Efficacy of combined use of low-dose isotretinoin and phototherapy in patients with different subtypes of rosacea

Abstract

Material and methods. 73 patients with different subtypes of rosacea were under observation on an outpatient basis. To study the effectiveness of the combined method of treatment, all patients, depending on the therapy used by the method of simple randomization, were divided into 2 groups, within the groups into 3 subgroups, depending on the subtype of rosacea. Patients of the 1st group received monotherapy with isotretinoin at a dose of 8 mg per day in a daily regimen for three months, then in a regimen every other day for another 3 months. Patients in group 2 received combined therapy with isotretinoin in combination with phototherapy with broadband incoherent light (wavelength 440–950 nm) once every two weeks, a course of 4–6 procedures. Patients of all groups used specialized dermatological cosmetics throughout the study period.

Research results. The developed combined method, regardless of the subtype of rosacea, is more effective than monotherapy with isotretinoin: with ETPR, the total DISHS index decreased by 91.2%; with PPPR by 89.6%; with a combination of subtypes by 93.8% versus 41.6%, 53.4% and 54.0% in group 1, respectively.

Conclusion. The developed combined method contributes to a more pronounced improvement in the quality of life compared to monotherapy: the DIKI index in group 2 with ETPR decreased by 70.5%, with PPPD by 88.5%, with a combination of subtypes by 95.0%, while in 1 group by 36.3%, 72.4% and 73.8%, respectively.