Combined treatment of recalcitrant papulopustular rosacea involving pulsed dye laser and fractional microneedling radiofrequency with low‐dose isotretinoin

BACKGROUND: While a considerable number of cases with papulopustular rosacea (PPR) are resistant to conventional medications, therapeutic regimens are not currently established. Pulsed dye laser (PDL) and fractional microneedling radiofrequency (FMR) have previously demonstrated satisfactory results for anti-angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, and dermal remodeling. AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of novel combination regimen with low-dose oral isotretinoin, PDL, and FMR in the treatment of recalcitrant PPR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was undertaken for recalcitrant PPR patients to evaluate the clinical course of novel combination regimen. Twenty-five PPR patients who had failed in previous first-line therapies were enrolled. They were treated with three sessions of PDL and FMR consecutively at 4-week intervals, maintaining daily oral administration of 10 mg isotretinoin for 8 weeks. Objective assessments, erythema index measurement, and patients' subjective satisfaction were evaluated at each visit and 16 weeks after the final treatment. RESULTS: At the final follow-up visit, the number of papules and pustules decreased by 71%, and erythema index by 54% compared with baseline (P < 0.05 for both). Physician's global assessment based on rosacea severity score and patients' subjective assessments paralleled with these results. No serious side effect was observed during whole study periods. CONCLUSION: This novel combination regimen demonstrated satisfactory efficacy with reasonable safety profiles for the treatment of recalcitrant PPR.