Rosacea - S1 Guideline

The Role of Cosmetology in an Effective Treatment of Rosacea: A Narrative Review

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory facial skin disease usually occurring in middle-aged patients. It manifests itself as an inflammatory condition with perivascular infiltrate, dilated blood vessels, lymphoedema, hyperplasia of sebaceous glands, and disorders of connective tissue structures brought on by fibrosis. Rosacea is characterized by multifactorial inflammatory mechanisms, and therefore it requires an interdisciplinary approach including adequate skin care, topical and/or systemic therapy, and physical modalities to successfully treat the various symptoms and disease subtypes. However, data regarding the possible role of cosmetologists in rosacea remains scanty and equivocal. The objectives of cosmetology therapy include restoration and regeneration, anti-inflammatory effects, the strengthening of blood vessels and regulation of their permeability, and the regulation of keratinization. Vascular abnormalities can be targeted with specific light and laser devices. Therefore, the present paper aims to review the latest advances and summarize different aspects concerning skin care in rosacea. Particular attention has been paid to the co-operation of cosmetologists with other specialists in order to bring about the interdisciplinary management of rosacea. It is also important to keep in mind that it is usually necessary to combine various methods of treatment, as this approach is more effective than monotherapy for attaining satisfactory cosmetic results in rosacea patients.

S2k guideline: Laser therapy of the skin

This guideline aims to improve the efficiency and safety of lasers and optical radiation sources with similar effects (especially IPL). Laser therapy of skin lesions with an increased amount of melanocytes should be performed with caution. Laser treatment of pigmented melanocytic nevi is not recommended. The guideline contains recommendations regarding the treatment of lentigines and café-au-lait spots, non-pigmented dermal nevi, Becker nevus, nevus of Ota/Hori/Ito and melasma. Further recommendations focus on the treatment of skin lesions without an increased amount of melanocytes (ephelides, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation including berloque dermatitis, seborrheic keratoses, traumatic/decorative tattoos and metallic deposits), hypopigmentation (vitiligo), benign non-pigmented neoplasms (fibrous papule of the nose, nevus sebaceus, epidermal nevus, neurofibroma, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, syringoma, xanthelasma palpebrarum), inflammatory dermatoses (acne papulopustulosa/conglobata, acne inversa, granuloma faciale, lichen sclerosus, lupus erythematosus, psoriasis vulgaris, rosacea, rhinophyma), wrinkles/dermatochalasis/striae, hypertrichosis, scars (atrophic, hypertrophic; keloids, burn/scald scars), laser-assisted skin healing, onychomycosis, precancerous lesions and malignant tumors (actinic keratoses/field cancerization, cheilitis actinica, basal cell carcinoma), vascular skin lesions (angiokeratoma, angioma, hemangioma, malformation, spider veins, granuloma telangiectaticum (pyogenic granuloma), rubeosis (erythrosis interfollicularis colli, ulerythema ophryogenes), nevus flammeus, telangiectasias and Osler's disease (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia) and viral skin lesions (condylomata acuminata, mollusca contagiosa, verrucae planae juveniles/vulgares/ verrucae palmares et plantares).

Rosacea and Dry Eye Disease

Ocular rosacea is a chronic potentially sight-threatening inflammatory condition, which can occur in approximately 20% of patients without skin involvement. However, an accurate diagnosis of ocular rosacea has not been defined yet due to its rather nonspecific symptoms and clinical findings. Therefore, this article updates the current recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of ocular rosacea and the previously published consensus recommendations from the ROSCO expert panel on the management of rosacea.

Impact of ultraviolet radiation and exposome on rosacea: Key role of photoprotection in optimizing treatment

Background

Pathophysiology of rosacea is not completely understood and involves a complex interaction among genetics, ultraviolet (UV) light, microorganisms, impaired skin barrier, neuronal and vascular dysfunction, and immune system disruption.

Aims

To describe the etiology of rosacea with an emphasis on the role of UV radiation and exposome, and to review the importance of non‐pharmacologic strategies focusing on photoprotection.

