
I will buy the pads today and will start trying the spring water. One question: Which sun screen would you recommend? And, do you have any make up brand that you can recommend that doesn´t irritate you? I think if you can tell me about a sun screen that has some color in it, it would probably work for both functions.
Thanks again and will let you know.
Maria
Maria,
I sympathize with what you are going through. It’s really the pits (for the lack of a better word). Hot weather is not good for the skin….likewise, cold weather is just as bad but we certainly can’t be hermits and stay indoors all the time so we have to look for alternatives and that is what I have been doing lately. Especially since I have a pet and I also like to work out in my yard during the summer SO I AM ALWAYS OUTDOORS.
For the passed few weeks, I have been following Jill’s advise and cleansing my face with spring water and Cetaphil using only cotton makeup pads. I also went online at skin-one.com to purchase PCA Skin Hydrator Plus SPF 25 Jill uses as a moisturizer. It makes my face so soft and it is not greasy….plus it has a sunscreen of SPF 25 in it….CAN’T BEAT THAT.
I realize there is no cure for Rosacea…it won’t go away but I am doing my best to control it. What I have done so far has at least toned down the redness and burning sensation; however, I still have a rough feeling skin. To look at me you probably would not notice the Rosacea but if you feel my skin you can feel the bumps and roughness. That is what drives me crazy. I’ll try anything though that will help alleviate this as much as possible. It may take some time and a few experiments with different products but I’m willing to try anything. Oh yeah, I also still use the prescribed med..Metrogel 1%
As far as makeup, Maria, may I suggest going to the Bare Minerals or Bare Escentuals website and reading about their makeup. I talked to someone who has Rosacea and swears by it. It is a PURE MAKEUP no chemicals or additives. Two things you might look at and read about is BARE ESCENTUALS RARE MINERALS RENEW & REVEAL FACIAL CLEANSER and PRIME TIME FOUNDATION PRIMER (this would go on before you apply their makeup). I have their makeup already and today I ordered both myself. My sister just told me about these two new products in their makeup line. She uses them and loves it. This product line may help you when deciding on what kind of makeup to buy they have all shades to match your skin and they will help you to choose the right one for you. All their makeup has SPF sunscreen built in as well. I don’t mean to sound like a commercial… my family uses it and likes it that’s all.
Good luck Maria I hope I have been of some help. Don’t get discouraged.
Hi maria and becky
how goes the battle ??
Becky is everything helping you?? I am glad you are giving it time, i think you skin rebuilds every two weeks or something like that. i heard.
I use este lauder Light makeup. i use to use lancome but i find this Light makeup works just as good and not as heavy so it doesnt SIT on top of your skin.
I wish i could email you before and after pics. it is a HUGE difference. i dont know if they will take this out.but my email is Jillzii at aol..email me and i will send you pics of how bad it looked (chemical burn and painful) and now.
yes that moisturizer is very good.not cheap but last a long time and i do not feel it burning my face after i put it on.
PLEASE keep me posted.feel free to email me :0 i spent two years in hell with this.. it was almost crippling.
Jill
Jill / Becky
Thank you very much for all the comments and advice. My rosacea was very mild until I went to see a cosmetician and she did a facial and gave me a clay mask. ayyyayyy. after that, my skin got burned and it has been really difficult to get the redness out. It is as if I am wearing always a red mask!
The doctor prescribed Metrogel as well and that´s what I am trying at the moment. I was recommended by a natural products pharmacist, to take away the sugars, wheat, red meat and alcohol of my diet! I have been trying this for 2 days + washing my face with spring water (thanks Jill!) and it seems that the redness is a lot better. I will tell you in a week, if the diet is really worth it at least for your to try.
In the meantime, will buy the sunscreen that you recommended Jill, and the make up that you recommended Becky.
For the moment, I will keep trying, and any new good results will let you know.
Really, thank you for sharing the things that have worked out well for you.
Maria
yes maria mine was like a red mask.my whole face was burnt red and soooo painful. even my tears hurt my face.(except my nose didnt get too red funny) .
I tried the laser, predisone three times, hydrocortisone.everything.and then everything i put on my face just irritated it more since it was all inflammed and was just causing more damage. i even stopped using facecloths since those are washed in the washing machine with the evil tap water.. and i do NOTHING else.. i just wash face with spring water and cetaphil and put that moisturizer on and i am DONE. i even noticed the cracks under eys are gone. my eyelids are fine… and i use no medications or pills.
i swear by it and its something soooo simple…for two years i didnt realize it… i think once you CALM your irritation /redness down. let your skin heal. it will be easier to manage. i went from spending hundreds and hundreds or dollars (even rosacea products online, allergiest, dermys, nutritionists, moisturizers on top of moisturizers ) and nothing worked except this.
Let me know about diet. my diet is horrible (can you devil dogs. lol)
good luck
I think my rosacea onset happened after an inflammatory dermatological procedure. Is this possible? The derm says no, but I had beautiful skin prior. I don’t drink – never have and now when I eat one gumdrop, my face explodes.
It is now in my eyes.
I feel it is systemic and don’t even want to deal with topical creams. The derm said they usually don’t treat systemically which sounds ridiculous to me.
What should I try to get? Flagyl or tetracycline? It seems as though flagyl cuts to the chase with most bacteria. Does Diflucan help too? It seems as though I am yeasty all over as well.
I am really flipping out here. Thanks in advance.
Hi Lilly,
Unfortunately I can not help you with the medicines because I am trying the diet. I decided to focus on what I am eating and see what works and what don´t. (trying not sugars and wheat at the moment) Because I think definitely Rosacea is a result of something internal.
The other option is to see what Susan was promoting that worked for her: Moxxor. It is pure Omega 3 and I am planning to buy it.
I will let you know once I see more results.
Maria
Thanks Maria,
I also prefer natural treatments but I am at my wit’s end and am starting to worry about my eyesight. Are you also skipping fruit? And white flour? I will check out Moxxor as well. I may also see a Chinese herbalist tomorrow. I found something called berberine that kills h pylori that Chinese medicine uses and will see if my guy has it. Good luck!
hi im mae i have a some question in my mind here is it i take flagyl forte 500mg while im 5 months pregnant what is some side effects for my baby is it abnormal cos i take tablet while im pregnant
Hi Mae,
Please consult your doctor for advice about whether metronidazole / flagyl is suitable during pregnancy.
davidp.
Hello everyone,
wow! Thank you for this site!! About two years ago I was first diagnosed by a dermatologist with a combination of sebbrohic dermatitis and rosacea. I am in my early 20′s. dont remember what the name of the medicine they gave me at the time was but I do know that one was a steroid cream. The first one was a clear substance and I would apply a thin layer and then put on the white setroid cream. Within a few weeks my face was back to normal. But then my insurance got messed up so I couldnt go to the doctor for a long time until recently. Now the dermatoligist I am going to is telling me I have rosacea with some acne. I am currently taking Monocycline I think it is (some for of doxycycle) and using Benzaclin. It has been almost a month and my face isn’t getting better. The thing I am wondering about is my face is definitely very red but does anyone else experience a burning/itching feeling?? My rosacea is especially bad on the sides of my face and my cheeks. I also could use some advice on handling stress because I know thats not helping any. Thanks everyone.
Priscilla,
check back to my two posts.i had the burning itchy. and the skin felt heavy like it all of a sudden it weighed more/
i stopped washing face with tap water and washclothes that got washed in same water. and It worked. I still put moiturizer on..and this is after two years and1K of products, laser appts, predisone several times…everything.nothing worked.just the stopped the tap water. i was told i has roseaca, contact derm everythng..i stopped soothing brunt painful pace with tap water since it was making the inflammtion worse and it cleard up. thats the only thing worked for me .and for two year.not once did i think “tap water”
good luck. i know who frustrating it can be
Jill! .. I had beautiful peaches and cream skin before, and now I got this rosacea mess with blepharitis (the clogged ones one). I realized that toothpaste is a big trigger because I saw my eyelids/cheeks puff up when i finished brushing. You say tap water was your problem, maybe is mine too because toothpaste has fluoride as well!
What type of bleph do you have?
having suffered from bad breath for most of my adult life I have finally discovered the cure. Assuming there are no underlying medical or dental problems and the cause is anaerobic bacteria in the mouth then this is the ONLY cure that really works. It doesn’t mask odours it actually kills the bad odour producing bacteria.
