Q. If I take long-term medication consistently, will it lose its effectiveness?

A. Topical therapy is commonly prescribed to control rosacea on a long-term basis, and no evidence has suggested that it loses effectiveness. A long-term controlled clinical study found that 77 percent of rosacea patients consistently using topical metronidazole remained in remission, while 42 percent of patients using no therapy had relapsed within six months.

Because of the risk of adverse reactions associated with long-term use of oral antibiotics, topical therapy is usually preferred long-term.

Q. Why is it that I seem to crave those things that are most aggravating to my rosacea?

A. It may not be that you actually crave those things that are most aggravating to your rosacea as much as it is a case of wanting what you cannot have -- a common experience for many.

Try to shift your focus from what you cannot have to all those things you enjoy in life that do not bother your rosacea. And always remember what can happen when you do not avoid one of your personal rosacea tripwires -- a rosacea flare-up. If you have not done so, you also may want to keep a rosacea diary to identify and avoid only those common rosacea tripwires that affect you.

Associated References

1. Dahl MV, Katz HI, Krueger GG, et al: Topical metronidazole maintains remissions of rosacea. Archives of Dermatology. 1999;134:679-683.