Rosacea Creams
- Best ResultsVariable
- Treatment RecoveryNA
- Procedure TimeNA
- Skin SpecialistPharmacist, GP, Dermatologist
- Duration of ResultsVariable
- AnaestheticNA
- Back to WorkNA
- Cost$
Rosacea Creams
Creams are often first-line management for rosacea. They include topical anti-inflammatory agents, as well as topicals aimed at treating the vessels that contribute to redness. Simple formulations can be purchased without a prescription. Most can be prescribed by your family doctor or GP.
FactsFacts on Rosacea Creams
- Avoid retinoids & ascorbic acid if you have sensitive skin
- Consider niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides & azelaic acid
- Look for a sensitive skin line in the product range
- Always test patch new topicals
- Prescription topicals include Rozex, Soolantra, Finacea & Mirvaso
- Keeping skincare simple & precise reduces rosacea flare-ups
- Read the section on rosacea tips for more information
What is the purpose of Rosacea Creams?
Creams are designed to –
- Reduce inflammation, pimples & redness from rosacea. These creams are especially targeted for rosacea patients. They include niacinamide, azelaic acid, metronidazole & ivermectin topically.
- Provide clinical benefits for other concerns including pore size reduction, anti-wrinkle & ageing. These topicals include low-strength salicylic acid, retinyl palmitate, tocopherol, & vitamin B3.
If you use the wrong ingredients, your skin will go backwards. Keep it simple, keep it precise.
What over the counter creams are recommended for rosacea patients?

My go to topicals include azelaic acid & niacinamide in concentrations of 15% & 5% respectively. These ingredients are anti-inflammatory & are useful to calm down inflammatory rosacea. Other useful ingredients include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, squalene & tocopherol.
What is Soolatra?
This topical is also known as ivermectin. It is essentially a novel treatment to address one of the causes of rosacea, namely demodex mites. In my experience it can work in 10-20+% of patients. Usually the ‘follicular variant’ of rosacea does best with this cream.
Before seeing me for laser, ask your dermatologist or general practitioner to prescribe Soolantra (1% ivermectin) for you. Take several high-resolution photos before you start, then document your weekly progress over ten weeks.
What is azelaic acid or Finacea?
If you are into natural stuff for your face, try azelaic acid. This compound can be found in grains. It is a benign anti-inflammatory. Look for formulations ranging from 10 to 20%. This can be purchased without a prescription. Best used for acne, & acne-rosacea. Apply nightly, increasing to twice daily as tolerated.

