22F Low dose Accutane for rosacea. Will the acne come back after completion of the course?

Low- dose Isotretinoin is effective for papular-pustular rosacea, however many patients will experience return of symptoms after several months of discontinuing the medication.  To maintain skin clarity, weekly low-dose maintenance may be required.Below is an excerpt from a recent study (J Invest Dermatol. 2016 Jun;136(6):1081-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.03.003):Relapses accounted for 58% in the isotretinoin treatment group with a median time point of 15 weeks; unlike when isotretinoin is used for acne, the remission did not seem to be based on the cumulative dose of isotretinoin, nor did it appear to be sustained when the optimal treatment effect was reached (Hofer, 2004Hofer, 2004). In the Hofer (2004)Hofer (2004) study the investigators proposed that the use of continuous microdose isotretinoin (0.03–0.17 mg/kg/day) to maintain remission in recalcitrant rosacea after an effective result has been reached with either cyclines or 10–20 mg isotretinoin daily warrants further examination. Clinicians should ensure that women of childbearing age are advised about the necessity of strict contraception based on the recommendations of the Risk Management Program (FDA) and Pregnancy Prevention Program (European Medicines Agency).