Crush a 200mg flagyll tablet to a fine powder and mix with approx 50ml toothpaste and use once a day. Dont rinse with water afterwards and dont eat or drink for about half an hour after cleaning teeth.
Why doesn’t someone produce this medicated toothpaste for the millions of sufferers around the world!! its so easy and it works.
Could there be any adverse side effects to long term use of this medicated toothpaste. I would appreciate feedback.
i have been using Flagystain 500mg metronidazole for 4 nights now out of the 10 days recommended at bedtimes and when i have 8-12 hours of sleep and i wake up the cream seems to still seem out through.i was wondering if this was part of the side affects ?.
Hi there,
) with papules/ pustules and a bit of redness on my left cheek.
I suffer from what I think is a mild
case of rosacea( doctors think this is it but are confused themselves
I have just been experimenting those 2 products found on a French rosacea forum ( I’m a French native).
Those products seem to really soothe redness and diminish papules, been trying them now for 3 days, a lot of relief given to my face especially since my skin is super sensitive and rozex cream applied once a day does tend to irritate it.
I put rozex cream at night and let it dry.
Then I put Cicabio Creme on my whole cheek then I apply Cicabio lotion on top of the creme to dry up pustules/ pastules. Cicabio lotion dries up and leaves a whitish texture on top.
I am not sponsorised to advertise those creams, suffering also from eczema and ichtyosis , I have tried many a cream for many years and spent quite a budget.
Those 2 creams can be ordered online, they are fairly cheap ( around 6/ 10 euros each) but if you guys live In the US the package costs may be high.
I was desperate to find something antibacterial to speed up the drying and healing process of my papules/ pustules, hence this discovery on a rosacea forum.
Here are the 2 products:
1) Cicabio crème by Bioderma. Soothing repairing cream with a Copper Zinc complex ( anti bacterial).
2) Cicabio drying repairing lotion by Bioderma.
A combination of zinc oxide and silicates to dry up the wound.
Those 2 products are fragrance, préservative and paraben free. I am basically allergic to a lot if skin care products myself hence my use of products with as less chemicals as possible.
I do not believe those products are a miracle, I do think they will help soothe redness but won’t make it disappear , they seem to be very good ( in my case) to dry up pustules/ papules, soothe the skin and help it repair itself. Those products seem to be also used for eczema and atopic dermatitis sufferers, they contain no steroids whatsoever.
I hope this could help some if you!
Also, I have decided to detox my body , got rid of tomatoes as I seem to be allergic and started with hemp seed oil to help with omega 3 and 6 and my flaky dry skin. Anyone has tried hemp seed oil and happy with the results ? Any advice welcome.
Thanks again for this great website to help people share information about rosacea and how to fight it!
Thank you everyone for sharing your heart-felt stories…I too have just found I am officially carrying around Rosacea on my once smooth cheeks…I had suspected it when I saw the red blotches on my cheeks along with the pimple-like bumps three years ago at age 36 (shall I but part blame on the divorce I was going through?) Anyhow, I am 39 now, and have decided to have see my doctor about this “rash” that will not wash away…(3 years later) I was then prescribed Metronidazole .75% topical gel. I have only been on it for two days now. I haven’t seen any results yet. I sure do hope to!
Again, thank you everyone! I am greatful for your stories that you have shared. They have hit home. I felt quite alone when I was diagnosed.
Maria C/ Becky…..
Just checking in to see how your doing with your rosacea.
I STILL use only spring water/cetaphil to wash my face twice a day and have not experienced the red burning itchy painful face or swollen eyelids ONCE. People tell me i look 30 instead of 43 since my face is sooo clear and smooth. I can honestly say it WAS my tap water. I went to many doctors, dermys ( i had rosacea, no I had eczema, no I had allergy), allergists,eye doctors for bhephtis (sp?) tested for lupus twice, allergy patches on back, Predisone several times, sulfer medicine, Laser treatment, hydrocortisone, online rosacea products, metrogel, all new makeup, Hepa filter, humidifier and hundreds of dollars spent…and after all that……. all i did was buy a bottle of spring water and PRESTO…. it all went away after two years of hell. The red burn is gone, at the time I could FEEL my face it was sooo heavy and painful, I could barely see from my eyelids being puffy.. and now its like it never happened. I do not use any topical medicine or any pills. I do not have the small bumps and “hot spots” as i call them that were a small red spot on areas that would always come back in that same spot. The next time I saw my doctor I told them how i fixed this since they were SHOCKED in the difference of my face…not that i think they were really too concerned to begin with.grumble..just gave me predisone and sent me on my way. i may do a test and wash face with the water from the sink just to see if it will come back but that is not something i am ready to see.lol
hope you guys are doing well
Jill
Hi Jill and everyone out there!
