No Need to Worry, Lots of People Have Rosacea!

This is a partnered post with Galderma Laboratories, L.P. the makers of Mirvaso® (brimonidine) Topical Gel, 0.33%*. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

 I had acne growing up and have had it as an adult but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I discovered I had rosacea. I had heard of it from television commercials but I didn’t realize that was what was on my face. It showed up one summer day after I had been out in the sun. I thought I had a sun burn and when it didn’t go away for months I got worried. So I went to see my doctor about it. That is when he told me I had rosacea.

I broke down into tears and that is when he told me it was nothing to cry about, that it could be treated. I’ll get to treatment in a moment. When I discovered that I had rosacea I was in the middle of a divorce which had already done a number on my self-esteem. I had a really hard time with my face always being red. The girls in the grocery store would make a comment about me maybe being hot since I was so flushed. My mother was always telling me there was something on my face. I even had my priest ask me if I was having an allergic reaction.

Those incidents left me reeling and so my go-to solution was cover it up. I would lather on the makeup until it was almost uncomfortable just so no one would see the redness and comment on it. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. Logically I knew there wasn’t a reason to be, but I was. Makeup became my crutch.

Galderma Laboratories, L.P. has a new campaign to help address that crutch. Their Break Up with Your Makeup campaign was created to motivate women to stop concealing skin issues and start treating them instead. It is such a simple idea. After all, my doctor said it could be treated, I was just so stubborn. Galderma has a few treatment options for rosacea, one is Mirvaso® (brimonidine) Gel, 0.33%* for the treatment of persistent facial redness of rosacea. That is my problem, the redness. I also have a few bumps and pimples from my rosacea but not that many. I mostly get super red and rosy on both cheeks. I look like I have a sunburn there all the time.

I wasted so much time covering things up but no more! I am talking to my doctor this week when I go to my appointment and I am breaking up with my makeup today! All it does is give a false sense of security when it comes to my rosacea. Now if I put it on it will be to highlight my features not to hide anything! If you think you have rosacea then I highly recommend that you speak with your doctor or a dermatologist today. However, don’t assume your red flush and acne is rosacea because it could be another issue called perioral dermatitis which looks and feels just like regular acne and rosacea. Taking the time to discuss your skin conditions with your dermatologist will help you find the best cream for perioral dermatitis as well as any other conditions you may be facing. Not seeking help sooner was one of my worst mistakes.

What skin issues do you cover up with makeup? Are you ready to Break Up with Your Makeup?

To learn more about rosacea and rosacea treatment options, and to enter for a chance to win a $500 gift card, visit the Break Up with Your Makeup digital hub.

Important Safety Information

Indication: Mirvaso® (brimonidine) topical gel, 0.33%* is an alpha adrenergic agonist indicated for the topical treatment of persistent (nontransient) facial erythema of rosacea in adults 18 years of age or older. Adverse Events: In clinical trials, the most common adverse reactions (≥1%) included erythema, flushing, skin burning sensation and contact dermatitis. Warnings/Precautions: Mirvaso Gel should be used with caution in patients with depression, cerebral or coronary insufficiency, Raynaud’s phenomenon, orthostatic hypotension, thromboangiitis obliterans, scleroderma, or Sjögren’s syndrome. Alpha-2 adrenergic agents can lower blood pressure. Mirvaso Gel should be used with caution in patients with severe or unstable or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease. Serious adverse reactions following accidental ingestion of Mirvaso Gel by children have been reported. Keep Mirvaso Gel out of reach of children. Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use.

*Each gram of gel contains 5 mg of brimonidine tartrate, equivalent to 3.3 mg of brimonidine free base.

Full prescribing information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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