Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments For Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition that affects over 45 million people worldwide. It mostly targets middle-age people over 30 years who are usually white-skinned. Although Rosacea is not life-threatening it may possibly kill one's social life. Psychologically Rosacea can be devastating, because it is very hard to hide the symptoms that present on the face, causing many people to choose to remain in isolation rather than risk being ridiculed.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of Rosacea have a great resemblance to those of acne. However, Rosacea is NOT acne and should not be treated with the same methods as acne would. Common symptoms of Rosacea include:
Sudden and excessive flushing and redness (Erythema) of the face and less commonly the neck and chest. This happens when the blood vessels expand to accommodate the increased volume of blood flow.
Formation of pimples, nodules, and pustules which are often inflamed, solid, or pus-filled.
Formations of red lines on the face (Telangiectasia) caused by the enlarged blood vessels underneath the skin.
Enlargement of the nose (Rhinophyma) caused by fluid collecting in the skin tissue and leading to disfigurement of the nose.
Burning or itching of the skin
Swelling or edema of the face
Ocular Rosacea is characterized by profound dry eye symptoms, sandy and itchy feelings, watering, and swollen eyelids.
Causes and Triggers:
Nobody knows for sure what causes Rosacea. However, there are certain people who are more prone to developing the disease and it does seem to run in families. The causes of Rosacea remain unknown but there as several things known to trigger episodes.
Rosacea can be aggravated by environmental factors like excessive heat, sun exposure, rain, wind, and temperature changes. Consuming hot, spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeine can also trigger an attack. Sometimes medications, like ACE inhibitor, can cause development of the disease. It is always a good idea to try and avoid things you know may trigger an attack.
Treatments:
There are several treatments available for Rosacea. Cold compresses are an effective way to alleviate the redness generated by the dilated blood vessels. Not only does it aid in returning blood vessels to their original size it is also very soothing.
Doctors can prescribe medicines or other treatments for Rosacea. Mild cases may be treated with topical preparations like Metrocream or Metrogel. Oral antibiotics like Clindamycin, Metronidazole, Erythromycin. or Doxycycline may also be used. For rhynophyma, surgical methods like dermabrasion, electrosurgery, and CO2 laser surgery are sometimes needed to reduce the visibility of blood vessels and to remove excess tissue buildup around the nose. Patients with Ocular Rosacea are usually advised to clean their eyelids frequently with dilute baby shampoo or other over-the-counter eyelid cleansing products.
The key to managing Rosacea is knowing what triggers an episode and then making every effort to avoid them. Armed with the knowledge of what can trigger an attack in conjunction with the Rosacea treatments available today, it becomes possible to live with Rosacea. People no longer need to feel like they're being hindered by a skin condition and can begin to lead a life filled with more confidence.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of Rosacea have a great resemblance to those of acne. However, Rosacea is NOT acne and should not be treated with the same methods as acne would. Common symptoms of Rosacea include:
Sudden and excessive flushing and redness (Erythema) of the face and less commonly the neck and chest. This happens when the blood vessels expand to accommodate the increased volume of blood flow.
Formation of pimples, nodules, and pustules which are often inflamed, solid, or pus-filled.
Formations of red lines on the face (Telangiectasia) caused by the enlarged blood vessels underneath the skin.
Enlargement of the nose (Rhinophyma) caused by fluid collecting in the skin tissue and leading to disfigurement of the nose.
Burning or itching of the skin
Swelling or edema of the face
Ocular Rosacea is characterized by profound dry eye symptoms, sandy and itchy feelings, watering, and swollen eyelids.
Causes and Triggers:
Nobody knows for sure what causes Rosacea. However, there are certain people who are more prone to developing the disease and it does seem to run in families. The causes of Rosacea remain unknown but there as several things known to trigger episodes.
Rosacea can be aggravated by environmental factors like excessive heat, sun exposure, rain, wind, and temperature changes. Consuming hot, spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeine can also trigger an attack. Sometimes medications, like ACE inhibitor, can cause development of the disease. It is always a good idea to try and avoid things you know may trigger an attack.
Treatments:
There are several treatments available for Rosacea. Cold compresses are an effective way to alleviate the redness generated by the dilated blood vessels. Not only does it aid in returning blood vessels to their original size it is also very soothing.
Doctors can prescribe medicines or other treatments for Rosacea. Mild cases may be treated with topical preparations like Metrocream or Metrogel. Oral antibiotics like Clindamycin, Metronidazole, Erythromycin. or Doxycycline may also be used. For rhynophyma, surgical methods like dermabrasion, electrosurgery, and CO2 laser surgery are sometimes needed to reduce the visibility of blood vessels and to remove excess tissue buildup around the nose. Patients with Ocular Rosacea are usually advised to clean their eyelids frequently with dilute baby shampoo or other over-the-counter eyelid cleansing products.
The key to managing Rosacea is knowing what triggers an episode and then making every effort to avoid them. Armed with the knowledge of what can trigger an attack in conjunction with the Rosacea treatments available today, it becomes possible to live with Rosacea. People no longer need to feel like they're being hindered by a skin condition and can begin to lead a life filled with more confidence.