Essential Guide azelaic acid

Applications / Anti-rosacea

Isotretinoin In case of severe rosacea that does not respond to antibiotics, isotretinoin may be helpful. Isotretinoin is also a powerful oral acne drug that also helps to clear up acne-like lesions of rosacea. Isotretinoin has severe side effects and should not be used during pregnancy or planned pregnancy as it causes serious birth defects (teratogenic activity).

Isotretinoin is not compatible with oral antibiotics, oral contraceptives and particular botanicals such as St.John’s Wort. This bota- nical product has been reported to deactivate oral contraceptives.

Alternative therapies A number of alternative therapies have been proposed for the treatment of rosacea. Examples are colloidal silver, emu oil and oregano oil. No conclusive evidence supports the idea that any of these substances are effective. Chrysanthellum indicum contains phenylpropenoic acids and flavonoids, and has a well-documented effect on vascular wall permeability and increase of the mechanical resistance of capillaries. Particular flavonoids such as apigenin, rutin, silymarin and naringenin have been reported to strengthen the capillaries. The combination of flavonoids with azelaic acid is considered challen- ging because of the absence of side reactions, but much more information must be gathered on the functionality of flavonoids.

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