A Possible Role for Non-Ablative Radiofrequency in the Treatment of Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic disease characterized by redness, pimples, and thickened and inflamed skin. It affects both women and men, and does so primarily between the ages of 30 and 60. Daily interaction with other people is often embarrassing for rosacea sufferers due to the derogatory social connotations associated with the facial erythema and telangiectasia common to rosacea; this disease also often resembles acne vulgaris, which for many adults adds a further psychological burden.

Numerous oral and systemic medications, used singly or in combination, are considered the standard treatment for controlling the disease. Unfortunately, the expense, time, and effort required for its treatment are considerable.

Non-Ablative Radiofrequency (NARF) is a recent technological development that permits the use of intense heat delivered to deep dermal and subcutaneous tissues without a superficial burn.

Thermotherapy is not new in the medical field, as the use of deep heat as treatment for inflammatory conditions has had a long history in medicine. We recently reported on its effectiveness in treating active acne vulgaris¹. This new technology was also tried in 3 patients with rosacea, and the preliminary results are the subject of this report.