Abstract
Rosacea is a common disorder, but is often treatment-resistant and prone to recurrence, which makes treatment difficult. In Japan, topical metronidazole is covered by health insurance; however, there is no evidence showing its efficacy against erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR), and it is not recommended for use by pregnant or breastfeeding patients. Moreover, side effects of metronidazole include conditions such as contact dermatitis, which can further preclude its use. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has begun to be used for treatment of rosacea; however, physicians without experience in PDT may find it difficult to offer to patients. It has been reported that simple radiation with light-emitting diodes (LED treatment) was effective in two cases of papulopustular rosacea (PPR). In this study, LED treatment was performed on five rosacea patients (one with ETR, four with PPR). Once every week (over the course of 8 to 12 weeks), these patients were exposed to blue and red LEDs simultaneously for 10 minutes. Following this treatment regime, patient erythema, papules, and pustules were improved in all cases. LED treatment is safe, highly tolerable, and can be administered to patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. We therefore believe that it may be a valuable strategy for treating rosacea in the future.
