[Rosacea Clinical features, pathogenesis and therapy.]

Author: Lehmann P

Author affiliation: Klinik fur Dermatologie, Allergologie und Umweltmedizin, HELIOS-Klinikum Wuppertal, Universitat Witten-Herdecke, Wuppertal.

Publication date & source: 2005.09, Hautarzt., 56(9):871-87.

Rosacea is a common facial dermatosis, which may have detrimental effects on the patient's psychological and social interactions. It is a disease of the middle aged, skin types I and II are more often affected than darker skin types. Clinically, pre-rosacea, and rosacea grade I-III may be distinguished. Pre-rosacea is characterized by flushing and blushing, grade I to III by erythemato-teleangiectasies, papulopustules, and inflammatory nodules. Especially severe subtypes include rosacea conglobata and rosacea fulminans. Hyperglandular subtypes lead to different forms of phyma, of which Rhinophyma is the most frequent. Pathogenetically destruction of the dermal vessels and connective tissue seems to be decisive for the development of a chronic inflammation, which leads to the phenotype of the various forms of rosacea. Mild forms can be treated exclusively by topical medication. Antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracyclin), metronidazol, azelaic acid, and the retinoid adapalene have been shown to be effective in well controlled randomized studies. The best evaluated topical medication is metronidazol. In severe forms sytemic therapy must be applied. Systemic antibiotics are effective and especially isotretinoin has shown a very good response even in low dose regimens. Rhinophyma must be treated surgically.

Indexes of Skin Care Research Abstracts by Subject Category Most Recent

Web SmartSkinCare.com

Home | About Us | Contact Us | Ask a Question | Resources

Copyright © 1999-2009 by Dr. G. Todorov / SmartSkinCare.com
Site Disclaimer | Copyright Certification