Rosacea treatments: Current standards and additional options

Dermatological Reviews, vol. 2, pp. 357–378

Abstract

Abstract Background Rosacea, a chronic facial and ocular inflammatory disease, is readily visible with consequential adverse psychosocial impacts. Progress in epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatments, psychosocial and quality of life impact has led to improved outcomes. Additionally, there has been a transition to updated clinical criteria for diagnosis and classification, the phenotype approach, based on rosacea‐associated features. Objective Our objective was to identify current evidence‐based standards of treatment for rosacea highlighting recently approved interventions and including innovative options. Methods Reviews establishing current standards of care published over the past three years and English language clinical studies of rosacea treatment from 2018‐ March 2021 were included. In addition to pivotal trials, the latter were also selected based on innovation and practicality of the intervention. Results In addition to treatments identified in guidelines and systematic reviews, additional options derive from use in other dermatological conditions ‐ such as botulinum toxin, hydroxychloroquine, photodynamic therapy, radiofrequency with or without microneedling ‐ or from other medical conditions, such as artemether and sumatriptan. Conclusion We provide a template of longitudinal care for rosacea based on features divided into current standards and additional options. The latter may provide the impetus for further research and development to provide options with greater efficacy, longer remissions and/or lower risk of adverse events to improve outcomes in patients with rosacea.

Authors 6

1. Jerry K.L. Tan corresponding

   Western University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medicine Western University Windsor Campus Windsor Ontario Canada

   Department of Medicine, Western University, Windsor Campus, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

2. Yifeng Song

   Western University

   Affiliation as printed

   Schulich School of Medicine Western University Windsor Campus Windsor Ontario Canada

   Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, Windsor Campus, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

3. Omar Zaher

   Western University

   Affiliation as printed

   Schulich School of Medicine Western University Windsor Campus Windsor Ontario Canada

   Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, Windsor Campus, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

4. Bernd W. M. Arents
   Affiliation as printed

   Skin Patients Netherlands 's‐Hertogenbosch the Netherlands

   Skin Patients Netherlands, 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands

5. Martin Schaller

   Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dermatology Universitatsklinikum Tuebingen Tuebingen Baden‐Wuerttemberg Germany

   Department of Dermatology, Universitatsklinikum Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

6. Esther J van Zuuren Aachen Department of Dermatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden the Netherlands Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Dermatology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

   Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands