Efficacy of Oral Isotretinoin in Steroid-Induced Rosacea: Clinical outcomes and Safety

Abstract

Steroid-induced rosacea is a common dermatological disease. Various treatment methods are used with different efficacy. To assess the effectiveness and safety of oral isoretinion in treatment of steroid-induced rosacea. An interventional prospective project implemented in Dermatology outpatients' clinic in Tikrit Teaching hospital and private Dermatology clinic in Tikrit city-Iraq within period of ten months from 1^st of February to 30^th of November, 2025 on convenient sample of sixty patients with steroid-induced rosacea. Assessment was done by use of clinical scoring system investigator global assessment erythema score before and after treatment. The mean score of erythema before treatment was (3.4) which was significantly declined to (1.4) after oral isoretinoin therapy (p<0.001). The side effects were mild cheilitis and dryness that shown by most of the patients after treatment and mild relapses were shown only by 13.3% of patients. Low dose oral isoretinoin is effective and safe agent in treatment of steroids-induced rosacea.