Rosacea is a chronic and incurable skin condition that appears as small, red, pus-filled bumps. It can be an embarrassing disease affecting your social life. Doctors use various treatment techniques to control and reduce signs and symptoms of rosacea. Upper East Side rosacea mainly affects people with light skin. It is neither contagious or infectious and can affect you at any age. It commonly affects the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead.
Types
- Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is associated with facial redness, flushing, and visible blood vessels.
- Papulopustular rosacea is also known as acne rosacea because it is associated with acne-like breakouts and commonly affects middle-aged women.
- Rhinophyma rosacea’s main symptom is skin thickening on your nose. It is a rare form of rosacea that mainly affects men and is accompanied by another subtype of rosacea.
- Ocular rosacea symptoms occur in eye areas. The common symptoms are bloodshot, dry, itchy, watery, and gritty eyes or you might have a burning sensation or cysts in your eyes. The eyes can also be sensitive to light, and you can experience diminished vision.
Causes
Doctors have not concluded what causes rosacea, but some things can play a role. The overactive immune system and hereditary or environmental factors can lead to rosacea. Hot drinks, spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, extreme temperatures, emotions, and skincare products can trigger rosacea flare-ups.
Treatments
Although there is no cure for rosacea, various treatments help to relieve its symptoms. A combination of medications and good lifestyle habits will give you the best outcomes.
Skin creams. Your doctor can recommend you use skin creams once or twice a day to help reduce inflammation and skin discoloration. Tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, and azelaic acid are the commonly used topical antibiotics. You can also use camouflage creams which mask blemishes on your skin.
Oral antibiotics help minimize inflammation, giving results faster than topical ones. Tetracycline, minocycline, and erythromycin are examples of antibiotics used. Doxycycline will improve dryness, itching, blurred vision, and sensitivity if you have ocular.
Isotretinoin is an oral drug you use in severe cases of rosacea when other treatments have not worked. Isotretinoin prevents your skin from making oil. This drug will not help you if you have Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea.
Eye drops. They relieve eye symptoms if you have ocular rosacea. Your doctor can prescribe blephamide, a steroid eye drop, for a few days or a week.
Laser treatment. Your dermatologist can use laser treatment to reduce visible blood vessels. This treatment procedure uses intense pulsed light to shrink blood vessels. Laser treatment can cause pain, but you do not require any anesthesia. You can get bruises, crusting of the skin, swelling, tenderness, and infections in rare cases after the procedure.
Dermabrasion. This treatment procedure sands off the top layer of your skin
Electrocautery involves your doctor using an electric current to zap damaged blood vessels.
Your doctor can combine treatment procedures to achieve the best results. Ensure you avoid products with alcohol, menthol, witch hazel, and exfoliating agents because they can irritate your symptoms. Schedule an appointment at MDCS Dermatology: Medical Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery to benefit from rosacea’s prevention and treatment techniques.
