title: Treatment of rosacea.
abstract: A range of treatment options are available in rosacea, which include several topical (mainly metronidazole, azelaic acid, other antibiotics, sulfur, retinoids) and oral drugs (mainly tetracyclines, metronidazole, macrolides). In some cases, the first choice is a systemic therapy because patients may have sensitive skin and topical medications can be irritant. Isotretinoin can be used in resistant cases of rosacea. Unfortunately, the majority of studies on rosacea treatments are at high or unclear risk of bias. A recent Cochrane review found that only topical metronidazole, azelaic acid, and oral doxycycline (40 mg) had some evidence to support their effectiveness in moderate to severe rosacea and concluded that further well-designed, adequately-powered randomised controlled trials are required. In our practice, we evaluate our patients for the presence of two possible triggers, Helicobacter pylori infection and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. When they are present we use adapted antibiotic protocols. If not, we use oral metronidazole or oral tetracycline to treat papulopustolar rosacea. We also look for Demodex folliculorum infestation. When Demodex concentration is higher than 5/cm(2) we use topical crotamiton 10% or metronidazole.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV n.7, 16132 Genoa, Italy. aurora.parodi@unige.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cozzani
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007641:Keratolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054025:Lasers, Dye; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000188:drug therapy; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010789:Phototherapy; D012393:Rosacea / Q000628:therapy*; D013409:Sulfacetamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014052:Toluidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D003998:Dicarboxylic Acids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007641:Keratolytic Agents; D009281:Naphthalenes; D014052:Toluidines; D008795:Metronidazole; D013409:Sulfacetamide; D014212:Tretinoin; D016572:Cyclosporine; D015474:Isotretinoin; D013752:Tetracycline; D016559:Tacrolimus