Treatment of Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea With Pulsed‐Dye Laser and Oxymetazoline 1.0% Cream: A Retrospective Study

Background and Objectives Pulsed‐dye laser (PDL) and oxymetazoline 1.0% cream are each used for the treatment of erythematotelangiectatic (ET) rosacea. PDL targets oxyhemoglobin and can reduce facial erythema and telangiectasias. Oxymetazoline 1.0% cream is an α adrenergic agonist, which has shown to reduce facial erythema. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of erythema improvement and telangiectasia clearance after combination treatment with PDL plus oxymetazoline 1.0% cream. Study Design/Materials and Methods This retrospective study was conducted at two sites. Pre‐ and post‐treatment cross‐polarized images from subjects on combination treatment with PDL and oxymetazoline 1.0% cream were graded by a board‐certified dermatologist at each practice. Blinded images were analyzed using the Clinical Erythema Assessment (CEA) Scale (0 = clear and 4 = severe). Unblinded images were analyzed using the five‐point Telangiectasia Scale to determine the degree of improvement post‐treatment compared with baseline (1 =