Rosacea usually affects women more than men but if the
latter are affected, they can have more severe symptoms.
This common but chronic inflammatory skin condition
tends to come in cycles with a flare up for a few weeks
or months at a time. The problem is that rosacea needs
to be treated as soon as possible so that the condition
does not progress to the next stage and the regular
flare ups are controlled.
There are several stages of rosacea:
• Pre-rosacea where there may be just a simple
tendency to flush or blush followed by a persistent
redness in the central portion of the face.
• Vascular rosacea is the stage when small blood
vessels develop on the nose and cheeks which swell
and become noticeable. The skin can also become very
sensitive.
• Inflammatory rosacea is a further stage when
small red persistent bumps or pustules may appear
across the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin.
• A further stage is when the oil glands in
the nose and even the cheeks become enlarged so that
over time, the area becomes bulbous. This stage is
usually only in men.
• In addition, some 50% of rosacea sufferers
experience ocular rosacea which at the very least
is a burning and gritty sensation in the eyes. It
can lead to further complications such as conjunctivitis
and more.
Treatment options and home care
If you suspect you have rosacea, you should see a
doctor or dermatologist for a definite diagnosis and
advice on the treatment options available. It is important
for you to know that rosacea can be treated and controlled
more easily in its early stages. Wait too long and
it may become worse and be more difficult to treat
and control. Unfortunately, rosacea rarely clears
up on its own.
Be careful about using over the counter medications
as many contain ingredients such as acids, alcohol
and other irritants which may actually worsen your
rosacea.
Your doctor or dermatologist will probably suggest
certain moisturizers, cleansing products, sunscreen
and other products that will actually improve the
health of your skin. Doctors then often prescribe
topical antibiotics to treat rosacea but these are
more for their anti-inflammatory properties rather
than to kill off any bacteria. Others will prescribe
oral antibiotics or a combination of both oral and
topical.
Whatever treatment you embark on, do your homework
first by checking out the medications on line for
any possible side effects. You also need to be aware
that such treatment may need to be long term because
although you will probably notice an improvement within
1 to 2 months, symptoms can recur if you stop such
medications. In extreme cases, surgical methods may
be necessary.
There are many ways in which you can help manage
rosacea yourself:
• Certain foods and drinks can trigger an outbreak
or worsening of rosacea and these include hot drinks,
spicy foods, caffeine and alcoholic beverages.
• Drink plenty of water – at least 8 to
10 glasses a day because water is essential to new
cell regeneration of the skin as well as the eyes
and all body organs.
• Emotional stress, anger or embarrassment can
be a trigger too.
• Limit your exposure to the sun by keeping
in the shade, wearing a hat and using a good SPF 30
sun block.
• Avoid extreme temperatures whether hot or
cold as these can also make your symptoms worse. Hot
baths, saunas and working up a sweat during exercise
are not a good idea.
• Exercise in a cool environment.
• Clean your face once a day using a gentle
cleanser. Pat the skin dry with a clean towel. Avoid
touching the face and check that any cosmetics and
facial products do not contain alcohol, menthol or
eucalyptus oil. Eye make up containers should be discarded
every 3 months as they can harbor bacteria and pollutants.
If you use a hair spray, avoid contact with your face.
• Avoid drugs that dilate the blood vessels
(such as some blood pressure medications) as well
as Corticosteroids.
• Investigate natural healing products on line
that are safe and successful to use on rosacea and
can control the flare ups too.
Remember that left untreated, rosacea tends to get
worse over time. But with treatment and home care,
you can halt and even regress the condition and keep
any flare ups under control.
More Rosacea Articles:
Vascular
Rosacea
Inflammatory
Rosacea
Ocular
Rosacea
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