Intense Pulsed Light Photodynamic Therapy (IPL-PDT) successfully treated Refractory Rosacea: A retrospective case series

To summarize the clinical efficacy and safety of Intense Pulsed Light Photodynamic Therapy (IPL-PDT) in the treatment of refractory rosacea. Patients with refractory rosacea presenting with erythema, papules and pustules accompanied by discomfort such as burning and pruritus treated with IPL-PDT using ALA (aminolevulinic acid) in our department and the institute of photomedicine of Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital from April 2024 to April 2025 were collected. The clinical efficacy and safety were retrospectively analyzed. 30 female patients with refractory rosacea were included, with an age of (33±4.8) years. All of them were treated with three to five sessions of IPL-PDT. After the treatment, the facial skin lesions improved significantly. The pruritus was significantly relieved after the second session of IPL-PDT, and the erythema significantly subsided and the papules decreased after the treatment of PDT. The red areas detected by VISIA skin analyzer were significantly improved compared with those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The patients were all satisfied with the improvement of facial skin lesions. After the treatment, the patient suffered from transient adverse reactions such as erythema papules, mild edema, dryness and pruritus, which could subside within one week. IPL-PDT shows excellent clinical efficacy in the treatment of rosacea, with mild adverse reactions and high patients’ satisfaction. It can be considered as one of the treatment options for refractory rosacea.