Carvedilol Improves Facial Erythema and Depression/Anxiety in Patients With Rosacea

According to a study published in The Journal of Dermatology, carvedilol improves erythema of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and anxiety and depression in patients with rosacea.

Researchers aimed to verify the efficacy of carvedilol in patients with rosacea and persistent erythema and flushing. For 10 weeks with 6 weeks of follow-up, a total of 156 patients were randomized to use oral carvedilol 5 mg twice per day or topical brimonidine. Carvedilol efficacy and anxiety and depression status were analyzed using Patient Self-Assessment (PSA), Clinician Erythema Assessment (CEA), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Patients with carvedilol treatment showed reduced CEA/PSA scores and sting/burning scores; improved telangiectasia, erythema, and pigmentation with no adverse reactions; and lower GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores, which indicate improvement in depression and anxiety compared with topical brimonidine. Better outcomes were observed in patients aged 30 years and younger.

“Conclusively, our findings reveal that carvedilol could quickly and effectively improve facial erythema, which might stem from the improved status of anxiety/depression,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Li J, Tang JY, Fu J, et al. Carvedilol ameliorates persistent erythema of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea by regulating the status of anxiety/depression. J Dermatol. Published online: July 29, 2022. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.16525