Methods

We conducted a narrative review of the literature. We performed literature searches with PubMed from January 1990 to November 2020 using the keywords “rosacea”, “pathogenesis”, “ultraviolet radiation”, “exposome”, “photoprotection”, “sunscreens” and “non‐pharmacologic agents”. The search was limited to English, Spanish, and French language articles.

Results

Several environmental factors such as UV light, diverse microorganisms, air pollution, tobacco smoking, nutrition, and psychological stress showed to trigger or worsen rosacea. UV radiation was reported to induce pro‐inflammatory, pro‐angiogenic, and pro‐fibrotic responses. We found 6 original articles about the impact of sunscreens on rosacea. The use of sunscreens containing ingredients with emollient, anti‐inflammatory, and/or vasoregulatory properties was shown to significantly improve symptomatology.

Conclusion

UV radiation and the exposome play a key role in the development of rosacea. UV light is implicated in all significant aspects of rosacea: skin inflammation, neoangiogenesis, telangiectasia, and fibrosis, and may even initiate rosacea. While the use of sunscreens is widely recommended, the literature on the impact of photoprotection in rosacea is scarce. Adequately formulated sunscreens could not only provide the required level of photoprotection, but may also help to mitigate the barrier dysfunction, neutralize facial redness (tinted sunscreens), and decrease inflammation and vascular dysfunction.

Role of ferritin in pathogenesis of rosacea and its value in efficacy of 595 nm pulsed dye laser in treatment of different variants of rosacea: a clinical and immunohistochemical study

BACKGROUND

Current rosacea treatment focused on symptom suppression to improve patient's quality of life, prevent progression, and sustain remission. The progress of laser therapy has brought about a paradigm shift in the world of treating erythema and telangiectasia. We appraised role of ferritin in pathogenesis of rosacea and consider its value in efficacy of 595 nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) in treatment of rosacea.

MATERIALS/METHODS

20 patients had rosacea were treated with PDL; received 4 sessions, 4 weeks apart. They were assessed before and after treatment by rosacea grading scale and skin biopsies were taken to detect changes in ferritin expression before and after treatment.

RESULTS

Ferritin expression in lesional skin was positively expressed in all patients proportional to severity of rosacea that showed statistically significant reduction of ferritin expression after PDL. There was a statistically significant reduction in rosacea grading scale after PDL (p value = .005*); the highest efficacy was in phymatous then papulopustular and erythrotelangiectatic types.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduction of ferritin expression after PDL opens a new era for antioxidant agents to be added as a relevant approach for the therapy of rosacea via attenuation of oxidative stress.

Recommendations for rosacea diagnosis, classification and management: update from the global ROSacea COnsensus 2019 panel

BACKGROUND

A transition from a subtyping to a phenotyping approach in rosacea is underway, allowing individual patient management according to presenting features instead of categorization by predefined subtypes. The ROSacea COnsensus (ROSCO) 2017 recommendations further support this transition and align with guidance from other working groups.

OBJECTIVES

To update and extend previous global ROSCO recommendations in line with the latest research and continue supporting uptake of the phenotype approach in rosacea through clinical tool development.

METHODS

Nineteen dermatologists and two ophthalmologists used a modified Delphi approach to reach consensus on statements pertaining to critical aspects of rosacea diagnosis, classification and management. Voting was electronic and blinded.

RESULTS

Delphi statements on which the panel achieved consensus of ≥ 75% voting 'Agree' or 'Strongly agree' are presented. The panel recommends discussing disease burden with patients during consultations, using four questions to assist conversations. The primary treatment objective should be achievement of complete clearance, owing to previously established clinical benefits for patients. Cutaneous and ocular features are defined. Treatments have been reassessed in line with recent evidence and the prior treatment algorithm updated. Combination therapy is recommended to benefit patients with multiple features. Ongoing monitoring and dialogue should take place between physician and patients, covering defined factors to maximize outcomes. A prototype clinical tool (Rosacea Tracker) and patient case studies have been developed from consensus statements.

