Rosacea is the chronic skin condition that causes redness and swelling on the face. It has been estimated that as of 2008 over 14 million Americans suffer from this condition, however many do not even realize they have rosacea. Sometimes confused with traditional acne, rosacea begins as redness on the cheeks, nose and chin. Adults between the ages of 30-50 can develop the disorder and it is sometimes referred to as adult acne. Rosacea is a long term condition that has no cure. Treatments are aimed at controlling the exacerbations and remissions that are classic to this disease.
Sometimes known as acne rosacea, the symptoms appear as pink red patches, small red bumps or cysts, broken blood vessels in the face and for some pink irritated eyes. While some symptoms mimic that of traditional acne, this skin condition will not be outgrown like traditional acne. There are no blackheads or whiteheads and the red bumps are not “squeezable” like those of standard acne. Rosacea is more prominent in women however men have more severe cases. Those of fair skin are primarily affected, so diagnosis in darker skinned patients is infrequent. Over time the symptoms tend to progress and if left untreated the problem will worsen. There is no single factor that causes this disease, although heredity and environmental factors seem to play a large part.
Treatments are often combination therapies. Triggers or outside influences that seem to initiate the skin reactions include; smoking, spicy foods, hot beverages, alcohol, extremes of hot and cold, exposure to sunlight and for some stress. Controlling the triggers can help to control the symptoms of rosacea. Topical and oral antibiotics can be used individually or in combinations to effectively reduce redness and inflammation. More 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. Several treatments may be required to control the symptoms.
If you think you have rosacea or have “adult onset acne” it is advisable to seek an evaluation by a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment options. |
