Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 540 nm-wavelength intense pulsed light (IPL) for the treatment of telangiectasia in late-stage rosacea. Between July 2013 and January 2016, patients with rosacea who tested positive for Demodex folliculorum were recruited. Patients received anti-mite therapy and were then randomly apportioned to receive either three 540 nm-IPL treatments at 4-week intervals (IPL group), or no treatment (control group). Telangiectasia was assessed by the same clinician at baseline and at follow-up intervals over 2 years, where ≥90% clearance of telangiectasia was considered to indicate effective treatment. The rates of effective treatment, improvement (≥30% clearance) and recurrence (original or neo-location) were compared in both groups. After 33 patients were lost during follow-up, the IPL and control groups were comprised of 107 and 120 patients for the final analysis, respectively. The rates of effective treatment and total efficacy in the IPL group (66.36 and 95.33%, respectively) were found to be significantly higher compared with those of the control group (0 and 30.83%, respectively). By contrast, the rates of recurrence were found to be lower in the IPL group (8.41%) compared with the control group (48.33%). Redness-to-blisters associated with IPL treatment (9.7% of analyzed patients) subsided within one week and hyperpigmentation (1.9%) within 3 months. To conclude, treatment with 540 nm-IPL improved facial telangiectasia in late-stage rosacea that remained after sequential anti-mite therapy and effectively reduced the recurrence of rosacea. The present study was registered into the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry under the title 'Sequential therapy for mites folliculitis' (Trial registration number: ChiCTR-IPR-15006451; approved May 27, 2015).

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of topical use of recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor (rbFGF) gel on the repair of facial skin lesions in patients with rosacea. In the present single-blind study, a total of 1,287 patients with Demodex mite-induced rosacea who received treatment with ornidazole tablets were randomized to rbFGF gel treatment group (n=651) or control group (n=636) without revealing the group identity. Patients in the treatment group were treated with topical application of rbFGF gel over the skin lesions (0.2 g/cm2) for up to 8 weeks, whereas patients in the control group received gel vehicle treatment unless ulceration occurred. Skin lesions of all patients were scored prior to and following treatment with rbFGF gel and subjected to histological analysis. All patients were followed up for 6 months. Significant improvement in the total effective rates for erythema, papules, desquamation and dryness were observed in the rbFGF treatment group. At the end of the 2, 4 and 6 months of follow-up, the total effective rates for patients in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (81.67 vs. 28.84%; 85.11 vs. 40.81%, and 96.56 vs. 55.82%, respectively). Following treatment for 6 months, none of the patients in the rbFGF group exhibited ulceration or scar formation. In the control group, 61% of patients experienced exacerbation of skin lesions, of which, 12% exhibited ulceration and were treated with rbFGF gel to prevent scar formation. Histological analysis revealed gradual reduction in epidermal hyperplasia and resolution of dermal edema in skin lesions treated with rbFGF gel. In conclusion, rbFGF gel may improve the repair of facial rosacea skin lesions in patients treated with anti-Demodex.

Rationale: Lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei (LMDF) is an inflammatory granulomatous skin disease without a clear etiology that frequently involves the middle area of the face and the upper eyelids. Pathological features of the disease include caseation necrosis and epithelioid granuloma. Consensus treatment for LMDF is currently unavailable. Patient concerns: A 47-year-old Chinese female patient who presented with facial pruritic, erythematous papules 8 months before this study. She was diagnosed with skin tuberculosis at another hospital and given antituberculosis medication. However, the treatment was not efficacious. Diagnoses: In this study, the diagnosis of Demodex-induced LMDF was made by a dermatologist according to physical examination, skin biopsy pathology, and microscopic examination. Interventions: The patient was given ornidazole tablets (500 mg twice a day) and recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel (0.2 g/cm 2 twice a day) for an 8-week period. Outcomes: Eight weeks after the treatment, the facial erythematous papules were improved, and no new skin lesions were observed. The patient showed no signs of recurrence during the 6-month follow-up. Lessons subsections: This case showed that ornidazole combined with recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor gel might be useful in treatment of Demodex-induced LMDF. In addition, the results suggested that pathological caseation necrosis was caused by a series of inflammatory and immune responses to Demodex infection.