The medications named on this website are licensed for treatment of one or more of the sub-types of rosacea. You may receive other treatments that your doctor also thinks are appropriate.
Flushing rosacea Antibiotics are not always effective in reducing the redness and swelling of flushing rosacea. The most effective way to prevent these symptoms is by identifying and avoiding known triggers. In some cases, oral tablets (beta-blockers), which act by preventing dilation of the blood vessels, may be used to control flushing.
1,2 Lasers and pulsed light therapy may also be used to reduce skin redness.
Pimple/acne-like rosacea For many years, 0.75% metronidazole gels or creams were the only licensed treatments for pimple/acne-like rosacea. Metronidazole gels and creams have been shown to be effective in the treatment of this form of rosacea when applied once or twice-daily for up to 12 weeks.
3
Azelaic acid 15% gel is a recently licensed non-antibiotic formulation that is suitable for all skin types.
4,5 Azelaic acid 15% gel has been shown to be as safe and more effective than 0.75% metronidazole in improving scaly red patches (plaques) and skin redness, when applied twice-daily for 15 weeks.
6 Many doctors are now starting to use the azelaic acid 15% gel as first-line therapy for this form of rosacea as a strategy to reduce antibiotic exposure and minimise the risk of developing antibiotic resistance.
Skin thickening rosacea The initial stages of skin thickening rosacea may respond to oral antibiotic treatment and there may be other treatments available which can be used to help decrease nasal volume and the size and number of sebaceous glands.
7 More advanced rhinophyma will require surgery to remove the excess tissue.
Ocular rosacea Oral antibiotics can effectively control most of the ocular symptoms of rosacea.
1 Artificial tears may help to improve dry eyes and itching.
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1. Blount W, Pelletier, AL. Rosacea: a common, yet commonly overlooked condition. Am Family Phys 2002;66:435–40.
2. Chu A. Successful management of rosacea. Newsletter from a satellite symposium at the 87th Annual Meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists, 11th July 2007.
3. Gupta AK, Chaudhry MM. Rosacea and its management: an overview. JEADV 2005;273-285.
4. Thiboutot D et al. Efficacy and safety of azelaic acid (15%) gel as a new treatment for papulopostular rosacea: results from 2 vehicle-controlled, randomized phase III studies. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:8:36–45.
5. Draelos ZD. The rationale for advancing the formulation of azelaic acid vehicles. Cutis 2006;77 (suppl 2):7–11.
6. Elewski BE et al. A comparison of 15% azelaic acid gel and 0.75% metronidazole gel in the topical treatment of papulopustular rosacea. Arch Dermatol 2003;139:1444–50.
7. Seaton E. Successful management of rosacea. Newsletter from a satellite symposium at the 87th Annual Meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists, 11th July 2007.