CONCLUSIONS

The current survey updates previous recommendations as a basis for local guideline development and provides clinical tools to facilitate a phenotype approach in practice and improve rosacea patient management. What's already known about this topic? A transition to a phenotype approach in rosacea is underway and is being recommended by multiple working groups. New research has become available since the previous ROSCO consensus, necessitating an update and extension of recommendations. What does this study add? We offer updated global recommendations for clinical practice that account for recent research, to continue supporting the transition to a phenotype approach in rosacea. We present prototype clinical tools to facilitate use of the phenotype approach in practice and improve management of patients with rosacea.

Real-life experience on effectiveness and tolerability of topical ivermectin in papulopustular rosacea and antiparasitic effect on Demodex mites

Ivermectin is a drug approved for the treatment of papulopustular rosacea (PPR). Although clinical guidelines recommend the use of ivermectin as the first-line treatment in patients with almost clear and mild rosacea, studies concerning its use on them are lacking. This study investigated the effectiveness and the tolerability of ivermectin in almost clear to severe rosacea and assessed the antiparasitic effect on Demodex mites. This is a retrospective study based on 50 patients affected by PPR and treated with topical ivermectin 1% once daily over 16 weeks. The disease severity, the patient-examined improvement, and the safety assessment of patients were evaluated. Demodex mites were studied with the standardized skin surface biopsy. PPR to all severity achieved a therapeutic success. The number of inflammatory lesions was significantly decreased in almost clear (p < .0001), mild, moderate, and severe (p < .001) forms. A complete remission of inflammatory lesions was achieved by almost clear (p < .001) and mild (p = .005) with 82% with none-to-mild cutaneous adverse events. Thirty-two percent were positive for Demodex mites, and all of them turned negative after 16 weeks. Ivermectin is an effective treatment not only in moderate to severe PPR but also in almost clear/mild rosacea.

[Granulomatous rosacea in a lung transplant recipient : A possible therapy option in a unique group of patients]

Rosacea, a frequent chronic inflammatory disease of the adnexal structures, is associated with an increased number of demodex mites. In patients with immunosuppression, it can present in fulminant progressions like granulomatous rosacea. In this specific subgroup of patients, treatment is not only complicated by aggressive occurrences, but is also limited by possible drug interactions with immunosuppressive drugs. We present a case of a 66-year-old lung transplant recipient, who was successfully treated with oral metronidazole and ivermectin cream.

[Facial manifestations of granulomatous diseases]

Clinical manifestations of granulomatous diseases are a recurring challenge in everyday dermatological practice. Clinical presentation and histological patterns are variable, depending on the particular disease. Knowledge about the differential diagnosis of granulomatous changes in the face is of decisive importance for making a rational diagnosis and therapy considering the patient's well-being. Therefore, histological and clinical characteristics of important granulomatous diseases that typically manifest on the face are presented here.

Elevated Tear Human Neutrophil Peptides 1-3, Human Beta Defensin-2 Levels and Conjunctival Cathelicidin LL-37 Gene Expression in Ocular Rosacea

Purpose: To investigate the role of innate immunity in ocular rosacea. Methods: Thirty-two patients with ocular rosacea patients (group-1) and 28 healthy volunteers (group-2) who served as controls were enrolled in the study. Tear function parameters were assessed, conjunctival impression cytology was performed and tear samples were collected. Human-neutrophil-peptides (HNP) 1-3 and human-beta-defensin-2 (hBD-2) levels were measured in tears by using ELISA tests. Cathelicidin leucin-leucin-37 (LL-37), hBD-2, human-beta-defensin-9 (hBD-9) gene expression levels were measured in the conjunctival impression cytology samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Tear HNP1-3 (p = 0.024), hBD-2 (p < 0.001), conjunctival LL-37 gene expression rate (p = 0.014) and ocular surface disease index scores (p = 0.001) were higher and the tear break-up time was lower (p = 0.003) in group-1. No other differences were found between the groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the role of abnormal innate immunity in the pathophysiology of ocular rosacea by revealing elevated antimicrobial peptide levels.

