Rosacea

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What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a common skin disorder that usually affects the face, and sometimes affects the scalp, neck, ears, chest, back and eyes. The cause is unknown and there is no cure, however treatments are available that will help control its symptoms, which include:

• Tendency to flush or blush easily
• Persistent redness of the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that resembles a sunburn that doesn’t go away.
• Small visible blood vessels on the face.
• Bumps or pimples on the face.
• Watery or irritated eyes.
• Increasingly dry facial skin, burning, stinging or itching.
• Small, knobby bumps on the nose; swollen looking nose and cheeks.

Rosacea is sometimes confused with adult acne or sunburn.

Who gets rosacea?

Adults who get rosacea are usually fair-skinned, with blond hair and blue eyes, and between 30 and 50 years old. Complexion color doesn’t seem to matter with children who get it. More women than men get it, but men often get a more severe form of it. (Examples are W.C. Fields and Bill Clinton.) Sometimes rosacea runs in families. And sometimes menopause makes it worse for women.

How is it treated?

The earlier the above symptoms are caught, the easier and more successful its treatment will be. So it’s important to contact us for an appointment if you suspect you have rosacea.

Treatment depends on the sub-type of rosacea:

• Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is characterized by redness, flushing, and visible blood vessels.
• Papulopustular rosacea is characterized by bumps and pus-filled lesions.
• Phymatous rosacea is characterized by thickening skin.
• Ocular rosacea is characterized by eye problems.

Depending on your type of rosacea, the following treatment options may be used, often in a combination or a sequence to best treat your symptoms:

• Sunscreen and a barrier-repair emollient that don’t irritate skin.
• Oral antibiotics to calm red sensitive skin and to treat bumps, pus-filled lesions, and redness.
• Topical medications to reduce inflammation, such as Metronidazole (brand names: MetroGel and Noritate), Azelaic acid, Retinoid, Sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur.
• Electrocautery uses a low-powered electrical device to destroy small visible blood vessels.
• Laser or light therapy to reduce redness, flushing and visible blood vessels. (Unfortunately, insurance usually considers this a cosmetic treatment and doesn’t cover it.)
• Glycolic acid often used in combination with oral antibiotics.
• Non-antibiotic dosage Doxycycline to treat bumps, pus-filled lesions, and redness
• Surgical treatments using lasers and other light therapies, dermabrasion, and electrocautery to re-sculpt the skin.
• Eyelid washing and warm compresses, oral antibiotics and prescription eye drops are all used for rosacea that causes eye problems.

Avoid flare-ups

You might be able to avoid flare-ups just by figuring out what triggers them. Common culprits include: Sun exposure, emotional stress, hot weather, wind, heavy exercise, alcohol consumption, hot baths, cold weather, spicy foods, humidity, indoor heat, certain skincare products and cosmetics, hot beverages, medications, medical conditions, certain fruits, marinated meats, certain vegetables and dairy products.

Be gentle to your skin

Avoid abrasive, harsh or exfoliating cleansers. Avoid loofahs and rough washcloths. Use lukewarm, not hot water. Pat, don’t rub, your skin dry. Use sunscreen formulated for sensitive skin. Use a barrier-repair product. Use allergy-tested, fragrance-free products for sensitive skin. Avoid any skin-care products that sting, burn or cause additional redness. Avoid products that have astringents, toners, alcohol or fragrance.

We carry several skincare products and cosmetics and sunscreens that are gentle enough to use in conjunction with your rosacea treatment.

Clinique Medical products for specific Rosacea-related skin concerns :

• Irritation, Burning, Itching, Scaling, Swelling:  Recovery Week Complex, Optimizing Treatment Cream
• Dryness:  Optimizing Treatment Cream, Dry Spot Balm
• Scaling:  Recovery Week Complex, Dry Spot Balm, Optimizing Treatment Cream, Skin Conditioning Treatment
• Dermatitis:  Recovery Week Complex, Dry Spot Balm, Optimizing Treatment Cream
• Facial Redness/Erythema:  Recovery Week Complex, Optimizing Treatment Cream
• Acne:  Probiotic Cleanser, Skin Conditioning Treatment

Other resources

• RosaceaNet — The American Academy of Dermatology’s educational website.
• National Rosacea Society — This organization provides information on rosacea, raises awareness of the condition and supports research.
• AAD pamphlet on Rosacea