Oxymetazoline Cream: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Oxymetazoline Cream is a prescription topical medicine used to treat persistent facial redness caused by rosacea. It belongs to the topical anti-rosacea drug class and works as a decongestant that narrows blood vessels in the skin to reduce visible redness. It is applied once a day to the face and is available as a 1% cream.

What is Oxymetazoline Cream

Oxymetazoline cream is a prescription medicine applied to the skin to treat ongoing facial redness caused by rosacea. It works as a decongestant that narrows blood vessels in the skin, which reduces the redness that dilated blood vessels cause.

Oxymetazoline Cream uses

• Persistent facial redness caused by rosacea
• Facial erythema associated with rosacea
• Long-lasting redness on the cheeks
• Redness affecting the nose
• Rosacea-related redness of the forehead and chin

Benefits of Oxymetazoline Cream

• Reduces persistent facial redness.
• Helps improve skin appearance.
• Temporarily narrows facial blood vessels.
• Helps reduce visible redness associated with rosacea.
• Supports better control of facial redness.

How Oxymetazoline Cream works

Oxymetazoline is a decongestant that narrows (constricts) blood vessels. In rosacea, blood vessels under the skin are dilated, which causes redness; by narrowing these vessels, the cream reduces the appearance of redness.

Oxymetazoline Cream dosage

Apply once a day, at around the same time each day. Use only on the skin of the face (forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin) — do not use in the eyes, mouth, or vagina. Do not apply to irritated skin or open wounds. Apply a thin layer to cover the entire face, avoiding the eyes and lips. Wash your hands right after applying.

Follow the directions on the prescription label and do not use more, less, or more often than directed. If the medicine gets in the eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina, rinse with water. This medicine is not approved for use in anyone younger than 18 years old.

If you miss a dose, apply it as soon as you remember, but skip it if it is almost time for your next dose — do not apply extra to make up for a missed dose.

Available forms and strengths

• Topical cream (1%)

Side effects of Oxymetazoline Cream

Common

• Skin redness or itching
• Pain at the application site
• Inflammation of the skin (dermatitis)
• Worsening redness
• Worsening of pimples
• Other skin reactions

Serious

• Signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Worsening of rosacea symptoms
• Numbness, tingling, or cold feeling in the hands or feet
• Pale or purple appearance in the fingers or toes
• Blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights
• Signs of low blood pressure: dizziness, weakness, fast breathing, blurred vision, or confusion
• Signs of high blood pressure: chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nosebleed, or confusion
• Leg pain, swelling, cramps, weakness, or leg ulcers

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine is for use on the skin only. Do not swallow it, and rinse with water right away if it gets in your eyes. 
• Tell your doctor if you have heart disease, high or low blood pressure, blood circulation problems, glaucoma, or conditions like Raynaud's syndrome, Buerger's disease, scleroderma, or Sjögren's syndrome before using this medicine.
• Do not stand up quickly after sitting or lying down, since this medicine can cause a drop in blood pressure that increases the risk of falls. 
• This medicine can increase the risk of narrow-angle glaucoma, a type of high eye pressure that can cause permanent vision loss if untreated. This medicine is not approved for use in anyone under 18 years old.
• It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. 
• It is not known whether this medicine passes into breast milk or could affect a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
• Inform your doctor if you have high blood pressure or heart disease. Use cautiously if you have circulation problems or narrow-angle glaucoma.
•  Tell your healthcare professional if you drink alcohol, because it can cause serious health complications when combined with some prescription medicines. Stop use and seek medical advice if severe irritation occurs.

Storage

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat
• Keep the medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children
• Store away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom)
• Dispose of unneeded medication in a way that pets, children, and other people cannot get to it; do not flush it down the toilet; use a medicine take-back program if available

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Stop using the medicine and call your doctor right away if your rosacea gets worse, or if you notice numbness, tingling, or cold feeling in your hands or feet, pale or purple fingers or toes, or vision changes such as blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights.
• Seek emergency care if you develop symptoms of dangerously high blood pressure, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nosebleed, or confusion.
• Call your doctor right away if you develop leg pain, swelling, cramps, weakness, or leg ulcers while using this medicine.
• Get emergency medical attention if you develop eye pain, redness, blurred vision, or see halos around lights, as these can be signs of a serious eye problem.
• If someone swallows this medicine, contact your local poison control center right away; if the person has collapsed or is not breathing, call emergency services immediately.

Alternatives

• Rozex Cream
• Finacea Gel
• Mirvaso Gel