View our Treatment Gallery
What is Mirvaso cream?
It’s probably the worst invention for rosacea. I was involved in the Galderma launch 6 years ago & sat on their advisory board. It is not that brimonidine does not work, it is about the dismal hit rate. This means 60-70% of patients think it’s sh*T as it can lead to rebound rosacea, or streaky area. Possibly 1 in 10 find it useful.
I don’t prescribe it much (hardly at all, unless you have had good responses in the past. Or if you complain about my bill :))
What is Rozex cream or gel?
Metronidazole is an antibiotic cream or gel that requires a prescription. Acne like rosacea or papular pustular rosacea responds best to this prescription. You do not need to see me for this prescription, your GP or medical dermatologist can prescribe it.
It does not cure rosacea, but it can help. You can combine this with a short course of anti-inflammatory antibiotics such as doxycycline 50 mg up to twice a day for 4 weeks. Get this from your family physician.
Version 2 of rosacea management via stories, tap for the algorithm as to how to manage rosacea. This will be part of my pre-consultation process once I iron out the bugs. Please provide feedback🙏🏼
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🔬Skin science: Rosacea skincare is tricky. Start slow, titrate, analyse what you can tolerate & what flare up your skin
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☀️Sunscreen is essential. Most will tolerate LRP Anthelios, either chemical or hybrid physical (depending on which country you live in). Invisible Zinc if you want pure physical SPF
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👊Actives: Stick with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, & azelaic acid
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😳What about retinol/retinoids? It is not an absolute contraindication, but you will require care & titration
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🔫What about procedures? Lasers over chemical peels. Lasers include vascular laser, QSL, #pico, #dermaltoning, laser genesis. If you want #Fraxel or ablative CO2, cover with doxycycline for 3 weeks, add vascular laser for rebound redness
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🎬Action: Book a consult with my colleagues & clinical team @cliniccutis
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👍🏻Management & options: Surf the algorithm in the stories. This is version 1.2, still requires more branches, feedback will be great (including any bugs you have found). I have based answers on probability not possibility, taking into account the time vs completion rate to maximise information & minimise drop-outs. As the algorithms evolve I will allow for ‘skip’ segments to allow faster completion times, or more detail for those wanting it
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
@cliniccutis
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#drdavinlim #drdavinlim #skin #skincare #rosacea #rosaceaskin #rosaceatreatment
#rosaceaskincare #rosaceasupport #rosaceacommunity #rosaceacure #dermatologist
#dermatology #dermatologistbrisbane #rosaceatips #skinrejuvenation #rosaceaskinrejuvenation #cutisclinic
The more skill sets one learns, the bigger the yellow bit on the pie chart
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👉Skin care: bad news if the only thing you got is #skincare. The biggest change to skin health is to reduce inflammation. Sometimes backing off skincare can give huge gains- think #rosacea & sensitive skin
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🌞Lifestyle choice: a big gain here, especially if you suffer pigmentation such as #melsama. Photoprotection & #sunscreen can improve pigment by over 50%, avoidance of flare factors (within reason) improves rosacea
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👶Genetics: can be a plus or a minus. Ethnic skin? #PIH an issue, flipside? Probably stimulate #collagen easier. Thank or cuss your mum-dad for genes
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💉🔫🔪Procedures: can change skin health & texture / skin quality. Everything from enlarged pores, pigment, redness & more. The holy grail are cases such as #darkcircles, constitutional pigmentation, pigmentary demarcation lines , dermal #melasma & stretch marks
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😎Davin Lim
Dermatologist
Brisbane🇦🇺
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#skincare #skincaretips #skinhealth #skincarescience #instaskincare #cosmeticinjectables #laserrejuvenation #healthyskin #skincareroutine #skincarejunkie
Vascular lasers are one of the most commonly utilised lasers in #dermatology
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🔬Skin Science: Vascular lasers target haemoglobin. The bigger the number the deeper the penetration. My most frequently used wavelengths include 595 & 1064, occasionally 755 alex
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👉👍🏻Most Common Conditions: #rosacea, post acne marks - PIE/ post inflammatory erythema, active inflammatory #acne (adjunct to medical), teles, #spidernaevi, vascular birthmarks including #portwinestains, post surgical redness, #stretchmarks (red-early), red bits of #poikiloderma & vascular component of #melasma. In general most red conditions can be improved-treated with vascular lasers
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💯Skincare: Is important for prevention. Sunscreen can help with many red conditions including rosacea, melasma, PIE from acne & even photosensitive seb derm. Simple cleansers & moisturizer best for rosacea. I don’t use topicals such as brimonidine - #Mirvaso as the rebound rate is too high. Usual anti-inflammatory such as #azelaicacid as adjunctive management in some cases
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🎬Action: Book with my clinical team @cliniccutis. They will find a solution for your redness. We have 5 vascular energy devices covering 595 to 1064 nm plus IPL/BBL, hence in the majority of cases redness can be easily treated ! I am happy to see complex or resistant cases including birthmarks
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😎Dr Davin Lim
Brisbane, 🇦🇺
@drdavinlim
@cliniccutis
#skinscience #beautyscience #dermatology #dermatologist #brisbanedermatologist #laserrejuvenation #drdavinlim #davinlim #rosaceatips #rosaceaskincare #rosacealaser
Spent the last 6 months batching together skincare products for a CURATED skincare shop. Will be launched in 4 weeks. I realise how confusing it can be with literally thousands of products & infinite combinations 🤫🤷🏻♀️
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🔬Skin Science: Niacinamide has many actions in the skin, the anti-inflammatory effects are most useful. This compound can also aid in restoring barrier function, reduces UV immune suppression, as well as decrease sebum production. It has weak pigment reducing effects. Retinol & #retinoids increase cell turnover, increases epidermal & dermal thickness, & acts as a chemical exfoliant. Retinoid side effects are often rate limiting. A complementary combination involves the use of Vitamin A namely retinol & vitamin B, namely niacinamide
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🙄👍🏻Sensitive skin + Rosacea: For my rosacea patients, I normally start you on niacinamide before other topicals, as this compound is anti-inflammatory. B3 can be combined with other topicals as long as the pH is over 5.0. Add a good retinol formulation after 4 weeks, start every second night & increase as tolerated. If you have normal skin, start with retinol followed by niacinamide, & lastly #ascorbicacid
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😎Dr Davin Lim, Dermatologist
Brisbane. Australia🇦🇺
#dermatologist #brisbanedermatologist #skincare #skincaretips #skincarescience #instaskincare #bestskincare #drdavinlim #davinlim #skincareshop #rosacea #rosaceatips #rosaceaskincare #niacinamide
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Disclaimer: My work is purely procedural however for an in-depth analysis of topicals, discuss your concerns with my clinical team @cliniccutis
What can sulphur do?
Apart from smelling like rotten eggs, sulphur-based creams can be useful in treating rosacea & acne. They work as an anti-inflammatory agent. In some cases, salicylic acid is added as this is anti-inflammatory & acts as an exfoliant, especially in cases where there is seb derm overlap.
Try this before seeing me, as my work is laser or procedural based. Here is the formula & application instructions. You can either source this online from a pharmacy overseas or get your GP or medical dermatologist to prescribe it for you.

