The effect of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser on the skin barrier of patients with rosacea.

A good skin care regimen is a critical part of rosacea treatment; however, care must be taken to choose nonirritating products because individuals with rosacea tend to have sensitive skin, and irritants can trigger a worsening of symptoms. This study examines the use of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser (a nonalkaline nonirritating cleanser) in patients with rosacea. To eliminate the confounding effects of various treatments, the cleanser was studied for a 2-week period in the absence of rosacea therapy following a 2-week washout period in patients with mild to moderate rosacea. During the washout period, patients were asked to cleanse twice daily with Dove Sensitive Skin Bar. During the 2-week study period, patients were monitored for skin barrier function through transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and corneometry; patients also were monitored for rosacea severity. Thirty patients were enrolled. No significant increase in TEWL was demonstrated at any point during the study, indicating that the gentle skin cleanser did not damage the skin barrier. Additionally, the cleanser was shown to maintain skin hydration. Furthermore, a post hoc statistical analysis suggests there was a significant reduction (P<.05) in investigator-assessed rosacea severity on the cheeks, forehead, and nose at the end of week 1 and on the cheeks, forehead, and chin at the end of week 2 compared with the end of the washout period (after 2 weeks of cleansing with Dove Sensitive Skin Bar). The mild nonirritating action of the gentle skin cleanser was supported by the lack of adverse events and the tolerability shown in the study. There were no increases in erythema, scaling, dryness, stinging, burning, or lack of smoothness in the skin during the 2-week study period, despite the fact that patients were not being treated for their rosacea during the study. These results indicate that Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser may be a good choice for the cleansing part of a total rosacea skin care regimen.