Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of tofacitinib in the treatment of rosacea. Methods: Patients with papulopustular rosacea who were ineligible for tetracycline therapy and attended the Dermatology Outpatient Department of our hospital were enrolled. They were divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method. The observation group was treated with oral tofacitinib, while the control group was treated with oral isotretinoin. The Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score, Patient's Global Assessment (PaGA) score and Rosacea Quality of Life (RosQol) score of the two groups were recorded before treatment as well as at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, respectively. Results: A total of 47 patients were recruited. Four patients in the observation group and three in the control group withdrew from the trial, with 20 patients in each group completing the treatment and follow-up eventually. There were no statistically significant differences in IGA, PaGA and RosQol scores between the two groups before treatment (all P＞0.05). After 2 weeks of treatment, the IGA, PaGA and RosQol scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P＜0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the PaGA score of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P＜0.05), whereas there were no statistically significant differences in IGA and RosQol scores between the two groups (P＞0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in either group. Conclusion: Short-term use of tofacitinib is comparable to isotretinoin in the treatment of papulopustular rosacea, and tofacitinib exerts a faster onset of action.

Key words: rosacea, papulopustular, tofacitinib, isotretioin