The effectiveness of combined treatment of rosacea using neodymium laser and photodynamic therapy

Background. The treatment of patients with rosacea presents a problem due to the lack of effectiveness of available therapeutic agents and methods, the need to use them for a long time and possible poor tolerance. The combined use of a vascular laser and photodynamic therapy, which has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, may be a promising direction in the treatment of patients suffering from the papulopustular subtype of this pathology. Objective. Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of combined treatment of patients with papulopustular subtype of rosacea using a neodymium laser and photodynamic therapy. Methods. 35 patients with papulopustular subtype of rosacea were followed-up. In the complex of therapeutic measures, laser therapy using a neodymium laser DEKA Motus AY (2 procedures) and photodynamic therapy REVIXAN with a photosensitizer chlorin E6 were consistently used (5 procedures per course). In dynamics, the number of inflammatory elements (papules, pustules), IGA index, der-matological life quality index DLQI, and side effects of therapy were evaluated. Results. In patients receiving laser therapy and photodynamic therapy, compared with the control group receiving topical therapy with metronidazole, a decrease in the key manifestations of the disease (the severity of background centrofacial erythema; the number and size of inflammatory papules and pustules) was noted at an earlier time. Serious side effects of the therapy were not registered. Conclusion. Thus, the use of instrumentsl methods of therapy for rosacea significantly improves the results of therapy for this disease in patients in the form of a significant decrease in the severity of centrofacial permanent erythema, the number and size of inflammatory papules and pustules.

rosacea, papulo-pustular subtype, neodymium laser, photodynamic therapy