Derm Week Pointers and Pearls: Rosacea
In this Derm Week Pointers and Pearls video, Richard Gallo, MD, PhD, shares the importance of the rosacea classification system and his top pearl for providing the best care for patients with this disease. Dr Gallo is a distinguished professor and the founding chairman of the department of dermatology at the University of California, San Diego.
Transcript
Dr Gallo: Rosacea's a major health care problem that's been underappreciated worldwide. Many people suffer from rosacea and have suffered in the past with the thought that there's nothing that can be done. Thanks to recognizing rosacea, initially developing a classification system several years ago, which has now been updated to allow more precise recognition of the different phenotypes of rosacea, it's made it possible to better treat our patients, develop better drugs that target each of the different phenotypes, and understand what causes this disease.
As clinical dermatologists, we all struggle to bring the very best care for our patients, and in some diseases that are multifactorial like rosacea, that can be difficult, especially with the pressures to see patients quickly. I think my number one thought is to take time to listen to the patient, recognize each of the phenotypes of rosacea, and design your therapeutic approach to address each of the phenotypes, not a one-drug-fits-all aspects of rosacea alone.