Soolantra Cream Side Effects: How Soolantra Works And Treats Rosacea

Soolantra Cream is a medication that is used to treat rosacea, an acne-like skin condition that affects adults.

Just like with any other medication, you might experience side effects. For Soolantra, these include a burning sensation at the site of application or irritation of your skin.

In this guide, we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions people have about Soolantra Cream. Learn more about Soolantra side effects, how the medication works, and whether it combines safely with other medications.

Key Takeaways:

• Soolantra Cream, used for rosacea treatment, can cause side effects ranging from common (like a burning sensation) to rare allergic reactions (such as swelling or difficulty breathing), and it's crucial to consult a doctor if you experience any severe reactions.
• Combining Soolantra with alcohol may increase the likelihood of negative side effects, so it's advisable to limit alcohol consumption while using this medication.
• For effective rosacea management, Soolantra should be applied consistently once a day for up to four months, with a reassessment needed if there's no improvement after 12 weeks.

Does Soolantra Cream Cause Side Effects?

Like all other rosacea treatments, Soolantra Cream can cause side effects. Before using the medication for the first time, it’s impossible to tell how your body will react. However, Soolantra Cream for rosacea is known to trigger the following common and uncommon ivermectin side effects.

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Common Side Effects

Experienced by one in 10 people, common side effects of Soolantra Cream include:

• A burning sensation on the skin after application

Uncommon Side Effects

Experienced by one in 100 people, uncommon side effects of Soolantra Cream include:

• Skin irritation
• Itchy skin
• Dry skin

Can Soolantra Cream Cause an Allergic Reaction?

Although it is very rare, Soolantra Cream can cause a serious allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to Soolantra Cream include:

• A rash
• Itching
• Swelling of the face, tongue or throat
• Dizziness
• Trouble breathing

If you experience any of the potential allergic reactions listed above after taking Soolantra Cream, you should contact your doctor immediately for further advice.

Can You Use Soolantra Cream With Alcohol?

Soolantra 10mg Cream contains the active ingredient ivermectin. When combined with alcohol, ivermectin for rosacea can increase your chances of experiencing negative effects. For this reason, it is recommended that you limit your intake of alcohol while using Soolantra Cream.

Is Soolantra Cream Suitable for Long-Term Use?

The recommended course of Soolantra is one application of topical cream a day for up to four months. If you do not see an improvement in your rosacea after this time, you will need to talk to your doctor. They will most likely recommend that you stop using the medication and try an alternative treatment if Soolantra Cream has not been successful after 12 weeks.

Can You Mix Soolantra Cream With Other Medicines?

Taking any drugs comes with a small chance of experiencing adverse effects. Combining different medications increases the overall risk while introducing the additional danger of interactions between medicines.

Before using Soolantra Cream, make a list of all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you are using (including herbal and non-herbal remedies). Your doctor or pharmacist will then be able to offer advice on any possible drug interactions that could be dangerous when combined with Soolantra.

What Is Soolantra Used for?

Soolantra Cream is used to treat rosacea, a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease that is often thought of as adult acne. Symptoms of rosacea include redness on the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead, which is caused by facial blood vessels enlarging. Depending on the type of rosacea, it can also include bumps, skin marks and blemishes.

Soolantra Cream contains ivermectin. This active ingredient is an anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic that provides an effective treatment of patients with rosacea and Demodex mites (a known cause of rosacea).

Available in 45g tubes, Soolantra Cream is a prescription-only topical treatment medication.

How Do You Use Soolantra Cream?

The recommended dose of Soolantra Cream is a pea-sized amount of cream, applied once a day. The best time to use Soolantra Cream is either day or night; when you wake up or before you go to bed, but keep the time consistent each day.

For the best results, apply the required amount of Soolantra Cream to the five areas of your face commonly affected by rosacea (forehead, chin, nose and both cheeks), creating a thin layer of cream across your entire face.