8-10% sodium sulfacetamide + 3-5% sulphur +/- 2% salicylic acid in Cetaphil lotion. Use as face wash, leave on for 15 minutes, wash off thereafter. Increase application time by 15 minutes after one week as tolerated. Some patients can leave this on overnight. About 20-25% of patients find this formulation useful. Good luck.
Can creams cause rosacea?
Yes. It is called steroid induced rosacea or perioral dermatitis (POD). The most common culprit are steroid creams such as Elocon, Advantan, Diprione, Eluphrat, % Betnovate. If you have been using these creams for more than one to two weeks, you may have POD. Ideally you should see a medical dermatologist for this condition. Please book in with my colleagues at Cutis Clinic, as my work is procedural.
What is mesotherapy toxin?
Mesobotox or microBotox can work. This is not my first line treatment, far from it. It works by modulation of inflammation as well as modifying smooth muscle in the vessels. Some say it has a role in knocking out the demodex mite population. I use one of two ways to get Botox into the dermis. Firstly, with nano-needles, ie. Aquagold. Secondly via Tixel.
This treatment is considered in patients who fail topicals, orals, lasers & energy devices. It costs between $690 to $990 per treatment, & if it works, it lasts about 3-6 months.
What to try if you are inclined for natural remedies?
The best solution for natural remedies is not to see a dermatologist. We either prescribe drugs & chemicals or use super powerful lasers. I also use botulinum toxin to mediate vascular responses in resistant rosacea (in theory Botox is natural, as it is derived from clostridium bacteria).
See the section on natural remedies for a guide. See a naturopath for guidance. In summary-
Niacinamide or Vitamin B3: is one of the natural remedies that most dermatologists endorse, including myself. It is anti-inflammatory & can be purchased without a prescription. It also helps with barrier function & photoprotection. Look for formulations around 5 to 10%.
Hyaluronic acid: is best served under your skin, namely dermal fillers. HAs can also be used on your skin as a humectant, or moisturizer. This naturally occurring substance is rosacea compatible.
Aloe vera: from the plant. Look for a gel formulation, or you can try a live plant. It works well as an anti-inflammatory for sunburn. In the context of rosacea, it can lead to irritant or worse still allergic contact dermatitis.
Camomile can be used as a drink (tea) or topically as compresses.
Green tea: probably has the most medicinal properties & merit. It is a potent antioxidant with scientific data. Drink it, it’s good for you.
Fever few is another plant. It has antioxidant properties as well as very mild sun protection- in theory.

Can you use retinol or ascorbic acid if you have rosacea?
Not a good idea. It’s like gasoline near a bushfire. Retinol & retinoids topically have a reputation for causing skin irritation in normal people. For rosacea patients things can go pear shaped very quickly. Be guided by your dermatologist, some may start you on short contact therapy or with a retinol derivative like retinyl palmitate.
The same applies to vitamin C or ascorbic acid. This vitamin has the highest biological activity around pH 3 (2.5 to 3.5). Though your skin is acidic, at pH 5-5.7, most patients will not tolerate ascorbic. If you are into your skin care, consider hyaluronic acid, ceramides, niacinamide & azelaic acid if you have rosacea.

