Objective To analyze the effect of doxycycline hyclate tablets, supramolecular salicylic acid combined with intense pulsed light on skin barrier function and erythema degree in patients with rosacea. Methods A total of 130 patients with rosacea admitted to our hospital from April 2023 to November 2024 were selected for the study, and they were divided into the control group (65 patients) and the observation group (65 patients) by the random number table method. The control group was treated with doxycycline hyclate tablets and supramolecular salicylic acid, and the observation group was treated with intense pulsed light on the basis of the treatment of the control group. The clinical efficacy, skin barrier function indexes, Clinician' s Erythema Assessment (CEA) scale score and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scale score were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was 96.92%, which was higher than 84.62% in the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the skin moisture content in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the transepidermal water loss was lower than that in the control group (P <0.05). The scores of CEA and DLQI in the observation group after treatment were lower than those in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion Doxycycline hyclate tablets, supramolecular salicylic acid combined with intense pulsed light is effective in the treatment of rosacea patients, which can improve their facial erythema symptoms and skin barrier function, and enhance their quality of life.