The clinical efficacy and the rebound phenomenon were studied in a left-right double-blind trial comparing triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and hydrocortisone 17-butyrate (HC 17-B, Locoid®). The trial comprised 19 patients with rosacea-like dermatitis of whom 7 did not receive treatment and 12 were pretreated with betamethasone valerate (BMV). Tetracycline was given all the time as additional treatment. Clinically there was no significant difference between TA and HC 17-B. No rebound phenomenon was observed. If corticosteroids are to be used at all in rosacea or rosacea-like dermatitis, preference is given to HC 17-B