Long-Term Rosacea Management
Rosacea is a chronic condition, which means without ongoing treatment it will not fully go away. Long-term management usually involves periods of more intensive treatment to gain control, for example antibiotic tablets or isotretinoin combined with longer term maintenance treatments including prescription topical treatments and a skin care regimen.
Follow-up frequency
After your initial diagnosis and starting a new treatment plan, a follow-up appointment after 3-4 months is helpful to assess your progress. Once your condition is stable and well-controlled, you can continue on maintenance treatment indefinitely and return for review if you experience a flare up or have other concerns.
Maintenance strategies
The key to long-term control is consistency. This includes:
* Daily Care: Sticking to your gentle skincare routine and using broad-spectrum SPF 30-50 every day.
* Maintenance Topicals: Many patients continue using a topical treatment (like ivermectin (Soolantra) or azelaic acid) either daily or a few times a week to keep inflammation suppressed.
* Trigger Management: Continuing to be mindful of your personal triggers and managing your exposure to them.
* Intensification: To gain initial control of inflammatory rosacea or to manage flares a course of oral antibiotics or low dose isotretinoin may be required.
Procedural:* For those with background redness, following a course of laser or IPL treatment, a maintenance laser or IPL session every 6-12 months can be useful for maintaining clearance.
How can I help
I see patients in person in central London. An in person consultation allows me to examine the skin directly including features that are difficult to capture in a photograph such as 3-dimensional changes and textural change. This is the better option where the diagnosis is uncertain, where previous treatment has not been effective, or where a procedure is being considered. For more straightforward conditions such as acne and rosacea a remote consultation with clear photographs can be a good option.
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- Can Rosacea Ever Really Go Away?
- NHS vs Private Rosacea Care (UK)
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