Rosacea

Providing the most advanced Rosacea Treatments

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic skin disease that causes redness and swelling, primarily on the face. Other areas that can be affected are the scalp, neck, ears, chest, back, and sometimes the eyes. Persons with rosacea may first notice a tendency to flush or blush easily. Rosacea can occur over a long period of time and often progresses to a persistent redness, pimples and visible blood vessels in the center of the face that can eventually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose.

When it first develops, rosacea may come and go on its own. When the skin doesn't return to its normal color and when other symptoms, such as pimples and enlarged blood vessels, become visible, it's best to seek advice from a dermatologist. The condition rarely reverses itself and may last for years. It can become worse without treatment.

How to Recognize Rosacea

Pimples of rosacea appear on the face as small, red bumps, some of which may contain pus. These may be accompanied by the development of many tiny blood vessels on the surface of the skin and persistent redness of the face.

In more advanced cases of rosacea, a condition called rhinophyma (ryno-fi-ma) may develop. The oil glands enlarge causing a bulbous, enlarged red nose and puffy cheeks. Thick bumps can develop on the lower half of the nose and nearby cheeks. Rhinophyma occurs less commonly in women.

About 50% of people with rosacea have eye involvement. Some rosacea patients experience burning and grittiness of the eyes - a condition known as conjunctivitis. If this condition is not treated, it can lead to even more serious complications for the eyes.

Types of Rosacea

• Pityriasis Rosacea   Pityriasis rosacea is a skin disease that is quite common in individuals between 10 - 35 years, affecting more females than males. Symptoms of pityriasis rosacea can last from weeks to months. The first symptom usually is a characteristic skin rash, or lesion, on the chest or back region known as a "herald" patch. The herald patch appears as a single, large pinkish/reddish/brownish-colored patch that is round to oval in shape and slightly raised usually with a scaly circular center. Because of its appearance, it may be mistaken for ringworm which, in contrast pityriasis rosea, is contagious, caused by fungus, and requires anti fungal medication. Smaller, but similar, patches will manifest on the trunk, arms, and legs but rarely are the face, hands, or feet affected. Other symptoms may include itching, fatigue, and/or aches. The cause of pityriasis rosacea is unknown, but it has been suspected to be of viral origin, cannot be passed between individuals, usually does not recur, and is not indicative of any internal disease.
• Ocular Rosacea:   Ocular rosacea symptoms can include dry, tearing, redness, burning, pain or a feeling that something is in the eye. Ocular rosacea can affect both the eye surface and eyelid, producing scales and crusts on the eyelids. Rosacea symptoms also include sensitivity to light blurry vision.
• Rhinophyma Rosacea:   Rhinophyma Rosacea is on of the most advanced cases of rosacea, usually affecting only men, where the nose becomes bulbous and red, the cheeks become puffy, and thick bumps develop on the lower half of the nose and adjacent cheek areas. There is no known cause for this condition, but the problem may be aggravated by stress, infection, vitamin deficiencies, and glandular upset.

Who Is At Risk for Rosacea?

Those most likely to develop rosacea are fair-skinned adults, especially women, between the ages of 30 and 50, although it may affect men or women of any age and even children. For some unknown reason, women get rosacea more often than men, and some cases of this disorder have been associated with menopause. Rosacea usually develops over a long period of time. It may first seem like a tendency to blush easily, a ruddy complexion, or an extreme sensitivity to cosmetics. An occasional embarrassment or a tense moment may also trigger flushing.

Dos and Don'ts for Rosacea Patients

The exact cause of rosacea is still unknown. The best prevention may be to avoid things that make the face red or flushed.

• Avoid hot drinks, spicy foods, caffeine and alcoholic beverages.   It's important to note that although alcohol may worsen a case of rosacea, symptoms may be just as severe in someone who doesn't drink at all. This condition has been unfairly linked to alcoholism.

• Practice good sun protection.   This includes limiting exposure to sunlight, wearing hats and using broad spectrum sunscreens with SPF of 15 or higher and avoiding extreme hot and cold temperatures, which may exacerbate the symptoms of rosacea.
• Avoid rubbing, scrubbing or massaging the face.   Rubbing will tend to irritate the reddened skin.
• Exercise in a cool environment.   Don't overheat.
• Avoid irritating cosmetics and facial products.:   Use hair sprays properly.
• Keep a diary of flushing episodes.   Keep a diary of flushing episodes and note associated foods, products, activities, medications or other triggering factors.

Rosacea Treatment Options

The key to successful management of rosacea is early diagnosis and treatment. Self-diagnosis and treatment are not recommended, as some over-the-counter skin applications may make the problem worse. Dermatologists often recommend a combination of treatments tailored to the individual patient. Together, these treatments can stop the progress of rosacea and sometimes reverse it.

• Gels and Creams:   Gels and creams may be prescribed by a dermatologist. A slight improvement can be seen in the first three to four weeks of use. Greater improvement is usually noticed in two months.
• Oral Antibiotics:   Oral antibiotics tend to produce faster results than topical medications.
• Cortisone Creams:   Cortisone creams may reduce the redness of rosacea. However, they should be not used for longer than two weeks and strong preparations should be avoided. It is best to use these creams only under the direction of your dermatologist.
• Small Electric Needle or Laser Surgery:   The persistent redness may be treated with a small electric needle or by laser surgery to close off the dilated blood vessels. Cosmetics may offer an alternative to the more specific treatment. Green tinted makeup may mask the redness.
• Eliminate factors that cause additional skin irritation.   Daily facial products such as soap, moisturizers, and sunscreens should be free of alcohol or other irritating ingredients. Moisturizers used along with topical medications should be applied very gently after the medication has dried. When going outdoors, especially on warm sunny days, sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher are necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rosacea

 

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