Mirvaso Gel

Order Mirvaso Gel Online UK

You can request to buy Mirvaso gel online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. Mirvaso Gel is a prescription drug and can be prescribed by our registered GPs. To see if you are suitable for this treatment, complete the online consultation and checkout.  

Our UK registered doctors will review the order, and if approved, pass a prescription to the pharmacy team. We will then dispense and dispatch your order to your chosen address. Delivery options include next day delivery.

You must be 18 years old to use our online doctor service, and an ID age check will take place during the checkout/registration process.

What is Mirvaso?

Mirvaso Gel is a commonly prescribed and effective treatment for rosacea, a common skin condition. It contains the active ingredient brimonidine. Mirvaso is used to improve the redness (facial erythema) of rosacea in adults. It is only available in one strength - Mirvaso 3mg / g gel.

Rosacea can cause an increase in blood flow to an area, usually the face, which results in a flushed reddened appearance. This often affects the nose, forehead cheeks and chin. 

How does it work?

The redness seen in rosacea is caused by the widening of the small blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Sometimes, the blood vessels on the skin become visible (as seen in the pictures on the NHS website).

Mirvaso works by narrowing the blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the area to help reduce the symptoms of rosacea. By reducing the blood flow, it helps to reduce the flushing and redness in the affected area.

The active ingredient in Mirvaso is brimonidine, which is a class of drug known as an alpha-blocker (alpha agonist). These are often taken as tablets to reduce blood pressure.

By applying Mirvaso gel to the affected area, it treats that specific area and has a lower risk of side effects than oral tablets.

PLEASE NOTE: Mirvaso can worsen symptoms of rosacea in up to 16% of users. For this reason, it's important when beginning treatment to apply only a small amount to a small area of skin and see the response.

That being said, in around 70% of patients, a reduction in symptoms is usually achieved within 3 hours of application of the gel. If symptoms do persist or worsen, you must consult your doctor about different treatment options. 

How to apply Mirvaso

When starting treatment, you should begin with a very small amount of gel (pea-sized amount) on a small area of skin once daily. This is to check that the gel doesn’t worsen your skin condition. If your skin doesn’t worsen, you can start to increase the amount of gel you use on the affected area.

The maximum daily dosage of the gel is 1 gram daily, which is around 5 pea-sized amounts. 

You can apply a pea-sized amount to your affected areas. For most people, these are the chin, cheeks, forehead and nose. Apply the gel evenly across the areas. Ensure your skin is dry before applying the gel.

If you forget to apply the gel, do not apply a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose. Continue to apply the gel as prescribed.

Please read the provided information leaflet before applying the gel.

Makeup and Mirvaso gel

Yes, makeup can be applied once the gel has dried. You should make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after applying the gel. This stops you from transferring the gel to your eyes or mouth, which can cause side effects. 

Side Effects

As with any medication, Mirvaso can cause side effects. While not everybody will get them, it's important to be aware of the side effects of any medication you take, so you can take action if they appear. 

If you develop a severe irritation or contact allergy (e.g. allergic reaction, rash), stop using Mirvaso and speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Common side effects of brimonidine (Mirvaso) include flushing, redness, excessive whitening of the skin, burning, and itching. For this reason, you should only use a small amount at first to see how your skin reacts to the gel.

You can see the patient information leaflet or speak to your doctor or pharmacist for more information on the side effects.

Rosacea alternatives

Before using Mirvaso or any prescription treatment, several self-care measures can be taken to try to minimise the symptoms of rosacea. These measures include basic tips such as avoiding perfumed soaps, avoiding rubbing the face and using unperfumed moisturisers.

A good self-care guide for rosacea is available from the British Skin Foundation.

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FAQ

By Clinical Pharmacist Hywel McGlinchy

What can trigger rosacea? 

Everyone will be different but listed below are some common triggers. Many of them are environmental factors. Keeping a diary of your symptoms will help to track any flare-ups and may be a useful way to discover personal triggers.  

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Sun exposure
• Hot and spicy foods
• Hot drinks
• Cheese
• Certain medications
• Emotional stress
• Strenuous exercise

Are there conditions that are similar to rosacea?

There are a number of conditions that have similar symptoms and patterns to rosacea such as acne, some types of dermatitis, lupus and keratosis pilaris.

This is why it is important to complete the online assessment with as much detail as possible to enable our doctors to properly assess your symptoms. 

Will my nose swell or change shape (rhinophyma)?

Rosacea can affect the nose and cause rhinophyma, but this is uncommon. It usually only develops in rosacea which has been active and left untreated for many years and because of this it may be more common when patients are middle-aged. This is why it is important that you are assessed and treated promptly if you suspect you have rosacea. 

Is Rosacea a sign of poor hygiene?

Rosacea is not related to poor hygiene. 

How should I wash my face if I have rosacea?

Patients should use a mild soap or non-soap cleansers. Use your fingertips to apply the cleanser, avoid using rough cloths or sponges. Wash the cleanser away with lukewarm water (hot or cold water may cause flushing) and pat your face dry with a towel. Avoid rubbing the skin with a towel because this may cause irritation.

Should I moisturise my face?

Many rosacea sufferers will also have dry skin. Moisturising affected areas can help with any dryness, stinging and irritation. Patients may find creams designed for sensitive skin are gentler and cause less irritation. These can be used together with topical medication but make sure to leave at least 30 minutes between different creams or ointments.

References:

https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/rosacea/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rosacea/

https://www.bad.org.uk/pils/rosacea/

https://www.rosacea.org

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

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