Women commonly seek care for rosacea: dermatologists frequently provide the care

Rosacea is a common dermatosis affecting the central portion of the face. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographics of patients and the treatments prescribed. Data on rosacea visits from 1990 to 1997 were obtained from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey There were 1.1 million outpatient visits for rosacea annually in the United States. Most rosacea patients were Caucasian (96%). Most visits were by women (69%), and the mean age (SD) of patients was 50 +/- 17 years. Visits to dermatologists accounted for 78% of visits. Common comorbid diagnoses included actinic keratoses, acne and cysts, and seborrheic and contact dermatitis. Topical metronidazole was the most commonly prescribed treatment; tetracycline was the most commonly prescribed systemic therapy. Combination treatment with an oral and a topical agent was commonly used. Because rosacea appears most often in fair-skinned women, these patients may benefit from the textural features and safety profiles of certain topical metronidazole preparations newly available and from oral antibiotics (eg, tetracycline). People with rosacea should be aware of the experience that dermatologists have in treating this disorder.