Brimonidine gel for facial redness of rosacea (RCT, 2012)

Two studies are reported here. The first gave 122 people a single application at one of three strengths and found the effect on redness rose with the dose, with the 0.5% gel beating the plain gel from 30 minutes to 12 hours after applying. The second randomised 269 people to four weeks of treatment; once-daily 0.5% gel did better than the plain gel on days 1, 15 and 29, judged by both doctor and patient across a 12-hour window. Importantly, the researchers looked for and did not find rebound redness, loss of effect over time, or worsening of other rosacea signs. Like oxymetazoline, this narrows blood vessels and covers redness rather than treating its cause.