Long-term management of distinct facial flushing and persistent erythema of rosacea by treatment with carvedilol

Abstract

Background: The treatment of persistent erythema and flushing episodes in patients with rosacea remains a clinical challenge. A possible therapeutic option could be the use of antihypertensive drugs.

Objectives: We therefore evaluated the effect of the non-selective β-blocker carvedilol in five Caucasian patients.

Methods: In a monocentric retrospective case study, the patients were treated with carvedilol titrated up to 12.5 mg twice a day over at least six months. Patients self assessment (PSA), clinicians erythema assessment (CEA), and the patients levels of embarrassment and satisfaction were performed by questionaires.

Results: The CEA grade description as well as the PSA grade description decreased remarkably in all five patients. Furthermore, all patients reported to have a major improvement of their level of satisfaction and no feelings of embarrassment anymore.

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that facial flushing and persistent erythema can be effectively treated by carvedilol long-term with a fast onset of improvement in a dose well tolerated.

Keywords:

• Carvedilol
• rosacea
• flushing
• erythema
• long-term treatment

Disclosure statement

MS was a member of the Bayer, Galderma and Marpinion advisory board during the past two years and has received lecture fees from AbbVie, Bayer Healthcare, Galderma, and La Roche-Posay. KP: none.