Topical Ivermectin in the Treatment of Papulopustular Rosacea: A Systematic Review of Evidence and Clinical Guideline Recommendations

Introduction

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with different phenotypes. There is accumulating evidence that the commensal Demodex mite is linked to papulopustular rosacea. Established treatment options, including topical metronidazole, azelaic acid, and tetracyclines, are thought to work through their anti-inflammatory effects. However, none of these therapies have been shown to be curative and are associated with frequent relapses. Therefore, new and improved treatment options are needed. Topical ivermectin 1.0% cream is a new option having both anti-inflammatory and acaricidal activity against Demodex mites which might pave the way to a more etiologic approach. Its use has now been widely adopted by clinical guidelines. The objective was to review the evidence and clinical guideline recommendations concerning ivermectin 1.0% cream in the treatment of papulopustular rosacea.

Methods

A systematic review of both medical literature and clinical guideline recommendations was conducted. Numbers needed to treat (NNT) were calculated for relevant dichotomous outcomes (e.g., relapse rate and achieving full lesion clearance) to compare ivermectin with other established treatment options for rosacea.

Results

The search identified three randomized trials, three extension studies, and two meta-analyses. Ivermectin has only been tested in moderate-to-severe papulopustular rosacea. Ivermectin is an effective treatment option for papulopustular rosacea and seems to be more effective than metronidazole (NNT = 10.5) at 12 weeks of treatment. Although ivermectin was numerically more effective than metronidazole at week 36 in preventing relapse (NNT = 17.5), relapse after discontinuation of treatment in both groups was common with 62.7% and 68.4% of patients relapsing. Based on limited generalizability of available evidence, clinical guidelines have yielded different treatment algorithms and, in some areas, conflicting recommendations.

Conclusion

Topical ivermectin is an effective option in the treatment of papulopustular rosacea. Although ivermectin seems to be more effective than topical metronidazole, with both treatment options about two-thirds of patient relapsed within 36 weeks after discontinuation of treatment. More research is needed to establish the clinical benefit of ivermectin’s acaricidal action in preventing relapse compared to other non-etiologic treatment approaches.

Rosacea: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment

Rosacea is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease with a high prevalence among adults of Northern European heritage with fair skin. Symptoms present in various combinations and severity, often fluctuating between periods of exacerbation and remission. Based on morphological characteristics, rosacea is generally classified into four major subtypes: erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular, phymatous, and ocular. Diverse environmental and endogenous factors have been shown to stimulate an augmented innate immune response and neurovascular dysregulation; however, rosacea's exact pathogenesis is still unclear. An evidence-based approach is essential in delineating differences between the many available treatments. Because of the diverse presentations of rosacea, approaches to treatment must be individualized based on the disease severity, quality-of-life implications, comorbidities, trigger factors, and the patient's commitment to therapy.

Efficacy and tolerability of liposomal polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine hydrogel for the localized treatment of chronic infective, inflammatory, dermatoses: an uncontrolled pilot study

Infection is common in many chronic, inflammatory skin conditions but is often difficult to treat, in part due to growing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. Liposomal polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP)-iodine hydrogel has a unique mode of action, combining the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions of PVP-iodine with the drug delivery and moisturizing properties of liposomes. We investigated the utility of liposomal PVP-iodine to treat infective dermatoses. In this prospective, single-arm (uncontrolled), open-label Phase II pilot study, patients with acne vulgaris (n=30), atopic dermatitis (n=20), impetigo contagiosa (n=10), and rosacea (n=10) received PVP-iodine (3%) hydrogel for ≤4 weeks. Global Clinical Severity score improved for all dermatoses (range: 0.5 for acne vulgaris [p<0.001] to 1.0 for impetigo contagiosa [p=0.011]). Improvements in pain, quality of life, (Freiburg Life Quality Assessment), and Eczema Area and Severity Index scores were also seen. Treatment was well tolerated; most frequent adverse events were burning (14%) or itching (9%) sensations. Thus, liposomal PVP-iodine hydrogel has potential utility as an effective treatment for inflammatory skin conditions associated with bacterial colonization.

