Rosacea treatment guideline for The Netherlands

Abstract

The authors of this research letter developed a treatment guideline for patients with rosacea in The Netherlands, based on a recently published review of all evidence on treating rosacea. The Dutch Society of Dermatology and Venereology funded the project and provided two staff members who supported the working group (WG). The WG consisted further of four dermatologists, a general practitioner, an ophthalmologist, a plastic surgeon, two skin therapists and a patient. For the process the most rigorous methodological standards were used. Ten health questions were covered in the guideline which assessed a range of self-care measures and treatment options, considering effectiveness and safety. Recommendations for these health questions were made by combining the evidence with values and preferences of patients, costs and availability. Recommendations are either strong (‘recommend’) or weak (‘consider’), and for or against a treatment. The authors presented the relevant treatments in an algorithm (Fig 1). Not mentioned are topical oxymetazoline for persistent redness (not available in The Netherlands) and those treatments with recommendations against. Considering rosacea has a negative impact on quality of life, a full chapter was dedicated to this in the guideline. In this chapter the authors recommended that doctors address quality of life, treatment satisfaction, social and professional functioning, and psychological well-being, in order to optimise treatment. In addition, a comprehensive patient information leaflet was made available on rosacea, its treatment and self-care. Figure 1Open in figure viewerPowerPoint Rosacea treatment algorithm. Consider = weak recommendation, Recommended = strong recommendation, b.i.d. = twice daily, q.d. = once daily. Erythema = redness. Papules = pimples. Pustules = pus-filled spots. Phyma = thickened nose. Telangiectasia= visible small blood vessels. This is a summary of the study: Rosacea treatment guideline for the Netherlands