To investigate the effect of intensive pulsed light combined with doxycycline on skin lesions and quality of life in patients with rosacea. Methods A total of 60 patients with rosacea who were treated in our department from July 2022 to June 2023 were randomly divided into control group and study group, with 30 patients in each group. The control group was treated with doxycycline, and the study group was treated with intensive pulsed light combined with doxycycline. The skin lesions and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results The skin lesion scores of the study group was lower than that of the control group at 3 months after treatment (P <0.05). The self-perception, emotional function, acne symptoms and social function of the study group were higher than those of the control group at 3 months after treatment (P <0.05). Conclusion The application of intensive pulsed light combined with doxycycline in patients with rosacea can promote the recovery of skin lesions and improve their quality of life.