Morbihan syndrome: a case report and literature review

Morbihan syndrome is a rare entity that more commonly affects women in the third or fourth decade of life. It is considered a special form of rosacea and its pathogenesis is not fully known. It is clinically characterized by the slow appearance of erythema and solid edemas on the upper portion of the face, with accentuation in the periorbital region, forehead, glabella, nose, and cheeks. We report the case of a patient presented with edema on the upper eyelid for a year. These findings suggested the diagnosis of Morbihan syndrome. We aim to report a rare, particularly refractory and chronic form of rosacea, which has received little attention in the literature.

[Pathogenesis, clinical picture, and current therapy of rosacea]

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory disease, especially in patients with fair skin and positive family history. Typical locations are forehead, nose, cheeks and chin; the periorbital region is usually not involved. Clinical features can be very heterogeneous. Besides different subtypes (erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, papulopustular rosacea, phymatous rosacea), which often overlap, various special forms of rosacea exist. Up to 60% of patients with cutaneous rosacea suffer from ocular rosacea. In Germany, brimonidine, metronidazol, azelaic acid, and ivermectin are approved for topical therapy of rosacea; for systemic therapy, doxycycline at a subantimicrobial dose (40 mg/day) is the only approved substance. In case of resistance to this therapy, contraindications or side effects, various alternative therapies are available, however off-label.

Prospective Comparison of Dual Wavelength Long-Pulsed 755-nm Alexandrite/1,064-nm Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser versus 585-nm Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment for Rosacea

BACKGROUND

Rosacea treatments including oral/topical medications and laser therapy are numerous but unsatisfactory.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of the dual wavelength long-pulsed 755-nm alexandrite/1,064-nm neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser (LPAN) with that of 585-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) for rosacea.

METHODS

This was a randomized, single-blinded, comparative study. Full face received four consecutive monthly treatments with LPAN or PDL, followed-up for 6 months after the last treatment. Erythema index was measured by spectrophotometer, and digital photographs were evaluated by consultant dermatologists for physician's global assessment. Subjective satisfaction surveys and adverse effects were recorded.

RESULTS

Forty-nine subjects with rosacea enrolled and 12 dropped out. There were no significant differences between LPAN and PDL in the mean reduction of the erythema index (p=0.812; 3.6% vs. 2.8%), improvement of physician's global assessment (p=1.000; 88.9% vs. 89.5%), and subject-rated treatment satisfaction (p=0.842; 77.8% vs. 84.2%). PDL showed more adverse effects including vesicles than LPAN (p=0.046; 26.3% vs. 0.0%). No other serious or permanent adverse events were observed in both treatments.

CONCLUSION

Both LPAN and PDL may be effective and safe treatments for rosacea.

A Tailored Approach to the Treatment of a Patient with a Severe Dynamic Manifestation of Rosacea: A Case Report

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease that can manifest as a spectrum of symptoms including erythema, inflammatory lesions, edema, and telangiectasia. Treatment decisions need to be adapted to reflect the nature and severity of the different symptoms present. In this report, we discuss the case of a female patient diagnosed with severe, inflamed papulopustular rosacea (PPR) presenting with a large number of inflammatory lesions and severe background erythema. This patient responded well to a treatment regimen consisting of a short course of antibiotics in combination with a corticosteroid, followed by monotherapy with isotretinoin to reduce the inflammation. Brimonidine gel, used as needed, was then added to isotretinoin to target the remaining background erythema. This case of severe PPR required a combinatorial treatment regimen to effectively target all symptoms present. The patient continued to apply topical metronidazole throughout the different treatment regimens prescribed over the course of almost 1 year. Use of topical metronidazole helped to repair and protect the skin barrier, which minimized the occurrence of dermatological adverse events when topical treatments were used. We conclude that in patients with severe disease and an important inflammatory component, a rapid response can be obtained with a multimodal, tailored approach that also includes treatment to repair and protect the skin barrier.