Can essential oils help?
There are reports that oils can help. As a dermatologist I am always wary of contact dermatitis, either irritant or allergic. Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition with a compromised skin barrier. Application of oils, plant derivatives & chemicals can potentially irritate skin.
If you really want to have a go, essential oils like lavender, jasmine, rose, tea tree, thyme etc. have anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Be guided by your naturopath as you will only require 2-3 drops of any essential oil. If you react to this, see a medical dermatologist.
Disclaimer: I am a procedural dermatologist, in the context of rosacea my work involves lasers.
What is a rosacea diary or road map?
This gives you a solid blueprint as to how to manage your rosacea in the shortest possible time & with precision. Keep a diary of your creams & topicals. This will help you & your dermatologist understand what works & what does not. There are many topicals for rosacea. You have to find out what works best for you. The best way is with a logically documented diary.
This enables your medical dermatologist to be more precise with prescription patterns, rather than ‘having a go at stuff.’ Sure, in the initial phases of rosacea management, it will be a wee bit of trial and error. Rosacea is an adjustment disorder. The more analytical you and your dermatologist are, the faster you can figure things out for your blueprint.

Disclaimer: I am a procedural dermatologist. My role in the management of rosacea is laser. Medical management is complex, please see a medical dermatologist for ongoing care.
When to see a dermatologist?
If you are really struggling with rosacea, you may get places quicker by seeing a dermatologist. Consider seeing one if-
- The diagnosis is in doubt. Rosacea can be bloody hard to diagnose. Conditions like perioral dermatitis, acne, keratosis pilaris, physiological flushing & seb dermatitis may resemble rosacea.
- Creams & over the counter stuff does not work. You may want to see a GP for anti-inflammatories prior to seeing a dermatologist. It’s cheaper.
- You have broken blood vessels & persistent redness. This is where lasers can help.
Ideally you should see a medical dermatologist, as they can guide you through the complexities of rosacea. They can also organise referrals to ophthalmologists if you have ocular symptoms. As rosacea is chronic, you should develop a professional relationship with a derm of your choice.
How do dermatologists approach rosacea?
With pharmacological agents & lasers. Dermatologists are the last line if you want fluff & fairy dust. They prescribe drugs & use powerful lasers. If you are naturally inclined, or want home remedies, see the section on this website. As guide a dermatologist will-
- Simplify your skin care. Rule out irritants & potential allergens.
- Prescribe sunscreen, discuss flare factors pertaining to you. They may identify flare factors
- Prescribe creams & or a course of anti-inflammatory agents including doxycycline, tetracycline, or erythromycin.
- Prescribe isotretinoin
- Suggest lasers including KTP, pulse dye, or LP Nd Yag, or IPL-BBL
What are some other useful tips?
Review this site for useful tips on rosacea. Tips form the 1% rule of management, this means there are numerous lifestyle & skin care modifications that can help, even if it gives a ‘1%’ improvement. Examples include mineral makeup, simple cleansers, sunscreen, avoiding dietary flares, ice post exercise, quick tepid showers, using warm water for face washing, & many more. Go to rosacea.org to understand more on how to look after your skin. A rosacea diary will help you understand more about this chronic condition.

What to expect when you see me with rosacea?
My job focuses on lasers & energy devices, acknowledging that everything listed above & the numerous pages on this site plays an important role in the management of this condition.

My go to device is the pulse dye laser. It does not cure rosacea, but it can reduce redness & inflammation in most patients. Lasers are adjunctive in the management of rosacea. I normally perform 2-4 sessions over 4-6 months. Pain is minimal as the laser has in-built cooling. Downtime, as defined by swelling, may be encountered & last 24 to 72 hours, depending on settings. The higher the setting, the less the number of treatments. Each session cost approximately $450 out of pocket. A more cost-effective solution is to see my clinical team of nurses & therapists, you will save approximately $220 per session.
Davin’s viewpoint on rosacea creams
Topical creams are a good starting point for rosacea patients, bearing in mind the one percent rule of rosacea, namely diet, skin care, topical & lifestyle modifications can all add up. The first tier of over-the-counter non-prescription rosacea management consists of-
Cleansers: La Roche Posay Rosaliac or Effaclar range.
Sunscreens: Whatever you like, Invisible Zinc is good.
Topical anti-inflammatory creams: Niacinamide 5%, add 10-15% azelaic acid at night.
Avoid: Retinol, retinoids, ascorbic acid, glycolic & lactic acid.
About 60% of rosacea patients respond to the above. For resistant cases, see your dermatologist as they will consider topicals such as Rozex, Soolantra, Finacea, & compounded sulphur topicals. They may prescribe additional anti-inflammatory medications.
My management is with lasers & light therapy. For ongoing medical management of your condition, I may refer you back to your dermatologist. Once we figure out your pattern & flare factors, precise directed treatments are easier. You have got to be analytical to get places faster.
