Rosacea: Clinical Features and Treatment Considerations
Target Audience: Physician Assistant, Physician
Course Overview
Rosacea is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition that primarily affects the central face. This condition is characterized by persistent erythema, telangiectasias, papules, pustules, phymatous changes, and possible ocular involvement. Rosacea was previously classified into rigid subtypes, but is now viewed as a spectrum of clinical phenotypes driven by immune dysregulation, microbial influences, inflammation, and environmental triggers. Rosacea can significantly impair patients' quality of life due to its visible facial manifestations and chronic course. Management requires a phenotype-based, multimodal strategy that incorporates recognizing and avoiding triggers, using gentle skin care routines, using topical and systemic pharmacotherapy, and, when indicated, procedural interventions. No single therapy can address all clinical features, and a combination of individualized treatment and long-term maintenance is often necessary. This continuing education activity will review the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and evidence-based management of rosacea for the healthcare team. Interprofessional collaboration among physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and pharmacy personnel can enhance diagnostic accuracy, optimize pharmacotherapy, support adherence, and improve patient-centered outcomes. The roles of these team members will be discussed.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Recognize the clinical spectrum of rosacea and its impact on a patient's quality of life
- Discuss how diagnostic accuracy improves with phenotype-based assessments
- Describe evidence-based management strategies for mild, moderate, and severe rosacea
Faculty
- Introduction
- Defining Rosacea
- Classification of Rosacea
- Epidemiology
- Etiology and Pathophysiology of Rosacea
- Genetic Contributions
- Environmental, Dietary, and Lifestyle Factors
- Patient Case
- Clinical Features of Rosacea
- Diagnosis and Evaluation
- The Treatment and Management of Rosacea
- Topical Therapy
- Systemic Therapies
- Combination Therapies
- Light Therapies
- Cleansing
- Emerging Therapies
- Treatment Algorithm for Rosacea
- Pediatric Considerations
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Interprofessional (IPE) Approaches to Rosacea Management
- Summary
- Disclosures
From April 10, 2026 through April 10, 2029, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in planning, developing, and/or authoring this activity: L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP; Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS; and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships related to the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature, and it is designed solely to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant's professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals must consult their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization for guidelines, protocols, and procedures to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures, but is for academic purposes only, and this course's limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses is constantly changing. Any person taking this course understands that such a person must make an independent review of medication information before any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only, and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.