Do I have take Oracea for the rest of my life if it clears up my rosacea or can I stop taking it?

Most patients can taper off the Oracea over time with topical treatment continuing. Discuss with your dermatologist

Oracea is a rosacea medication that is formulated for long term use. Though I am not sure of your entire treatment regimen, when I approach a patient with papulopustular rosacea and am considering recommending oracea, I always combine it with a topical medication like metrogel or soolantra. If a patient has been well controlled with a topical medication and oracea for several months (3-6) and my patient asks to stop their oral medication, I rarely have much of an objection to that with the caveat that he/she needs to continue their topical medication. Different docs handle these scenarios differently so before you change your treatment regimen, please consult your prescribing physician. 

Intermittent use. Some patients use it seasonally others vary 1-2 tabs every week, other 1 tab every two weeks- be guided by your MEDICAL dermatologist. 
Rosacea is very complex and a tailored treatment program give the best results. This is because there are many types of rosacea (telengtctatic or capillaries, flushing and redness, acne like rosacea, ocular rosacea and even rhinophyma rosacea.)

To add to the complexity, everyone has different flare factors- Sunlight, stress, foods, chemical irritants, creams, changes in temperature, alcohol. The list goes on. 

A detailed history, together with a treatment tailored according to YOUR type of rosacea will give the best results. As a guide, I use a combination of -

1. Lasers (to treat redness, broken capillaries, rhinophyma, flushing)- best laser is the V BEAM. IPL can be used, but usually not as effective. Laser toning using the long pulse Nd Yag at 1064 can help with background redness. 

2. Creams - anti inflammatory- Rozex, Azalelic acid, Solantra. Creams are effective in 30% of cases. 

3. Tablets -anti - inflammatory and sometimes low dose Vitamin A. Vitamin A cream can be used in v low concentration and gradually titrated. See a medical dermatologist for this. 

4. For females- Mineral make up is recommend- paraben and preservative – talc free. 

For the best results, consult a dermatologist for both medical and laser treatment options. 

Kind regards.

Dr Davin S. Lim.

Laser Dermatologist.

Brisbane, Australia.