ROSACEA
Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory condition that affects the skin especially the face.Often those, cheeks, forehead, and chin are most involved If left untreated, the condition can worsen. Rosacea commonly affects women between ages 30 to 50 years especially those who are fair skinned. Rosacea affects about 16 million people in the United States alone and approximately 45 million people worldwide. Rosacea has four subtypes, they are:
- Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR), associated with intense redness of the facial skin, frequent flushing, and visible blood vessels
- Papulopustular Rosacea, commonly misdiagnosed and mistreated as acne. It is associated with acne-like symptoms and often affect middle-aged women.
- Ocular rosacea, this subtype affects the area around the eyes
- Phymatous rosacea, is a rare form and is associated with thickening of skin on the nose and is usually common in men.
Some people with rosacea feels bad because of the way their skin looks. There are groups that can be joined for group support.
CAUSES
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be from a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.
There are some factors that trigger rosacea, this include:
- Exposure to temperature extremes
- Strenuous exercise
- Severe sunburn
- Heat from sunlight
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Cold Wind
- Hot and spicy foods
- Alcohol
- Foods and beverages that contain caffeine
- Certain medications are known to trigger rosacea
- Having the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori
- Demodex mites
- Presence of cathelicidin
SYMPTOMS
Each subtype has its own symptoms
Symptoms of ETR
- Visible broken blood vessels
- Stinging and burning skin
- Swollen skin
- Redness and flushing in the center of the face
- Dry, rough, scaly skin.
Symptoms of acne rosacea
- oily skin
- sensitive skin
- raised patches of skin
- acne-like breakout and red skin
Symptoms of ocular rosacea
- dry, itchy eyes
- bloodshot and watery eyes
- broken blood vessels on the eye
- swollen eyelids
- damage to the cornea
- burning eyes
- diminished vision
Symptoms of phymatous rosacea
- large pores
- visible broken vessels
- thick skin on nose
- bumpy skin texture
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
No specific test exists for rosacea. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and a physical examination of the patient’s skin. Some other test may be undergone in some cases to rule out medical conditions that sometimes cause symptoms related to rosacea including acne, lupus, psoriasis, s, and eczema.
If the eye is involved, the doctor may recommend such patient than an eye doctor (ophthalmologist)
TREATMENT
The goal of treatment is to control signs and symptoms which may require a combination of topical medications and prescription treatment.
The type and severity of your symptoms are likely to determine the duration of your treatment.
Topical medication such as brimonidine that is applied on the skin either one or twice a day to reduce inflammation and redness. Other topical products include metronidazole and azelaic acid.
Oral antibiotics such as doxycycline, tetracycline that is taken as pill and helps to fight inflammation when used to treat rosacea
Isotretinoin for severe rosacea that doesn’t respond to other therapies
Laser treatment that can help to shrink the redness of enlarged blood vessels
Avoiding triggers that worsen the condition can help reduce the onset of the condition