Isotretinoin for the Treatment of Granulomatous Rosacea: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Granulomatous rosacea is considered a clinical variant of rosacea and is characterized by hard yellow, brown, red or flesh-colored cutaneous papules or nodules that may be severe and may lead to scarring. The lesions typically appear on the cheeks and periorificial lesions; they are monomorphic in each patient and sit on relatively normal-appearing skin. The diagnosis should be established by excluding other granulomatous disorders and rosacea-like eruptions such as sarcoidosis, tuberculosis, and lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei. The clinical course is chronic and unpredictable, and management can be very difficult. We report the case of a 28-year-old female with granulomatous rosacea who responded successfully to oral isotretinoin. No recurrence was noticed 6 months after the completion of treatment.