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 |  | Over-the-Counter Topical Treatment: $10-$60+ Per Month |  | Prescription Medication: About $20-$200+ Per Month |  | Laser or IPL Treatment: $125-$1,800+ |
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There is no known cause of and no cure for rosacea -- a skin disorder that can cause redness, bumps, visible blood vessels and thickened skin on the face, and can affect the eyes -- but treatments range from over-the-counter medications to laser therapy.
Typical costs: | - Over-the-counter topical treatments typically cost $10-$60 or more for a one-month supply. For example, Prosacea, a homeopathic remedy that contains sulfur as an active ingredient costs $10.99 at Drugstore.com. And the ZENMED Skin Support Line, which includes a cleanser, mask and serum, costs about $65 at ZenMed.com[1] . However, the American Academy of Dermatology[2] recommends against self-diagnosis and home treatment, and warns that some over-the-counter medications can make rosacea worse.
- Prescription medications for rosacea typically cost from less than $20 per month for generic oral antibiotics to hundreds of dollars per month for Accutane[3] .
- Laser treatment for rosacea typically costs $125 to $600 per session, and at least two to three sessions are required for a total of $250-$1,800. For example, Michael Law, M.D.[4] in Raleigh, N.C. charges $125 to $150 per rosacea laser treatment on just the nose, chin or cheeks, and charges $350 per treatment for part of the face and $600 per treatment for the full face and neck.
- Intense Pulsed Light treatment for rosacea typically costs about $300 to $600 per session, and several sessions typically are required, for a total of $600 to $1,800 or more.
- Health insurance companies typically cover oral and topical prescription treatments for rosacea, but sometimes do not cover laser or IPL therapy. For example, Aetna[5] considers laser therapy cosmetic for rosacea. For patients with health insurance, costs typically consist of specialist visit copays, coinsurance for the procedure and/or a prescription drug copay.
Related articles: Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, Birthmark Removal
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What should be included: | - An oral antibiotic, such as doxycycline, erythromycin or tetracycline, sometimes is prescribed initially to bring symptoms under control. The anti-inflammatory action of antibiotics can lessen symptoms. The patient usually stays on oral antibiotics for a few weeks to a month, and then often switches to a prescribed topical medication.
- Topical prescription medications commonly are used in rosacea treatment and typically are applied at home once or twice daily, according to the Mayo Clinic[6] . Topical medications commonly used for rosacea include metronidazole[7] , tretinoin[8] and azelaic acid[9] . Treatment can last for months and often is ongoing because symptoms can return when treatment is stopped. For unusually severe cases that have not responded to other treatments, the oral drug isotretinoin[10] , better known by the brand name Accutane, sometimes is prescribed. Because it can have serious side effects, it is typically considered a treatment of last resort.
- With laser treatment, the doctor will determine which type of laser should be used. According to SkinCarePhysicians.com[11] , the pulsed dye laser often is used; other lasers that might be used include the KTP laser, diode laser and Nd:YAG laser. In treatment with a pulsed dye laser[12] , no anesthesia is necessary, and the doctor uses a machine that sprays cool water, then emits a beam of light. One session lasts about half an hour, and the patient can resume normal activity immediately afterward.
- The National Rosacea Society[13] provides an overview on the four subtypes of rosacea and treatment options.
Additional costs: | - It is recommended that rosacea patients wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Cost ranges from $7 to $40 per bottle or tube at Drugstore.com[14] .
- Maintenance IPL or laser treatments might be required about once per year to retain resultsand cost about $300 -$600 per treatment.
Discounts: | - The $4 prescription programs offered by Walmart[15] and Target[16] include many oral and topical antibiotics.
Shopping for rosacea treatment: | - Rosacea typically should be evaluated by a board-certified dermatologist. The American Academy of Dermatology[17] offers a directory of board-certified dermatologists by location.
- The American Academy of Ophthalmology[18] offers a doctor finder by city and state, and board certification can be verified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
- The doctor will help determine the best course of treatment and whether the patient is a candidate for certain treatments. For example, women who are or could become pregnant are not candidates for treatment with Accutane, and individuals with clotting disorder or insulin-dependent diabetes probably are not candidates for laser treatments.
- It is important for a rosacea patient to discuss with their doctor possible risks and side effects of any proposed rosacea treatment. Risks of treatment with some antibiotics can include antibiotic resistance and upset stomach. Risks of pulsed dye laser treatment can include discomfort, bruising and, in rare cases, scarring. Risks of IPL can include some pain, redness and irritation.
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Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Rufus in Inez, KY. | Posted: September 30th, 2015 01:09PM |
| Medical Center: Huntington | Type of Tratment: Metronidazole Topical |
After determining moles on my arm were benign, a physician's assistant noticed signs of Rosacea on my face. Yep, I said, had it for 10 years. She asked what treatment I was using. I told her Noritate, which cost $60 when I bought it. She said, "I'll prescribe you something even better." She asked for my drug store's number and phoned in a prescription for Metronidazole Topical, which -- when I went to pick it up today -- was priced at more than $300. (The pharmacy didn't order it because it wasn't covered by my Medicare Plan D provider and they figured -- rightly -- that it was some kind of Big Pharma ripoff. Can you recommend a better deal? |
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External Resources: | - zenmed.com/skincare/rosacea/
- www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/q---t/rosacea
- www.realself.com/Accutane/cost
- www.michaellawmd.com/laserrosacea.html
- www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/500_599/0559.html
- www.mayoclinic.com/health/rosacea/DS00308/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000624/
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000683/
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000229/
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000532/
- www.skincarephysicians.com/rosaceanet/laser_treatment.html
- www.bcm.edu/dermatology/index.cfm?pmid=1838
- rosacea.org/patients/medicaltherapy/treatmentoptions.php
- www.drugstore.com:80/search/search_results.asp?N=0&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntk=...
- i.walmartimages.com/i/if/hmp/fusion/customer_list.pdf
- www.target.com/pharmacy/main
- www.aad.org/find-a-derm/
- www.aao.org/aao/find_eyemd.cfm
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