An Update on the Treatment of Rosacea
VOLUME 41 : NUMBER 1 : FEBRUARY 2018 ARTICLE An update on the treatment of rosacea Alexis Lara Rivero Clinical research fellow SUMMARY St George Specialist Centre Sydney Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disorder that can seriously impair quality of life. Margot Whitfeld Treatment starts with general measures which include gentle skin cleansing, photoprotection and Visiting dermatologist avoidance of exacerbating factors such as changes in temperature, ultraviolet light, stress, alcohol St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and some foods. Senior lecturer For patients with the erythematotelangiectatic form, specific topical treatments include UNSW Sydney metronidazole, azelaic acid, and brimonidine as monotherapy or in combination. Laser therapies may also be beneficial. Keywords For the papulopustular form, consider a combination of topical therapies and oral antibiotics. flushing, rosacea Antibiotics are primarily used for their anti-inflammatory effects. Aust Prescr 2018;41:20-4 For severe or refractory forms, referral to a dermatologist should be considered. Additional https://doi.org/10.18773/ treatment options may include oral isotretinoin, laser therapies or surgery. austprescr.2018.004 Patients should be checked after the first 6–8 weeks of treatment to assess effectiveness and potential adverse effects. Introduction • papules Rosacea is a common chronic relapsing inflammatory • pustules skin condition which mostly affects the central face, • telangiectases. 1 with women being more affected than men. The In addition, at least one of the secondary features pathophysiology is not completely understood, but of burning or stinging, a dry appearance, plaque dysregulation of the immune system, as well as formation, oedema, central facial location, ocular changes in the nervous and the vascular system have manifestations and phymatous changes are been identified.
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