Fluoride and rosacea

[Guest guest]

A while back, someone in the group described a rosacea-type reaction

to a dental fluoride treatment, and asked if there was a known

correlation.

Here's an abstract that, although discussing an unrelated topic,

definitely includes fluoride among a short list of known agents that

aggrevate rosacea. JAAD is not freely available online, so I can't

find out the primary source (the original research that demonstrates

a link between fluoride and rosacea), but he says it enough times in

this little abstract to make one believe HE believes it.

J Am Acad Dermatol 2001 Jun;44(6):995-8 Related Articles, Books,

LinkOut

Tacrolimus ointment for the treatment of steroid-induced rosacea: a

preliminary report.

Goldman D.

Department of Dermatology, NorthBay Healthcare Medical Group,

Fairfield, CA 94533, USA. drdavidgoldman@...

BACKGROUND: Excessive topical corticosteroid application to facial

areas commonly leads to steroid-induced rosacea. This may be a

recalcitrant problem that requires months of antibiotic and anti-

inflammatory therapy before it resolves. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of

this article is to review the use of tacrolimus ointment, a macrolide

anti-inflammatory ointment for the treatment of 3 patients with

steroid-induced rosacea. METHODS: Three patients with steroid-induced

rosacea applied tacrolimus ointment, 0.075% twice daily for 7 to 10

days. Patients were also instructed to avoid topical corticosteroid

use and other rosacea-aggravating substances including caffeine,

spicy foods, alcohol, hot fluids, and fluoride. Patients were

observed for tenderness, erythema, and relief of pruritus. RESULTS:

Pruritus, tenderness, and erythema were resolved in all 3 patients

after 7 to 10 consecutive days' use of tacrolimus 0.075% ointment in

conjunction with avoidance of topical steroids, caffeine, spicy food,

alcohol, hot fluids, and fluoride. CONCLUSION: This preliminary study

demonstrates that tacrolimus 0.075% ointment may be effective for

patients with steroid-induced rosacea, when combined with avoidance

of topical steroid use, as well as avoidance of other agents known to

aggravate rosacea (caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, hot fluids, and

fluoride).

Marjorie Lazoff, MD