Photoletter to the editor: Topical 0.5% brimonidine gel to camouflage redness of immature scars

Cutaneous scars develop as a result of a defective wound healing process. Scars are commonly visible as erythematous, sometimes disfiguring lesions which might be stigmatizing for the affected patient. Only a few therapies to improve the appearance of scars are available. Recently, brimonidine - a selective α2-receptor-agonist which causes vasoconstriction of small cutaneous vessels - was approved for the treatment of erythemato-telangiectatic rosacea. Topical brimonidine might also be helpful to improve redness of immature scars. Here we report on the effect of brimonidine 0.5% gel on a flat, erythematous scar in a 25-year-old female patient. Whitening of the scar could be observed immediately after application of brimonidine 0.5% gel and a good clinical result was observed within one hour. This effect lasted for up to three hours. We conclude that brimonidine 0.5% gel is a suitable topical therapy to reduce erythema in visible cutaneous scars.

Rosacea: prevalence, pathogenesis, particular features of clinical manifestations

This literature review examines principal aspects of rosacea prevalence in the Russian Federation and abroad, shows present-day opinions about the pathogenesis and histological picture of rosacea and presents actual classification and a number of key clinical forms of the disease.

Interventions for rosacea

BACKGROUND

Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition affecting the face, characterised by flushing, redness, pimples, pustules and dilated blood vessels. The eyes are often involved and thickening of the skin with enlargement (phymas), especially of the nose, can occur in some people. A range of treatment options are available but it is unclear which are most effective.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of treatments for rosacea.

