Metronidazole in the Treatment of Rosacea

To the Editor.— Metronidazole seems to be effective in the treatment of rosacea. Several factors such as focal infection, vitamin deficiencies, endocrine disorders, andDemodexinfestation have been postulated in the cause of this disorder. Demodex folliculorumis an obligate parasite of the human pilosebaceous follicle. Its numbers are increased on the face in rosacea, but its role in the pathogenesis of rosacea is unknown. We treated ten female patients with rosacea in our clinic with metronidazole. They had been suffering from rosacea for two to four years. Prior to this study, all patients had been treated with tetracycline hydrochloride and 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide ointments, but no completely favorable response was achieved. All patients had pustular and papulopustular lesions on their faces at the time of our examination. The patients were given 250 mg of metronidazole twice a day for three weeks. During this time, we did not see any