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Soolantra rosacea treatment
Soolantra Cream is a prescription-only topical treatment for rosacea, designed to treat pimples, spots and inflammatory lesions. Soolantra is manufactured by Galderma. Its active ingredient, ivermectin, is not only anti-inflammatory but also kills parasites such as demodex mites — another factor that has been linked to inflamed skin and rosacea symptoms.
Topical ivermectin belongs to a group of medicines known as ‘avermectins’ and should only be used by adults of 18 years and over.
- Suitable for age:18 Years +
- Maximum per order:3
- Consultation required?YesThis treatment requires an online consultation for review by our medical team. The decision to supply the specific treatment and quantity requested will be based on whether our medical team are satisfied that it will be safe, appropriate, and effective.
Type of medicine | Antiparasitic drug |
Works by | Acting as an anti-inflammatory and killing the mites responsible for the symptoms |
Active ingredient | Ivermectin |
Effective within | 4 weeks |
Pack size | 45g |
Strength | 10 mg/g cream |
Common side effects | Burning sensation on the skin after application. Other, less common side effects include itchy, irritated or dry skin. |
Manufacturer | Galderma |
Generic | No |
Use with alcohol | No known effect |
Soolantra - Important Treatment Information
How does Soolantra Cream treat rosacea?
Soolantra Cream is the newest effective treatment for acne rosacea. It’s a topical treatment that improves the condition of blemishes and bumps in as little as 2 weeks when applied directly to the affected area. The anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory properties work to improve your complexion and alleviate the symptoms of rosacea. Soolantra Cream can be used for up to 4 months continuously without a break.
How do you use Soolantra?
Soolantra should only be applied to skin on the face, avoiding the eyes and mouth. The standard dosage is one application per day, for anything up to four months.
The directions for use are as follows:- Apply a pea-sized amount of ivermectin cream to each of the affected areas
- Spread the ointment as a thin layer across the face, avoiding the eyelids and lips
- Wash hands after application
- Wait for it to dry before applying other creams or makeup
The best time to apply Soolantra or any prescription rosacea medication is either morning or night; just aim to keep it relatively consistent.
Note: Soolantra cream is a topical treatment and not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use.
How long does Soolantra cream take to work?
When using Soolantra Cream for treating rosacea, most people find that they experience an improvement in their skin after around four weeks of treatment. You should start to notice a gradual improvement in your condition before this time; however, you will not see the full effects for at least four weeks.
Most people continue to see an improvement in their symptoms after this period, so it’s important to continue with treatment — even if your symptoms quickly improve.
Is Soolantra Cream suitable for everyone?
Although Soolantra Cream is very effective at treating affected areas of acne rosacea, it’s not suitable for everyone. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using a new treatment. Soolantra may not be the right treatment for you if the following applies
- You are allergic to any of the ingredients listed on the patient information leaflet.
- You are under the age of 18.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Soolantra Cream results
According to clinical studies3, patients using Soolantra 1% Cream saw:
- 27% fewer bumps and blemishes after two weeks and up to 75% fewer after twelve weeks
- 38% of study subjects were “clear” or “almost clear” of rosacea symptoms after twelve weeks
- Continued symptom improvement over time in a year-long study
- Greater clearance of bumps and blemishes than metronidazole 0.75% cream (Rozex) in a 16-week study
- Fewer treatment-related side effects compared to subjects treated with Rozex (twice daily) or Finacea gel (twice daily)
If you find there’s no improvement after three months, stop using Soolantra and consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Soolantra alternatives
Here are some of the common alternatives to Soolantra cream for treating rosacea:
- Rozex gel contains the antibiotic metronidazole, an effective topical treatment for acne rosacea. However, it may cause skin irritation, and you will need to avoid alcohol while using it. Metronidazole tablets are also used for BV.
- Finacea gel helps to treat the spots and pimples associated with rosacea but is less effective at treating redness. It isn’t recommended for people with asthma.
- Dermalex Rosacea Cream is an over-the-counter rosacea treatment to help with redness and spider veins. It repairs and strengthens the skin’s barrier function, creating a protective film for daily support against external triggers.
For more information on how this treatment compares to other similar ones, visit our: Soolantra vs Finacea and other treatments page.
Sources
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1517/14656566.2014.945423?journalCode=ieop20
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160305154203/http://www.galderma.com/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/79/Galderma-Announces-Positive-Outcome-of-European-Decentralised-Procedure-for-Approval-of-SOOLANTRA-ivermectin-Cream-10mgg-for-Rosacea-Patients
- https://www.soolantra.com/about-rosacea-treatment
- Soolantra Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6819/pil
- Soolantra BNF listing: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/ivermectin.html
How to use Soolantra Cream
Soolantra should only be applied to skin on the face, avoiding the eyes and mouth. The standard dosage is one application per day, for anything up to four months.
