Rosacea Management Strategies: Azelaic Acid 15% Gel in Clinical Practice

Ninety percent of people with rosacea say it lowers their self-esteem and can be accompanied by burning, itching, and stinging; but tolerable, effective therapies are increasingly available due to improved understanding of rosacea's inflammatory mediators and molecular basis.

Since being approved by the FDA over a decade ago, azelaic acid (AzA) 15% gel has boasted a long track-record in efficacy and safety in the topical treatment of papulopustular rosacea (PPR), both as monotherapy and in combination with oral therapy. AzA 15% gel markedly reduced both papulopustular lesions and overall facial erythema in pivotal Phase 3 studies.

This supplement gives the latest information on the pharmacologic properties of AzA that correlate with therapeutic action in rosacea; and explores new horizons related to formulation development, such as an oil-in-water emulsion foam of micronized AzA 15% that is proving to be well-tolerated and effective for patients with moderate to severe PPR.