Optimizing the Use of Topical Brimonidine in Rosacea Management: Panel Recommendations

January 2015 | Volume 14 | Issue 1 | Original Article | 33 | Copyright © January 2015


Emil A. Tanghetti MD,1 J. Mark Jackson MD,2 Kevin Tate Belasco DO MS,3 Amanda Friedrichs MD,4 Firas Hougier MD,5 Sandra Marchese Johnson MD,6 Francisco A. Kerdel MD,7 Dimitry Palceski DO FAOCD,8 H. Chih-ho Hong MD FRCPC,9 Anna Hinek MD MSc FRCPC,10 Maria Jose Rueda Cadena MD11

1Center for Dermatology & Laser Surgery, Sacramento, CA
2University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
3Blue Harbor Dermatology, Newport Beach, CA
4Dekalb Clinic, Sycamore, IL
5Family Dermatology, Atlanta, GA
6Johnson Dermatology Clinic, Fort Smith, AR
7Florida Academic Dermatology, Miami, FL
8Reflections Dermatology, Orlando, FL
9SkinFitMD, Surrey, British Colombia
10University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario
11Galderma Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX

CONCLUSION

Facial redness is a primary concern for many patients with rosacea, and brimonidine is an important new therapy that can have a vital role in helping clinicians manage this complex disease. As with any drug, side effects can occur. In our experience, the side effects that have been grouped together as “rebound” really include several different phenomena: paradoxical erythema, expected return of erythema after the drug effects subside, an exaggerated recurrence of erythema, patient dissatisfaction with appearance of lesional erythema and telangiectasia that were not affected by brimonidine, and, contact dermatitis that, in rare cases, may be allergic in nature. Including brimonidine in an overall rosacea management plan should not be viewed as challenging – taking several simple steps as outlined above can avoid many problems and help to minimize any that do occur.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors wish to thank Valerie Sanders from Sanders Medical Writing for her writing assistance in preparation of this manuscript.

DISCLOSURES

Drs. Tanghetti, Jackson, Belasco, Hougier, and Johnson are advisors, investigators and speakers for Galderma Laboratories, L.P.. Drs. Friedrichs, Hong and Hinek are advisors for Galderma. Dr. Palceski is an advisor and speaker for Galderma Laboratories, L.P.. Dr. Kerdel is an advisor and investigator for Galderma Laboratories. Dr. Rueda Cadena is an employee of Galderma Laboratories, L.P.

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AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE

E. Tanghetti MD…….............et@dermatologyandlasersurgery.com
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