Unfortunately, Jill, the spring water did not help me at all. I did notice a decrease in the redness on my face and I was very encouraged but then I developed a terrible case of acne. I had blemishes EVERYWHERE. I religiously washed my face with Cetaphil (and still do) as a cleanser, I used only spring water and I also used the cotton pads instead of a wash cloth but the acne appeared with a vengeance. Metrogel 1% stopped working for me as well. I did not have a clear spot on my face, it was horrible. It even hurt to wash my face with my hands. I couldn’t take it anymore so I made an appointment with a dermatologist to 1) confirm I had rosacea and 2) to see if she could prescribe the new capsule Oracea so that I could not only use a topical treatment but something to work from the inside out!
To cut to the chase, she confirmed that I had rosacea and she did wonders for me. It will be two weeks this coming Thursday that I made the appointment and my face has never looked so good. In fact, I think rosacea did me a favor. If it wasn’t for this illness, I wouldn’t have seen a dermatologist. My face is so soft and smooth, I have even had comments from friends. Here is my daily routine: Take 1 Oracea capsule in the morning, wash my face with Cetaphil, apply FINACEA GEL 15%, wash my face in the evening with Cetaphil, apply FINACEA GEL 15% and also apply Retrinal 0.1 (optional). The Retrinal is an anti aging cream that I could purchase if I wanted (why wouldn’t I?). It is only applied at night. I no longer use Metrogel 1%.
This works for me so far anyway. It may not work for everyone but I can honestly say that my complexion is smooth and pink. No redness or bumps…well maybe one or two but give it a few more weeks and I guarantee they will be gone. I AM A VERY HAPPY CAMPER.
I tried using the spring water Jill and I do appreciate the suggestion but it just wasn’t enough for me.
Good luck everyone. There is hope out there.
My wife started taking Metrogel for rosacea 2 days ago. She has been nausiated and has a headache. Is that a sider effect?
Hi Larry,
According the Flagyl Prescribing Information
“The most common adverse reactions reported have been referable to the gastrointestinal
tract, particularly nausea reported by about 12% of patients, sometimes accompanied by
headache, anorexia, and occasionally vomiting; diarrhea; epigastric distress; and
abdominal cramping. Constipation has also been reported”
all the best to your wife,
davidp.
Great information here!
I was recently prescribed Doxycycline and Metronidazole cream for my rosacea. I was taking the Doxycycline for 3 days before starting the cream on the 3rd day. I applied one dose to my face at night and a rash/hives broke out on my thighs the next day. I assumed it was the Doxycycline since I have had this issue with 4 other oral antibiotics. So I stopped it that day, but continued to use the cream twice a day. The rash/hives got considerably worse. So I stopped the cream a few days later and had to start a steroid pack for the rash that would not get better. I am suspecting it was the cream and not the Doxycycline. Any thoughts?
I am so relieved that i finally have the right diagnosis. I have been going to different doctors for many years and they told me i had contact dermatitis, eczema etc. The stuff they would give me would help for just a little bit and it got to the point that i would have to apply steroid cream 2x a day just to keep it from becoming really gross. I got lucky and saw another dr and finally got rosacea. After reading everyones thoughts i realize that he was right. I just turned 30 and i was really worried that i would never have clear skin again. i do believe there is a hormone related to this. I noticed when i was pregnant that i didnt have it as bad. also when its that time of the month it gets worst. i read that on someones elses post and absolutely agree with it. I’m not sure what my triggers are yet but I am determined to find what they are! Im surprised with the post about the spring water but Im going to try it. thanks everyone for your stories.
