title: Enhancing effect of pretreatment with topical niacin in the treatment of rosacea-associated erythema by 585-nm pulsed dye laser in Koreans: a randomized, prospective, split-face trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rosacea is a chronic dermatosis that is usually confined to the face. A pulsed dye laser (PDL) system has been proven to be effective in treating rosacea-associated erythema and telangiectasias. Niacin is a cutaneous vasodilator that can increase the chromophore through increased blood flow.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that increased blood flow by pretreatment with topical niacin could enhance the effect of PDL in the treatment of rosacea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen Korean patients with rosacea were recruited. Three sessions of 585-nm PDL using a subpurpuragenic dose with and without pretreatment with niacin cream were performed on randomly assigned half-faces at 3-week intervals. Erythema was assessed objectively by a polarization colour imaging system, and evaluations were also made by three blinded dermatologists. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using a 10-point visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients completed this study. All patients showed an improvement in erythema after three sessions of PDL treatment both with and without niacin pretreatment (P = 0·023 and P = 0·009, respectively). There was no significant difference in the improvement of objective erythema between the two sides. However, based on physician assessment the overall clinical improvement on the niacin side was significantly higher (P = 0·005), and patient satisfaction was also higher on the niacin-pretreated side (P = 0·007). There were no remarkable side-effects, with the exception of transient erythema and oedema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment with topical niacin safely enhanced the effect of 585-nm PDL treatment of rosacea-associated erythema in Koreans. Application of niacin can be helpful in overcoming the relatively lower effect of subpurpuragenic PDL in dark-skinned Asians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Sinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D004890:Erythema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012393:Rosacea / Q000150:complications*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009525:Niacin