[Systemic therapy of rosacea].

The only medication which is authorized for therapy of rosacea is doxycycline. It is usually administered at a dose of 40-100 mg daily for 3-6 months. In case of a lack of efficacy or in case of contraindications (e.g. pregnancy, children below 8 years), azithromycin or metronidazole are alternative systemic therapies. Those forms of rosacea which involve hyperplasia of sebaceous glands respond well to retinoids such as isotretinoin. Dapsone has been successfully used for the treatment of granulomatous rosacea and rosacea fulminans. Erythema can be reduced by use of beta blockers. If patients do not respond to various therapies or if they are immunocompromised, the differential diagnosis of demodicosis should be considered; here the treatment is oral ivermectin. Some forms of rosacea (rosacea fulminans and granulomatous rosacea) may be treated initially with oral corticosteroids. Ophthalmic rosacea is treated topically as well as with tetracyclines or macrolides.