Description

Once daily Soolantra 10mg cream

Soolantra cream is available on prescription to treat mild to moderate papules, pimples, and pustules (spots) in rosacea. Rosacea is a skin condition that affects the face, causing redness, as well as papules, pimples, and pustules. The skin is hot and red due to increased blood flow – flushing and redness can be reduced by Mirvaso which can be used at the same time as Soolantra.

Up to 8 in 10 people find significant benefit after 4 months of use, with many patients noticing improvement as early as 2 weeks into the course.

If the papules and pustules are more severe, then adding Efracea to Soolantra treatment can be beneficial.

Soolantra cream contains Ivermectin which has anti-inflammatory effects and also kills parasites, including the demodex mites which may contribute to skin inflammation in Rosacea.

Soolantra should only be used by adults (over 18 years) and only on the face.

Soolantra has been available in the UK since 2015 and is still under patent with Galderma so there is no cheaper generic version available.

How to apply Soolantra 10mg cream

Soolantra cream should be applied once a day to the face, initially for 8-12 weeks, to assess the effect. Stop treatment if there is no improvement at 12 weeks. If the rosacea is clearing, then Soolantra cream can be continued and stopped at 16 weeks. If necessary it can be continued long term, but take a month break after using Soolantra for a year. Rosacea is a recurrent condition so repeated courses of treatment may be necessary.

A pea-sized amount of the cream should be used on each part of the face: forehead, chin, nose, and both cheeks. It should be spread thinly over the whole face, avoiding the eyes, lips, and mouth.

Wash hands after applying.

Once it has dried, make-up and other preparations can be applied.

If using Mirvaso: apply the Mirvaso first and allow that to dry, then apply Soolantra. Alternatively, use Mirvaso in the morning and Soolantra at bedtime.

Further detail is available from the manufacturer’s website: How to Use SOOLANTRA Cream (US audience).

Starting Soolantra 10mg cream

Soolantra may cause a worsening of rosacea for up to a week when initially starting. This may be due to a reaction to dying Demodex mites in the skin. Any worsening should settle after the first week – if it doesn’t settle, or is very severe, stop using Soolantra.

When not to use Soolantra 10mg cream

Not to be used if you:

• have severe liver problems;
• are under 18.

Other medications and Soolantra 10mg cream

Do not use Soolantra if taking:

• Warfarin or other coumarin-type blood thinning tablets (anticoagulants where you need regular blood tests).
• Levamisole (rarely used to treat roundworm infection).

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Side effects of Soolantra 10mg cream

There is very little absorption into the body of Soolantra cream so any side effects are usually restricted to the skin. Most people have no problems using it. The most common (up to 1 in 10 people) adverse reaction is only a slight burning sensation on application. This tends to settle with continued use.

Full details of possible side effects are listed in the patient information leaflet.