The Biggest Treatment Secret in Rosacea

[drnase]

Hi Group,

I am not recommending this off the cuff, but just want you to be aware of a drug that is extremely helpful in treating rosacea. Its main use is to knock severe rosacea back down to pre-rosacea and mild rosacea. It does a darn good job at doing this within 30 to 45 days.

It is an antimalarial drug. Yep, you heard me right. the use of antimalarial drugs such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) are very popular in Europe and becoming more popular in the US. Short term treatment can completely break the vicious rosacea cycle. A doctor and his or her patient must go over every single side effect and go over the risk/benefit ratio. I would very much like to see a study performed on this oral treatment.


You can find many of these treatments in "Peals of Wisdom" in Dermatology Clinics. One of the many Plaquenil reports on rosacea:

Tackling Treatment Resistiant Rosacea -- Plaquenil comes to the Rescue

A treatment resistant rosacea sufferer with severe redness, severe papules and severe burning has been treated by all the standard medications and laser treatments for 9 years without any improvement. The most amazing thing about the plaquenil is that my rosacea got significantly better. It's almost completely cleared without any other medication or maintenance treatment.. I don't feel like everyone's looking at my bright red, blotchy cheeks anymore. Both dermatologists are shocked. The redness is gone, the flushing is almost completely gone and the burning sensations have disappeard. I have had severe rosacea for 9 years. After 6 months of Plaquenil treatment I no longer have rosacea. I am now off Plaquenil for almost 3 years with no relapse.

Dosage: 200 mg.
Frequency: 2 tablets 1 x day
Total Length: one year
Brand: Hydroxychloroquine (generic)

[Andy]

Geoffrey,

Can you see some kind of similarities between all these different drugs out there, some designed for completely other conditions and diseases, but works wonders on rosacea, like the one you mention in this thread?

The real question is, is there something all these products have in common, something you can pinpoint and say this this is the common denominator?

Might be impossible to answer, just thought identifying the common denominator in all these drugs and treatments could bring us a step closer to the "ultimate cure".

[YankeesRtheBest]

Dr. Nase, what about people in the mild to moderate stages of rosacea, is it wise to take this now before our rosacea gets more severe in order to knock this thing dead in its tracks?? Thanks again Dr. Nase. -Chris

[drnase]

Dr. Nase, what about people in the mild to moderate stages of rosacea, is it wise to take this now before our rosacea gets more severe in order to knock this thing dead in its tracks?? Thanks again Dr. Nase. -Chris

Chris,

Look up Plaquenil at the recommended dose and think to yourself if you can live with any of those side effects. I believe that anyone in moderat to severe rosacea could take this with relative safety. Its already been proven for years. Lots of people and missionaries with rosacea taking the plaquenil before entering malaria infested areas leave with no rosacea.

[drnase]

Geoffrey,

Can you see some kind of similarities between all these different drugs out there, some designed for completely other conditions and diseases, but works wonders on rosacea, like the one you mention in this thread?

The real question is, is there something all these products have in common, something you can pinpoint and say this this is the common denominator?

Might be impossible to answer, just thought identifying the common denominator in all these drugs and treatments could bring us a step closer to the "ultimate cure".

Andy,

Perfect question for the record books. The drugs do have different mechanisms of action. I believe that we will never pin point one (besides genes) because drugs only affect certain subtypes (5 known) and at different levels of severity (4 levels). If you look at just those two variable statistically, it is off the scale for narrowning down the possiblilites. This is the perfect job for a pharmacologist. Take a mid depth punch biopsy of active rosacea skin, put it in a skin-feeding medium to keep it healthy for a week and test out certain drugs -- then take a top notch microscope that slices the skin in sections to look at every aspect of the skin. Neet experiment, but I dont ever see it happening.

[RedHotCanuck]

This drug looks as scary as accutane.. if not worse.

http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/pla1337.htm

[Miki]

i dont think a doctor would prescribe this to anyone with a rosacea problem, especially with all the potential side effects.

[BellaMermaid]

In my opinion, I think it is very important for Geoffrey to bring these different treatments to light. I believe it is about options and choices. The more we have, the better we can identify what personally works for us.

Many people with extremely severe and debilitating rosacea, who have tried everything, pray for another option to come their way. So although this medication may make some feel uneasy, it's important to remember that there are many who no longer have choices and options and maybe this may be the one thing that gives them hope and relief at the moment.

When rosacea is at it's worst, many would give their right arm to gain any sort of relief, so let's keep an open mind because the unpredictable nature of rosacea, makes it difficult to target a 'one drug does all'.

[Jonathan]

Like all of your posts, you said it perfectly Mermaid.

[pippo]

I don't think that Plaquenil has terrible side effects.......It can be considered like a good option for resistant rosacea sufferers(all the drug have side effects....)...thank you Dr Nase..