How does Soolantra work?
The active ingredient of Soolantra, ivermectin, is anti-inflammatory and also kills parasites. The way Soolantra works in treating the spots of rosacea is not known but may be linked to anti-inflammatory effects as well as causing the death of demodex mites that have been reported to be a factor in inflammation of the skin.
In clinical trials involving over 1,000 people, Soolantra was shown to be effective at reducing the number of spots and improving the overall appearance of the skin. After 52 weeks of use, over 70% of people who used Soolantra were assessed as “clear” or “almost clear”. In another trial with 964 people, Soolantra used once daily for 16 weeks was shown to be better than Rozex (metronidazole) 7.5 mg/g cream used twice daily.
How to use Soolantra
Soolantra (ivermectin) should only be used if prescribed by a registered doctor. This treatment is only appropriate for men and women over the age of 18 and should only be applied to skin on the face. It’s important you don’t use this medicine anywhere else on the body, particularly not on moist surfaces including the eyes, mouth or any mucosa. This treatment should not be swallowed.
The recommended dose is one application on facial skin per day for up to four months. If successful, the treatment course can be repeated. Apply a pea-sized amount of the cream to each of the five areas of the face: forehead, chin, nose and each cheek and spread the cream as a thin layer across the entire face. Wash your hands immediately after applying the cream.
Be careful to avoid the eyelids, lips and any mucosa such as inside the nose, the mouth and the eyes. If you accidentally get cream in any of these areas, wash immediately with plenty of water.
Do not apply other facial creams or make-up before the daily application of Soolantra. These products can be used after the applied cream has dried.
You may notice an improvement after four weeks of treatment. If there is no improvement after three months of use, you should discontinue Soolantra and consult your doctor.
Is Soolantra suitable for me?
Soolantra is not recommended during pregnancy or if you are breast-feeding. Alternatively, you should stop breast-feeding before starting treatment.
Other medicines can have an effect on Soolantra, so it’s important to tell the doctor about anything else you are currently taking.
It is not suitable for people under the age of 18.
What are the side effects of Soolantra?
Like all medicines, Soolantra can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Common side effects those which may affect more than 1 in 10 patients include a burning feeling on the skin.
For a full list of potential side effects and other important information, please read the patient leaflet provided in the pack before starting any course of treatment. The leaflet can also be viewed online here.
Convenient & confidential rosacea consultations are available through the Pharmacy2U Online Doctor service.
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