Sulfacetamide formulations for treatment of rosacea

1. A method for treating rosacea in a patient comprising administering to a patient suffering from rosacea a first topical composition comprising at least one sulfacetamide or a derivative thereof and at least one sunscreen, wherein the administration of said first composition provides a more effective treatment of said rosacea in comparison to treatment of rosacea achieved by administration of a second topical composition comprising metronidazole.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second topical composition comprising metronidazole consists essentially of metronidazole.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the second topical composition comprising metronidazole, metronidazole is the sole active ingredient.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second topical composition comprises about 0.75% metronidazole.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said increased treatment of rosacea results in a higher decrease of inflammatory lesions in said patient in comparison to that achieved by said administration of said second topical composition comprising metronidazole.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein administration of said first topical composition provides at least an 8% higher decrease of inflammatory lesions in said patient in comparison to that achieved by said administration of said second topical composition.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said increased treatment of rosacea results in a higher decrease of erythema in said patient in comparison to that achieved by said administration of said topical composition comprising metronidazole.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein administration of said first topical composition provides at least a 24% higher decrease of erythema in said patient in comparison to that achieved by said administration of said second topical composition.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said increased treatment is measured after at least 12 weeks of treatment with said topical compositions.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said administration comprises administering said topical compositions to said patient each day during a period of treatment.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said administration comprises intermittent administration of said topical compositions.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sulfacetamide is sodium sulfacetamide.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first composition comprises about 5 to about 15% by weight of said at least one sulfacetamide or a derivative thereof.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first topical composition further comprises sulfur.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said first topical composition comprises about 2.5 to about 10% by weight of said sulfur.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first composition comprises at least two different sunscreens.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sunscreen is selected from the group consisting of avobenzone, octocrylene, octyl methoxycinnamate, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and mixtures thereof.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first composition comprises about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of said at least one sunscreen.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one sunscreen is present in an amount sufficient to produce a sun protection factor of at least 2.

20. A method for treating inflammatory lesions in a patient comprising administering to a patient suffering from inflammatory lesions a first topical composition comprising at least one sulfacetamide or a derivative thereof and at least one sunscreen, wherein the administration of said first composition results in a higher decrease of inflammatory lesions in said patient in comparison to that achieved by administration of a second topical composition comprising metronidazole.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second topical composition comprising metronidazole consists essentially of metronidazole.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein, in the second topical composition comprising metronidazole, metronidazole is the sole active ingredient.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the second topical composition comprises about 0.5% to about 1.5% metronidazole.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein administration of said first topical composition provides at least an 8% higher decrease of inflammatory lesions in said patient in comparison to that achieved by said administration of said second topical composition.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein said decrease of inflammatory lesions is measured after at least 12 weeks of treatment with said topical compositions.

26. The method of claim 20 , wherein said administration comprises twice daily administration of said topical composition to said patient.

27. A method for treating erythema in a patient comprising administering to a patient suffering from erythema a first topical composition comprising at least one sulfacetamide or a derivative thereof and at least one sunscreen, wherein the administration of said first composition results in a higher decrease of erythema in said patient in comparison to that achieved by administration of a second topical composition comprising metronidazole.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the second topical composition comprising metronidazole consists essentially of metronidazole.

29. The method of claim 27 , wherein, in the second topical composition comprising metronidazole, metronidazole is the sole active ingredient.

30. The method of claim 27 , wherein the second topical composition comprises about 0.5% to about 1.5% metronidazole.

31. The method of claim 27 , wherein administration of said first topical composition provides at least a 24% higher decrease of erythema in said patient in comparison to that achieved by said administration of said second topical composition.

32. The method of claim 27 , wherein said decrease of erythema is measured after at least 12 weeks of treatment with said topical compositions.

33. The method of claim 27 , wherein said administration comprises at least once a day administration of said topical composition to said patient during the treatment regimen.

34. The method of claim 1 , wherein said administration comprises twice daily administration of said topical composition to said patient.

35. The method of claim 10 , wherein said period of treatment comprises a sufficient period of time to observe a reduced incidence of said rosacea.

36. The method of claim 10 , wherein said period of treatment is from about 6 to about 12 weeks.

37. The method of claim 10 , wherein said patient is intermittently administered said topical composition after said period of treatment.

38. The method of claim 11 , wherein said intermittent administration is conducted when said patient commences said treatment, as said treatment is in its final stages, or as part of a maintenance regimen.

39. The method of claim 11 , wherein said intermittent administration comprises administration of said topical compositions to said patient more than once per week but less than once per day.

40. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sunscreen blocks the absorption of UV radiation.

41. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sunscreen absorbs UV A and UV B radiation.

42. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sunscreen is an inorganic oxide.

43. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first topical composition further comprises benzyl alcohol.