Rosacea Awareness - Treatments And Prevention

Did you know Rosacea affects about 13 million people in the United States alone? It is treatable and you can be proactive in your rosacea skin care and treatment.

The key is to see your dermatologist as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can control the signs and symptoms.

Doctors also believe early detection and treatment can reverse the progression. The longer it is left untreated, the worse it becomes and the more difficult to treat.

It is a fairly common disorder and causes redness and inflammation of the face. It usually affects fair-skinned people from the 20's up through the 50's. Women are affected more than men in the earlier stages.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consult your dermatologist right away.

Flushing of the Face or Neck
Flushing occurs when increased amounts of blood flow through your vessels very quickly. The vessels expand to allow the flow. Redness may be more noticeable.

Dry Skin
You have increased dryness in your facial skin.

Red Lines
Telangiectasias (red lines) may appear when flushed. Your blood vessels enlarge and show through your skin, especially in the cheek area.

Pimples
You may develop pimples that contain pus, and look like small red bumps.

Rhinophyma
Rhinophyma are nasal bumps. These appear more on men then women.

Burning or Itching
Physical symptoms may be burning or itching.

   - The facial redness looks like a sunburn or blush, which happens when excess blood flows rapidly through vessels and they enlarge to handle the flow.

   - Small, red and pus-filled lesions appear on the face. This can look like acne, however rosacea doesn't have whiteheads and blackheads like acne.

   - Small red lines that look like tiny vessels called telangiectasias, appear on the face. Flushing causes the vessels to expand. When they show through the skin, they look very thin.

   - Nasal Lumps/Bumps can appear on the nose and make it look more swollen and disfigured if it's not treated. It occurs more in men than women.

   - Cleanse your skin with a mild non-irritating cleanser. Rinse your skin thoroughly and pat it dry. Rosacea is noted for dryness of the skin. Moisturize your skin each time you wash it.

   - Use a good water-based moisturizer, one that doesn't contain fragrances or lanolin.

   - If you use cosmetics or make up to help camouflage the redness, get a good oil free or water based foundation to use.

   - Avoid stressful situations

   - Drink at least 8 ounces of water each day

   - Avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, cigarettes, and excessive sugar

   - If you drink alcohol, minimize it. It is a diuretic and it pushes water out of body cells.

   - Take tepid showers rather than hot showers or baths. Use a mild soap.

   - Don't rub your skin dry after bathing or showering, this can worsen the condition. Instead, pat yourself dry.

   - If your eyes are affected, apply warm compresses several times a day. Wash your eyelids with an over-the-counter product for eyes. Use natural tears if your eyes become very dry.

   - Change wash-cloths and body towels after each use to eliminate bacteria

   - If you have to be in the sun, use a sunscreen preferably of the broad spectrum UVA with a sun protection factor of SPF 45 or higher. The sun causes skin cancer and irritates rosacea.

   - Avoid products that can irritate your skin. Soaps, astringents, abrasives and strong detergents or chemicals are very irritating.

   - Avoid potential triggers. Keep a diary of your flare ups. Note when they happen, what you have eaten, what the weather is and any other information pertinent to the incident. Identifying and avoiding these triggers will help reduce your symptoms.

Rosacea currently has no cure, however there are various treatments that can help control it. Treatment may also keep it from progressing.

The symptoms of rosacea usually vary for each person. Treatment choices depend on the type and severity of rosacea. Improvements may not be seen before several weeks or months.

Topical Treatments
These are applied to the skin and used to reduce the papules and pustules. They include creams, gels, ointments, and solutions. Some of the common ones are metronidazole, azaleic acid, benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin and sulfacetamide.

Oral Antibiotics
These tend to work faster and may be prescribed. Some of the common ones are doxycycline, erythromycin, minocycline and tetracycline.

Eye Problems
Rosacea may also affect your eyes. Inflammation of your eyelids can develop. You should cleanse your eyelids often. You can use an over-the-counter cleansing product for the eyes. Warm compresses should also be applied daily. Your doctor may prescribe the above antibiotics for this problem.

Glycolic Acid Peels
Your dermatologist may use this treatment. It is given every two weeks normally, but sometimes it can be every three or four weeks.

Other Treatment Methods
Depending on your condition and needs there are other treatments your dermatologist may recommend. To remove the visible blood vessels, treatments used can include laser surgery, electrosurgery, vascular lasers and dermabrasion.