Acne rosacea, or most commonly known as rosacea, is the long term skin condition that appears as pink/ red patches, bumps or broken blood vessels on the face. In some cases redness and swelling appear. Over 14 million Americans are afflicted with this condition. It is often given the name acne rosacea because it can be confused for traditional acne.
Acne rosacea usually begins between the ages of 30 and 50. Symptoms tend to mimic that of traditional acne. The difference is that blackheads or whiteheads are not visible and the red bumps are not “squeezable” like those of traditional acne. The condition is chronic and has no cure. Treatments are geared toward the management of symptoms to control the flair ups classic to this disease. Fair skinned people are primarily affected. Rosacea is more common in women, but men have more severe cases. As time goes on, the symptoms tend to progress and will worsen if left untreated. It is thought that heredity and environmental factors contribute to rosacea, but there is no known single factor that causes the disease.
Treatment for acne rosacea begins by controlling the triggers that instigate the skin reactions. Smoking, spicy foods, hot beverages, alcohol, extremes of hot and cold, exposure to sunlight and stress are the most common factors. Treatments are often a combination of therapies. Topical and oral antibiotics effectively reduce redness and inflammation. The severe cases may require the use of isotrentonin (Accutane) the oral medication used for severe cases of acne. Laser and intense pulsed light treatments have also been proven effective to reduce redness and reduce the dilated capillaries that are associated with this condition. The controlling of symptoms may require several treatments for effective results.
Adult onset acne or acne rosacea should be diagnosed by a dermatologist. If you think you have this condition consider a consultation with your skin care specialist. Early detection and treatment is beneficial to keep the disease from progressing. |