SEARCH METHODS

We updated our searches, to July 2014, of: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL in The Cochrane Library (2014, Issue 6), MEDLINE (from 1946), EMBASE (from 1974) and Science Citation Index (from 1988). We searched five trials registers and checked reference lists for further relevant studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials in people with moderate to severe rosacea.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment and analyses were carried out independently by two authors.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 106 studies, comprising 13,631 participants. Sample sizes of 30-100 and study duration of two to three months were most common. More women than men were included, mean age of 48.6 years, and the majority had papulopustular rosacea, followed by erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.A wide range of comparisons (67) were evaluated. Topical interventions: metronidazole, azelaic acid, ivermectin, brimonidine or other topical treatments. Systemic interventions: oral antibiotics, combinations with topical treatments or other systemic treatments, i.e. isotretinoin. Several studies evaluated laser or light-based treatment.The majority of studies (57/106) were assessed as 'unclear risk of bias', 37 'high risk ' and 12 'low risk'. Twenty-two studies provided no usable or retrievable data i.e. none of our outcomes were addressed, no separate data reported for rosacea or limited data in abstracts.Eleven studies assessed our primary outcome 'change in quality of life', 52 studies participant-assessed changes in rosacea severity and almost all studies addressed adverse events, although often only limited data were provided. In most comparisons there were no statistically significant differences in number of adverse events, most were mild and transient. Physician assessments including investigators' global assessments, lesion counts and erythema were evaluated in three-quarters of the studies, but time needed for improvement and duration of remission were incompletely or not reported.The quality of the body of evidence was rated moderate to high for most outcomes, but for some outcomes low to very low.Data for several outcomes could only be pooled for topical metronidazole and azelaic acid. Both were shown to be more effective than placebo in papulopustular rosacea (moderate quality evidence for metronidazole and high for azelaic acid). Pooled data from physician assessments in three trials demonstrated that metronidazole was more effective compared to placebo (risk ratio (RR) 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29 to 3.02). Four trials provided data on participants' assessments, illustrating that azelaic acid was more effective than placebo (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.63). The results from three studies were contradictory on which of these two treatments was most effective.Two studies showed a statistically significant and clinically important improvement in favour of topical ivermectin when compared to placebo (high quality evidence). Participants' assessments in these studies showed a RR of 1.78 (95% CI 1.50 to 2.11) and RR of 1.92 (95% CI 1.59 to 2.32),which were supported by physicians' assessments. Topical ivermectin appeared to be slightly more effective than topical metronidazole for papulopustular rosacea, based on one study, for improving quality of life and participant and physician assessed outcomes (high quality evidence for these outcomes).Topical brimonidine in two studies was more effective than vehicle in reducing erythema in rosacea at all time points over 12 hours (high quality evidence). At three hours the participants' assessments had a RR of 2.21 (95% CI 1.52 to 3.22) and RR of 2.00 (95% CI 1.33 to 3.01) in favour of brimonidine. Physicians' assessments confirmed these data. There was no rebound or worsening of erythema after treatment cessation.Topical clindamycin phosphate combined with tretinoin was not considered to be effective compared to placebo (moderate quality evidence).Topical ciclosporin ophthalmic emulsion demonstrated effectiveness and improved quality of life for people with ocular rosacea (low quality evidence).Of the comparisons assessing oral treatments for papulopustular rosacea there was moderate quality evidence that tetracycline was effective but this was based on two old studies of short duration. Physician-based assessments in two trials indicated that doxycycline appeared to be significantly more effective than placebo (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.47 and RR 2.37, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.99) (high quality evidence). There was no statistically significant difference in effectiveness between 100 mg and 40 mg doxycycline, but there was evidence of fewer adverse effects with the lower dose (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.54) (low quality evidence). There was very low quality evidence from one study (assessed at high risk of bias) that doxycycline 100 mg was as effective as azithromycin. Low dose minocycline (45 mg) was effective for papulopustular rosacea (low quality evidence).Oral tetracycline was compared with topical metronidazole in four studies and showed no statistically significant difference between the two treatments for any outcome (low to moderate quality evidence).Low dose isotretinoin was considered by both the participants (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.43) and physicians (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.36) to be slightly more effective than doxycycline 50-100 mg (high quality evidence).Pulsed dye laser was more effective than yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser based on one study, and it appeared to be as effective as intense pulsed light therapy (both low quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There was high quality evidence to support the effectiveness of topical azelaic acid, topical ivermectin, brimonidine, doxycycline and isotretinoin for rosacea. Moderate quality evidence was available for topical metronidazole and oral tetracycline. There was low quality evidence for low dose minocycline, laser and intense pulsed light therapy and ciclosporin ophthalmic emulsion for ocular rosacea. Time needed to response and response duration should be addressed more completely, with more rigorous reporting of adverse events. Further studies on treatment of ocular rosacea are warranted.

Cathelicidin peptide LL-37 increases UVB-triggered inflammasome activation: possible implications for rosacea

BACKGROUND

In patients with rosacea, environmental stressors, especially UVB radiation, trigger disease flares that are characterized by inflammation and vascular hyperactivity. An altered innate immune detection and response system, modulated to a large extent by the aberrant production and processing of human cathelicidin LL-37, is thought to play a central role in disease pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the proinflammatory and proangiogenic effects of UV radiation are enhanced in the presence of cathelicidin LL-37.

METHODS

Human skin ex vivo and epidermal keratinocytes in vitro were exposed to UVB irradiation. The proinflammatory effects of UVB exposure in the presence and absence of LL-37 were characterized using immunoblot, transfection, qPCR, and a cell-based second messenger assay. ELISA was used to assess cytokine release and the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells was evaluated using an in vitro angiogenesis assay.

RESULTS

UVB irradiation triggered the inflammasome-mediated processing and release of IL-1β. LL-37 augmented this UV-induced IL-1β secretion by acting on the P2X7 receptor on keratinocytes. P2X7 receptor activation by UVB and LL-37 resulted in an increase in intracellular calcium concentrations, which enhances inflammasome activation and subsequent IL-1β release. Furthermore, IL-1β and LL-37 worked synergistically to increase the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells.

CONCLUSION

Cathelicidin LL-37 modulates the proinflammatory and proangiogenic effects of UV radiation and thereby contributes to enhanced sensitivity to sun exposure in rosacea.