The directions for use are as follows:
- Apply a pea-sized amount of Soolantra Ivermectin Cream to each of the affected areas.
- Spread the ointment as a thin layer across the face, avoiding the eyelids and lips.
- Wash hands after application.
- Wait for it to dry before applying other creams or makeup.
The best time to apply Soolantra or any prescription rosacea medication is either morning or night; just aim to keep it relatively consistent.
Note: Soolantra Cream is a topical treatment and not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. If you miss a dose, do not attempt to make up for it by using twice the amount the next time — just continue as normal.
We advise customers to use this medicine as prescribed — please check with our online team (or a doctor or pharmacist) if you’re unsure.
What are the ingredients in Soolantra?
Soolantra cream contains the active ingredient ivermectin. On average, 1g of cream contains 10mg of ivermectin. Other ingredients contained in Soolantra include:
- Glycerol
- Isopropyl palmitate
- Carbomer
- Dimethicone
- Disodium edetate
- Citric acid monohydrate
- Cetyl alcohol
- Stearyl alcohol
- Macrogol cetostearyl ether
- Sorbitan stearate
- Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218)
- Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)
- Phenoxyethanol
- Propylene glycol
- Oleyl alcohol
- Sodium hydroxide
- Purified water
Soolantra side effects
Just like many other topical medicines, Soolantra can cause side effects. These will not necessarily affect everyone. The most common side effect of using Soolantra cream is a burning sensation on the skin after application. Other, less common side effects include itchy, irritated or dry skin.
Soolantra cream shouldn’t cause redness or inflammation, since these are the same symptoms it’s used to combat. Should you experience aggravated redness or inflammation of the skin after use, or any other unexpected side effect, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Read our full guide to Soolantra side effects for more details.
Soolantra cream warnings
If you are allergic to topical ivermectin or any of the other ingredients, do not use Soolantra cream. These ingredients include:
- Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol
- Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218)
- Propyl parahydroxybenzoate (E216)
- Propylene glycol
If you’re unsure, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before you start using Soolantra. Drug interactions are possible, so be sure to disclose any other medications you’re using or taking when you complete your online consultation.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
We do not recommend using Soolantra rosacea treatment cream while pregnant. This medicine is also unsuitable if you are breastfeeding. You may wish to weigh up the benefits of using Soolantra vs. the benefits of breastfeeding, depending on the severity of your condition.
Driving and operating machinery
Soolantra has no known influence on users’ ability to drive and use machines. If you are concerned, speak to your pharmacist.
Soolantra Cream reviews
Soolantra Cream FAQs
Ivermectin cream is intended to treat the inflammatory lesions and blemishes associated with rosacea. A macrocyclic lactone anthelmintic, it reduces redness and swelling to soothe and clear the skin.
When you buy Soolantra cream online from The Independent Pharmacy, you can expect to pay from £31.99 per tube, plus £2.95 for UK delivery. We offer free delivery on orders over £40.
Some user reviews suggest that Soolantra can temporarily make rosacea worse before it gets better. But overall, as a treatment for rosacea, Soolantra will usually lead to a marked improvement within just a few weeks.
Soolantra rosacea cream is primarily intended to treat papulopustular rosacea, which includes bumps and pimples. If you have common acne (acne vulgaris), you would likely be prescribed a more targeted acne treatment, such as Differin cream or Oxytetracycline tablets.
There is research to suggest that you can successfully treat rosacea using Mirvaso and Soolantra cream at the same time. If you do use Soolantra and Mirvaso together, you'll need to wait for the first application to dry before applying the second. Unless your condition is very severe, you shouldn’t need to use both together – consult a doctor or pharmacist to see whether this would be a good solution for you.
Soolantra is not an anti-wrinkle cream – it’s used for the treatment and relief of acne rosacea. If you’re looking for something specifically to help with wrinkles, consider a conventional anti-wrinkle cream or natural alternatives such as coconut or geranium oil.
Hair is not a side effect usually associated with using Soolantra cream for rosacea. If you do experience side effects, it is more likely to be along the lines of itchy, irritated or dry skin.
No – Soolantra is not a steroid cream. Its active ingredient, ivermectin, is an anti-inflammatory, anti-parasite substance designed to soothe rosacea, reduce blemishes, and kill Demodex mites.
Soolantra cream usually takes effect fairly quickly – most people notice an improvement in their skin after around 4 weeks of treatment. Of course, the speed at which people see results can vary slightly from person to person.
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Authored by
Andy is a co-founder and the Superintendent Pharmacist and Director at The Independent Pharmacy.
Reviewed by
Scott is one of the two founders of The Independent Pharmacy. He is a registered pharmacist and the registered manager of our service with the CQC.
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