Oral Antibiotics
You may need to put on oral antibiotic medication when you have rosacea with bumps and pimples. [3] This is more common when your rosacea is moderate to severe. Your doctor may prescribe doxycycline (Oracea) and other antibiotics to help you kill the bacteria on your skin and reduce swelling and redness.
Isotretinoin
Your doctor may prescribe a strong acne drug called isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Accutane) to treat severe cases of acne. [4] This is usually reserved for rosacea rash that does not respond to more conventional treatment methods. It effectively clears bumps of rosacea that resemble acne. It prevents your skin from making oil and can have severe side effects. You should never use isotretinoin when pregnant. This drug can cause severe birth defects.
If you have erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, this drug will not work for you.