Are your frustrated with Rosacea?
What is it and what can I do about it?
· A condition called acne rosacea, is a chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in the skin, which causes a ruddy complexion and small acne-like eruptions on the cheeks, forehead and nose.
· In men it can often cause the skin on the nose to thicken and swell, leading to a condition called rhinophyma.
· Nobody know what causes it but the list of potential triggers is endless. The main culprits are alcohol and rich, spicy foods
· Because its roots are unknown, there's no permanent cure so management is the key. This is partly achieved by identifying what makes the rosacea worse through a process of exclusion and by the use of topical antibiotics - usually metronidazole.
· A GP's diagnosis is vital since the symptoms can be similar to more serious conditions such as lupus. Rosacea can last a lifetime, especially in men, but of�en clears up on its own.
Treatment
· Surgical
Enlarged blood vessels, some redness and changes due to rhinophyma often become permanent. In these cases, surgical methods, such as laser surgery and electrosurgery, may reduce the visibility of blood vessels, remove tissue buildup around your nose and generally improve your appearance
Self-care
· In addition to getting treatment from your doctor, you can play an active part in your treatment. One of the most important things you can do if you have rosacea is to minimize your exposure to anything that causes a flare-up. Because everyone is different, find out what factors affect you so that you can avoid them. Keeping a running list of your own flare-up triggers might help you identify the things that are a problem for you.
Here are other suggestions for preventing flare-ups:
- Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher to protect your face from the sun.
- Protect your face in the winter with a scarf or ski mask.
- Avoid irritating your facial skin by rubbing or touching it too much.
- Avoid facial products that contain alcohol or other skin irritants.
- When using moisturizer with a topical medication, apply the moisturizer after the medication has dried.
- Use products that are labeled noncomedogenic. These won't clog your oil and sweat gland openings (pores) as much.
- Avoid overheating.
- If you wear makeup, consider using green- or yellow-tinted pre-foundation creams and powders, because they're designed to counter skin redness.
- Avoid alcohol.