When applying Soolantra Cream, be careful to avoid your eyes, eyelids, lips and the inside of your nose or mouth. If you do get cream in any of these areas by accident, wash them with water immediately. You should also wash your hands immediately after applying Soolantra Cream.

It’s also recommended that you do not apply other facial creams or make-up before the daily application of Soolantra Cream.

How Long Does It Take for Soolantra Cream to Work?

Every case of acne rosacea is different. Your doctor or pharmacist will offer advice on how long you should use Soolantra Cream to treat your rosacea. This will be based on the severity of your condition, and you should always complete the recommended course of treatment.

On average, it can take four weeks of treatment to see an improvement. If you do not see any improvement after three months of using the medication, you may need to go back and see a licensed healthcare professional for further advice or an alternative rosacea treatment.

How Effective Is Soolantra Cream?

A recent 12-week clinical trial for Soolantra Cream concluded that the medication is highly effective for treating rosacea.

Before and after using Soolantra Cream, subjects applying the cream rated the improvement in their rosacea as excellent or very good, compared with less than 40% of patients who received an alternative cream in the clinical study.

Are There Any Other Treatments for Rosacea?

In addition to Soolantra Cream, there are a variety of other medications you can use to treat rosacea, including:

• Finacea 15% Gel
• Efracea Capsules
• Erythromycin Tablets
• Mirvaso Gel
• Rozex 0.75% Gel

For more information about other treatment options, read our guide comparing Soolantra to Finacea and other prescription rosacea medications.

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Take the Next Step With The Independent Pharmacy

Soolantra Cream is an effective treatment for rosacea. Although some people may experience side effects when using the medication, Soolantra Cream is safe to use.

If you have rosacea, you can buy Soolantra Cream directly from The Independent Pharmacy. Available after a free consultation with a trained pharmacist, you can receive your medication the next day, delivered straight to your door in plain and discreet packaging.

To learn more about alternative treatments, visit our rosacea treatments page.

FAQs

What does Soolantra do for your face?

Soolantra Cream is a prescription medication used primarily to treat rosacea, a skin condition characterised by redness, pimples, and, in some cases, thickened skin. It contains the active ingredient ivermectin, which has anti-inflammatory properties and works by reducing skin inflammation and redness. Additionally, ivermectin can kill certain types of parasites, which may play a role in rosacea's development. Patients using Soolantra may notice a reduction in skin redness, swelling, and the number of acne-like blemishes.

Can you get Soolantra on the NHS?

Yes, you can access Soolantra through the NHS if your doctor determines it is an appropriate treatment option for you. It is often prescribed for patients who have tried other rosacea treatments unsuccessfully. You will need a prescription from your physician first, so the initial step would be consulting with your healthcare provider.

Does Soolantra get rid of rosacea?

While Soolantra cannot permanently cure rosacea, it is very effective at managing key symptoms like redness and acne-like bumps. Rosacea is an ongoing condition, so Soolantra helps control flares while you use it, leading to clearer and calmer skin. However since it is a chronic disease, signs of rosacea may return later on for many patients. The goal of Soolantra is to make patients more comfortable in their skin day to day by suppressing key symptoms.

Is Soolantra cream a steroid?

No, Soolantra isn't a steroid cream. It contains ivermectin, which works differently. Unlike steroids, which can be pretty strong and have some side effects, ivermectin targets inflammation and the tiny creatures that can make rosacea worse, all without being harsh on your skin.

Sources

• Lisa A. Raedler, PhD, RPh, Medical Writer (2015). Soolantra (Ivermectin) 1% Cream: A Novel, Antibiotic-Free Agent Approved for the Treatment of Patients with Rosacea - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4665052/
• NHS (2023). Rosacea - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rosacea/
• NICE (2016). Inflammatory lesions of papulopustular rosacea: ivermectin 10 mg/g cream - https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/esnm68/chapter/Key-points-from-the-evidence
• Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/6819/pil

For more information about other treatment options, read our guide comparing Soolantra to Finacea and other prescription rosacea medications.