After wasting my time w/ one Derm who said I just have “dry irritated sensitive skin….I got a 2nd opinion. Within seconds of my new derm looking @me she siad..its rosacea. After trial&error, Finacea has done wonders for me!I also got off my $30 face wash by clinique medical&use Ceravae($12 for large bottle)however the ceravae moisturizer isn’t enough. I still use the $80 clinique medical…any suggestions? Also I want to share I get spray tanned 2-3x/week in a Mystic tanbooth (the brand). Its fabulous&showed ingredients to my derm. I don’t react to it&it hides the redness
Just a note of hope for you suffering with this skin condition. My rosacea showed up 2 summers ago. My eyes felt itchy and irritated. Took awhile for my dermatologist to diagnose it, in fact, I led the way with what I read on the net. Then I was put on oral antibiotics and Metrogel. It took 3-4 months for the bumpy pustule patches to subside. Then longer, almost a year, for the redness to completely go away. The redness would come back briefly whenever I washed my face. Contact with water seemed to trigger redness. Anyway, finally all gone! I treat my face very gently, wash with Cetaphil only, and use Metro Lotion in Spring/Fall/Winter, and Metrogel in the Summer, twice a day. I feel very grateful and lucky that my condition resolved. Keep with your treatments, I got VERY frustrated by how long it took my skin to heal, but it eventually did. I was lucky, and I wish you all luck too!
Hi!
I was just diagnosed with Rosacea this week, although I already suspected for a year that I have it. Most people I tested this theory on said it couldn’t be, as I am only in my 20′s… Anyway, the GP prescribed Metronidazole cream for me and said it will irritate my skin a lot at first and probably take 6 weeks for it to work.
My question is: I only have some flares of redness, itchiness and rash every three months or so and, excruciating and depressing as it may be, it goes away after about a week (for now). I have no permanent redness or acne-like spots, which is in my understanding what the cream is actually prescribed for… So should I really take antibiotics for symptoms I don’t have, during a period of time when I don’t have any symptoms at all?? Could that not just hurt my skin more??
Now, this General Practician won’t refer me to a specialist until I have tried her treatment… Considering that I’ll have Rosacea all my life and I’ve heard it will only get worse AND that I have other skin problems as well – Atopic Dermatitis and potentially another type of dermatitis on my face which she diagnosed me with (but I strongly believe she is wrong on this one) – I really want to see a proper dermatologist!! In the UK this is apparently impossible unless you have a GP referral or can splash out over £300 for a consultation with a private doctor.
It’s so frustrating that no one seems to want to help here! If you ask questions the GPs treat you almost like a criminal. Or can it be I have just had really bad luck…?
Will try to ask for a referral again tomorrow, with a different GP….. wish me luck!
Hi D,
I too am like you in that at the moment I’m lucky and don’t have Rosacea bad – it comes and goes in small flare-ups. I have found it helpful to use the metronidazole cream very sparingly until my skin calms down and righly or wrongly I don’t use it when my skin is clear. Hope this has helped.
Elaine
I have found that for the red spots that won’t go away, etc my dermatologist gave me two laser treatments that made an unbelievable difference in the appearance of my skin. All those red dots that just never seem to go away even when the face is not having a flare up – gone! My face is so smooth – in color and texture. AND have not returned, and it’s been over a year.
After this treatment, I have started using Cetaphil face cleanser, and Aveeno moisturizer with 15 spf (which I also use as sunscreen when out in the sun) Also, since taking Evening Primrose Oil, (all natural) I have not had a single flare up (in over 9 mos)…the Evening Primrose Oil helps in reducing inflamation.
