Rosacea Treatment
Rosacea is a long term skin condition that causes swelling and redness primarily on the face, although the neck, ears chest and back may also be affected. Rosacea often begins as redness on the cheeks, nose and chin with characteristic flare ups and remissions. Over time the symptoms tend to progress to more persistent redness, then visible blood vessels appear along with bumps and pimples. Severe cases may cause the nose to become swollen and bumpy, a condition called rhinophyma (Celebrities with this condition are WC Fields and former President Bill Clinton). The disease is most often diagnosed in females. More severe symptoms are apparent in males who are diagnosed. There is no single factor that causes this disease, although heredity and environmental factors seem to play a large part. Rosacea has no cure and treatments are done to control or eliminate the symptoms.
Since treatments can help to impede the disease from progressing, early intervention is recommended. The diagnosis is made by a physician who evaluates the clinical symptoms and determines the type of rosacea on an individual basis. One of the first steps to control a flare up is to identify triggers, or what sets the symptoms off. While the cause of rosacea is unknown several factors can contribute to an outbreak. Some common triggers include: sun exposure, extremes of hot and cold, wind, heavy exercise, alcohol consumption (red wine, beer), spicy foods, hot beverages (coffee, hot chocolate), certain fruits or vegetables and stress.
Treatment regimes vary from topical prescription medications such as Metrogel or clindamycin to laser treatments. Oral medications are often used in conjunction with topical solutions to reverse the symptoms. Laser skin treatments are effective in reducing the redness associated with rosacea. Pulse dye lasers such as the Candela V Beam and IPL treatments such as Photofacial, have been very effective in shrinking and eliminating the facial blood vessels that tend to dilate during a flare. Usually 2-4 treatments are needed to control symptoms. Laser treatments generally have no downtime, with minimal swelling or redness after treatment. If you think you may have rosacea, consult a dermatologist or qualified physician. They can help in determining the right treatment for you. |
