Ferulic Acid in the Treatment of Papulopustular Rosacea: A Randomized Controlled Study

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by flushing, erythema, papules, and pustules on the central face. It affects patient appearance and is noted for its chronicity, recurrence, and resistance to treatment. Effective rosacea treatment requires repairing the skin barrier, reducing inflammation, and promoting vasoconstriction.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of topical ferulic acid in treating papulopustular rosacea and its impact on skin barrier function.

Sixty patients with mild to moderate papulopustular rosacea were selected from the Department of Dermatology at the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University between January 2023 and December 2023. Patients were randomly assigned to either a control group or an observation group, with 30 patients in each group. The observation group applied ferulic acid solution to the affected areas, while the control group used normal saline, both twice daily for 6 weeks. Both groups also received 0.1 g doxycycline hydrochloride tablets orally once daily. Skin lesions and skin barrier function were assessed using VISIA imaging and self-rating scales before and during treatment, and adverse reactions were recorded.

After 6 weeks, both skin lesion assessments and self-assessment scores improved significantly from baseline, with greater improvement in the observation group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Indicators of skin barrier function and VISIA imaging results demonstrated the efficacy of ferulic acid in treating rosacea. The total effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group (80.00%) compared to the control group (63.33%) (p < 0.05). In the observation group, nine patients (30.00%) experienced a greasy sensation initially, one patient (3.33%) reported tingling and itching, and no serious adverse reactions were observed.

Ferulic acid is effective as an adjuvant treatment for papulopustular rosacea, significantly improving skin lesions and repairing skin barrier function with minimal adverse reactions.