This paper on the role of sunscreens in rosacea makes the interesting point that sunlight exposure is known to be one of the top tripwires for rosacea, and that as few as 5% of rosacea sufferers use a daily sunscreen. It is true that we read comparitively little about sunscreens considering that sun exposure can cause severe problems for rosacea sufferers.
The paper lists the following FDA approved sunscreens: Aminobenzoic acid, Avobenzone (Parsol® 1789), Cinoxate, Dioxybenzone, Homosalate, Meradimate, Octocrylene, Octinoxate (formerly octyl methoxycinnamate), Octisalate (formerly octyl salicylate), Oxybenzone, Padimate O, Ensilozole, Sulisobenzone, Titanium dioxide, Trolamine salicylate and Zinc oxide. Also mentioned is a non-FDA approved UVA blocker, Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid (Mexoryl-Sx) (See mexoryl: sunscreen with good UVA filtering).
As well as giving some background on rosacea and sunscreens the paper also mentions a product that contains 1% metronidazole, along with a UVA and UVB sunscreen. Whilst not mentioned by name, this product is Rosasol by Stiefel Laboratories. Rosasol is only available on prescription in Canada.
The sunscreens used in rosasol are avobenzone and octinoxate (octyl methoxycinnamate). Octinoxate is a common chemical sunscreen, and may cause problems for some rosacea sufferers with sensitive skin.
A similar product from Stiefel Laboratories is Rosac Cream (see Rosacea News: Rosac Cream vs. Metrocream). Rosac Cream is also a sunscreen, although it contains sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur and not metronidazole. Rosac Cream is more widely available than Rosasol.
In the end I suspect that first applying your metronidazole of choice (metrogel, rozex, metrocream, metrolotion or noritate) followed by a low irritant physical sunscreen (eg. Linda Sy ZincO Cream, RosaceaCare Sunscreen 30 et. al.) is going to offer rosacea sufferers a better chance of an elegant and well tolerated protection regime.
The Role of Sunscreens in the Management of Rosacea, Joanne M. Fraser, PhD. Irving Katz, MD, From Stiefel Research Institute, Oak Hill, New York; and Department of Dermatology University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Supplement to Skin and Aging, October 2003. Supplement was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Stiefel Laboratories, Inc.
- Full Article Online (Pages 7-11)
Cannot get rosasol cream with sunscreen anywhere in the pharmacy. It is out of production in Ontario. Until when?