Rosacea
I. Definition:
Rosacea is a common face rash of adults. Rosacea is only a skin condition and is not related to your general health. Rosacea has three stages. In the first stage the face gets red. This redness sometimes merges into the normal variants of ruddy or blushy complexion types. The redness often persists after cold exposure or after exposure to irritants like soap. With time, small blood vessels develop making the redness more noticeable. Many patients will develop stinging or burning sensations and the skin will often feel tight. The skin feels like mild sunburn with smiling, frowning, or squinting. Sometimes this progresses to the point that everything the patient puts on his or her face stings, burns, and irritates.
In the second stage of rosacea, the redness covers a larger area of the face. Slight swelling, pimples, and pustules develop. This is especially noticeable on the nose, mid-forehead, and chin. As the condition progresses, prominent facial pores can develop. Some people develop irritation or scratchiness of the eyes.
The third stage is characterized by swelling and growth of the nose and central facial areas. At times the ears may be involved as well. This can be very disfiguring. Most patients do not progress to the third stage of rosacea.
II. Causes:
III. Treatment:
Rosacea is a common face rash of adults. Rosacea is only a skin condition and is not related to your general health. Rosacea has three stages. In the first stage the face gets red. This redness sometimes merges into the normal variants of ruddy or blushy complexion types. The redness often persists after cold exposure or after exposure to irritants like soap. With time, small blood vessels develop making the redness more noticeable. Many patients will develop stinging or burning sensations and the skin will often feel tight. The skin feels like mild sunburn with smiling, frowning, or squinting. Sometimes this progresses to the point that everything the patient puts on his or her face stings, burns, and irritates.
In the second stage of rosacea, the redness covers a larger area of the face. Slight swelling, pimples, and pustules develop. This is especially noticeable on the nose, mid-forehead, and chin. As the condition progresses, prominent facial pores can develop. Some people develop irritation or scratchiness of the eyes.
The third stage is characterized by swelling and growth of the nose and central facial areas. At times the ears may be involved as well. This can be very disfiguring. Most patients do not progress to the third stage of rosacea.
II. Causes:
- The number one cause of rosacea is sunlight. Rosacea is stubborn and often the condition will last for years.
- Foods or beverages that cause facial flushing, such as alcohol, spicy foods, hot soups, coffee, and tea, may make rosacea temporarily more noticeable.
III. Treatment:
- UVA/UVB sunblock is the first treatment that should be used. It should be used everyday. Apply the sunblock to the face in the morning after washing the facial skin with a mild cleanser.
- Antibiotics such as Metrogel, MetroCream and sulfur preparations applied to the skin one to two times a day work well for many people with rosacea.
- Antibiotics taken by mouth are usually effective in controlling rosacea, and can be used for people not controlled by topical antibiotics. Eye symptoms will only respond to oral antibiotics.
- Treatment only controls rosacea. There is no cure for this condition. Most people with this condition need to continue applying Metrogel or taking antibiotics for months or years.
- Accutane is a drug taken by mouth, which is reserved for severe rosacea. Accutane has many side effects and if taken during pregnancy will cause birth defects. Patients taking Accutane must have periodic blood tests and checkups.
- The red face of rosacea can often be improved with tunable dye laser treatments. This type of treatment is time consuming and expensive. It is not covered by insurance.
- Nose swelling and tissue over growth can be treated with the CO2 laser. This is often covered by insurance because it is so disfiguring.
- Join the National Rosacea Society, 1-888-NO-BLUSH (888-662-5874), and you will receive a newsletter with the latest information on this condition.