Pulsed Dye Laser and Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for Cutaneous and Ocular Rosacea: A Systematic Review

This manuscript reviews studies on the use of pulsed dye laser (PDL) and intense pulsed light (IPL) for the treatment of cutaneous rosacea, with a focus on their emerging role in managing ocular rosacea.

A literature search was conducted using the PubMed database with the terms "rosacea and intense pulsed light", "ocular rosacea and intense pulsed light", "rosacea and pulsed dye laser", and "ocular rosacea and pulsed dye laser." Of the 81 initially identified articles, studies not in English and those published before 1999 were excluded to ensure relevance to modern laser technologies. Additionally, review articles and case reports with three or fewer patients were excluded due to limited generalizability and statistical robustness.

After applying exclusion criteria, 20 articles remained. Studies consistently demonstrated significant improvement in erythema and telangiectasia following multiple sessions of PDL or IPL, with minimal differences between the two modalities. However, one study reported that IPL treatment was faster to administer. While IPL has been widely studied in ophthalmology for treating dry eye syndrome and meibomian gland dysfunction, it has also been shown to effectively alleviate ocular rosacea symptoms, reducing lid margin telangiectasia and improving meibum expressibility.

PDL and IPL have demonstrated efficacy and safety in managing cutaneous rosacea, and IPL has also proven beneficial for ocular rosacea. These findings support the expanding role of laser and light-based therapies as effective treatment options for patients suffering from rosacea-related symptoms.