For those of you looking for a makeup to use I would not suggest bareMinerals. I have used the product for a long time but since developing rosacea I find that it makes my face really itchy. I have been doing a lot of research on rosacea and found that there is two ingredients in it that is on the stay away list for rosacea sufferers. Mica and bismuth oxychloride are the ingredients in bareMinerals. I know that everyone’s triggers are different so the trick is to figure out what they are. I found a company that offers an organic product that is chemical free called Rejuva minerals. I am going to order a sample tomorrow to try out. I have just started to eliminate things from my skin care regimine and I am wondering if the tap water in my area is a probable cause. I will not use Cetaphil anything as it contains a lot of alchol which dries your face out and dermatologist told me it was a waste of my money. I am going to try using spring water for my face and have found an Oatmeal Facial Bar from coastal classic creations that ususe natural ingredients I will try. They have a face bar for rosacea but I will not use it as I am 6 mos. prego and there is an ingredient in it that may or may not be safe during pregnancy. I will however try it after baby is born as customers who use it and an oil they offer for rosacea swear by it as a replacement for typical medication. I am wondering what do people use as a daily moisturizer as my face seems to be extremly dry. I know I need to figure out what foods and things I consume may trigger my rosacea but as I said I am prego so an elimination diet is not for me at this time. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
There is no known cure for rosacea. Info I found on it says it will only get worse over time without peoper treatment.
just wanted to touch bases here after majorly controlling my diet since december, 2010. my dermatologist (25 yr research scientist and ucla professor) told me that my rosacea was basically a lactose intolerance. humm. well, i got off lactose, and it wasn’t an immediate fix, nor did i expect one. in fact she gave me a bunch of other things i shouldn’t have, citing reasons too complicated to recount here, but nuts, orange juice, sugar, starchy food, cold cuts, and the usuals, caffeine, alcohol, fried foods, were among them.
month by month my skin got better as i became more and more disciplined with my diet. when i fell off the diet, the reaction was clear. i am just saying that ten months later i have to wear blush for the first time in my life. i do not have the depth of the problem i once had and friends are still noticing the change and commenting. it’s funny, sometimes i forget that i have it. i still make mistakes, but two things i am really strict about is lactose and gluten. sure it’s a pain, but now it’s a habit, i try to apologize to waitresses and hosts/hostesses about my restrictions, and plan very carefully what i eat. btw goat and sheep does not have the lactose, and were it not for those i believe it might have been impossible. goat butter is to die for delicious, but for the most part i use olive oil or coconut oil.
i feel there may be a fungal component to all of this, (studied far less than viral and bacterial issues by the medical establishment) and although i don’t want to go on and on, antibiotics are a real factor in wrecking our natural balance, (probiotics are essential if doing rounds of antibiotics, and generally) and getting our balance back is imperative, and there is a mind, body, spirit component as well.
using good minerals, and enzymes, anti fungal herbs, as well as a baking soda protocol, are a few other things that should be considered, as well as having more than fifty percent of ones diet in raw foods/green juices in a day. stay hydrated.
oh and cleansing the system w enemas and or a juice fast done properly w supervision/research.
those are cliff notes……it’s complicated….wishing peace and healing to everyone who aches along this journey……xo
oh, i forgot to mention she even said not to have FISH! (the derm!) so, i even rarely have fish anymore!!!!!!! it all seemed crazy….but i really made an effort to follow her suggestions!
Hey all,
reading your posts as my face has also started working against me. As far as your theories about tap water being a possible cause, my derm the first time my face exploded in rosacea (also after having easy skin for most of my life), suggested it may be a fluoride allergy. We switched to non-fluouride toothpaste and he had me on the metrolotion and cetaphyll cleanser. The good news is that it cleared up right away. The bad news is that I am experiencing a little relapse 3 years later, and wondering, like you, if tap water has to do with it. As most allergies start mild then can get worse I am wondering if the fluoride in the tap water is now causing a similar reaction as my toothpaste was prior. I will try the suggestions about washing with spring water but perhaps this post will help some of you looking for the cause of these outbreaks. I know that fluouride allergies are still contested, but both my brother and I have returned to near normal after this derm’s suggestion about switching toothpaste. Hopefully non-fluorinated water will help me do the trick again this time.
Hi Everyone,
After 6 months of suffering, I was just diagnosed with Rosacea a few days ago at age 31. Rosacea has really taken a toll emotionally on me because my skin has alway been decent looking in the past. I had just moved in to my house and kept thinking I was allergic to my house for some reason and that was making me depressed. Tried so many oral medication and each one just made me sick. I just started on Metrogel so I am praying that this treatment works.
My question is does anyone know of any books or info on diet would help with Rosacea. I am trying to do what I can to can’t this under control. Thank you for your time and responses in advance