BT says…I read on some other beauty website that a few drops of redness-reducing eyedrops can reduce redness and irritation from shaving. Any truth to this?
The Beauty Brains respond:
Visine (TM) is one of those products that seems to attract some wacky rumors. At one point it was alleged that a a few drops of Visine in someone’s drink will induce diarrhea (not true) and it’s also rumored to get rid of skin spots (it won’t help with ages spots or other pigmented spots). But there does appear to be some basis for using it to temporarily reduce skin redness.
How does Visine(TM) work
The active ingredient, tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride, reduces eye redness by constricting the superficial blood vessels in the eye. It’s also used to help reduce nasal congestion. There are a couple of patents that indicate that tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride (and similar compounds) actually reduce redness from rosacea and skin erythema. (Although it appears that penetration enhancers maybe required for maximum efficacy.) I couldn’t find any information on how long the effect lasts but when used in the eye the effect lasts for 4-8 hours.) Keep in mind, however, that just because the US Patent and Trademark office has approved these patents does NOT mean that the FDA has cleared the drug for this use. There is a dark side to tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride…
Watch out for Side effects
There are a number of potential side effects and contraindications for this drug. Over exposure can cause vomiting, seizures, difficulty breathing, blurred vision and it can even induce coma. Some data suggest that the drug should not be used by pregnant or nursing mothers because of potential transmission to the fetus/infant. A drop or two in the eye once in a while is safe for most people. Slathering this stuff all over your face on a frequent basis is another thing altogether!
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Given the potential side effects, I’d be very careful about using this product on skin. All drugs should only be used as directed. If you have prolonged skin redness you’re better off consulting with a dermatologist to identify and treat the underlying cause.
References:
Method and therapeutic/cosmetic topical compositions for the treatment of rosacea and skin erythema., Stuart D. Shanler et al.
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20100021571#b
Image credit: http://fc07.deviantart.net/
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On some rosacea websites I have read that people have tried Visine on their skin which is red from rosacea. Anecdotally, it does work, temporarily, but after it wears off the vessels react by expanding more than ever before and have left people with more redness than they had before, which can be permanent.
A cheap, homemade but totally scientifically-unproven remedy for shaving irritation is: take uncoated aspirin, grind it into powder, and mix it with glycerin, aloe gel, or water, and apply it to the shaved spot, and leave it there a while. I think it has helped me, and it is highly rated on Makeup Alley (as the “aspirin mask”).
Actually, it really works on skin redness reducing. After hot bath, or deep face cleansing, even after alcohol drinking
But anyway, it does’t help to diminish the broken capillars…
I put a few drops on my skin whenever I have a red, newly burst pimple. It helps with the redness even if its not approved for such a use.
Regarding tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride, it’s the rebound effect that you mention that has always made me very wary of the product. Even when used for its intended purpose, it does relieve eye redness for a while and then, wham, when it wears off, red alert.
I wouldnt fuck with this shit people, hopefully it can be developed to work for skin conditions in the future.
I have read that the pharma company Galderma is developing a topical gel they are calling Sansrosa that uses this ingredient, and it eliminates the rebound effect so that it can be used long-term for someone with rosacea. I think I’ve got to try using Visine as a one-time treatment on a pimple, though.
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