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THE ROAD TO LONG-LASTING ROSACEA CONTROL

What You Should Know

Rosacea (pronounced ROSE-A-SHA) is a chronic condition affecting the skin of the face, mostly in the area where people blush. There are a number of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, as you will see below.

What are the symptoms of rosacea?

Redness - This can look like nothing more than a blush or a sunburn. Rosacea is caused by flushing (redness caused when a large amount of blood rushes into the blood vessels just under the skin, and the vessels expand to handle the flow). If this continues to happen, over time the redness becomes more noticeable and does not go away.

Pimples - As a result of continual flushing, the skin becomes irritated and inflamed and pimples may appear on the face. These pimples may be papules (small, red, and solid) or pustules (pus-filled, like teenage acne). This is why rosacea is often referred to as an "adult acne" or "acne rosacea." But people with rosacea don't have the comedones (blackheads or whiteheads) usually seen in teen acne.

Broken or Enlarged Blood Vessels - Doctors call this telangiectasia (TELL-AN-JEK-TAZE-YAH). When people with rosacea flush, the small blood vessels of the face enlarge, eventually showing through the skin. They may appear as spots or as thin wavy lines. Blushing, flushing, or redness may hide them, but they can become more visible as the underlying redness is cleared up by treatment.

Enlarged, Bumpy Nose - This condition is called rhinophyma (RHY-NO-FYE-MUH) and is present in the more advanced stages of rosacea, especially in men. When rosacea isn't treated early, small, knobby bumps may gradually appear on the nose, giving it a swollen appearance. This is the symptom that gives rise to the myth that rosacea sufferers are actually problem drinkers, which can substantially contribute to the emotional upset experienced by many patients.

How does it start, and how does it progress?

If you're like most people with rosacea, the first sign is rosy cheeks. As it progresses, the face may get red in patches and stay red for hours or days at a time, and, eventually, the redness doesn't go away at all. At this stage, some or all of the symptoms mentioned above may also appear. Rosacea is a chronic condition, which means the symptoms may come and go in cycles and fluctuate in their degree of severity. Because of this, many people mistake their rosacea for things like sunburn, windburn, a complexion change, or acne and don't bother to see a doctor. However, in most cases, the earlier you see a dermatologist, the quicker your rosacea can be brought under control. In fact, most dermatologists think that early treatment can keep rosacea from getting worse, preventing blood vessels from enlarging or rhinophyma from developing.

Who gets Rosacea?

Rosacea is usually seen in adults. It can affect those in their 30s, all the way up to and including people in their 70s and 80s. While rosacea is most common in persons with fair complexions, it can affect people of all skin colors and skin types. Most people who get rosacea seem to flush and blush more often than the average person and may have parents or grandparents who have the same symptoms. Because they think it's just something that "runs in the family," they often don't seek treatment.

What are the treatments to clear up my Rosacea?

Be sure and list all your medications for your dermatologists and esthetician so we know how your medications will interact with your treatments and skin care products.

Rosacea can't be cured, but the right treatment, used faithfully, can give you much clearer skin and relief from your symptoms.

Your dermatologist and esthetician are experts in the treatment of rosacea and will help and advise in the effort to keep your rosacea in check.

Oral Antibiotics - Capsules or tablets taken by mouth once or twice a day. Some of these, such as tetracycline, should be taken on an empty stomach (ask your pharmacist about milk and other foods that may keep the medication from being absorbed by the body). If you are taking birth-control pills, it's important to tell your dermatologist, as tetracycline therapy may interfere with their effectiveness.

Topical Steroids - Prescription and nonprescription topical corticosteroid cream or gel is sometimes prescribed initially to get redness under control quickly, but it is not generally used as a long-term treatment for rosacea since steroids can sometimes cause a flare-up of symptoms over time. Once your symptoms have cleared up you will need to continue using daily therapy to keep your new clearer, healthier look. Without regular maintenance therapy your symptoms may return or get worse over time. Studies of patients who stopped treatment showed that many had a relapse of symptoms within 1 week to 6 months.

Controlling the causes of flushing and blushing can help rosacea from getting worse and blood vessels from enlarging. Once blood vessels are visible, many people elect to have them removed by laser therapy. Surgery can also be used to correct a nose enlarged by rhinophyma.

Keeping your skin clear will take some dedication on your part. But once you get into the daily routine and see the results it won't seem like any trouble at all.

How do I maintain my clear skin?

Following a regular cleansing and moisturizing routine is very important in controlling rosacea.

Cleansing - You should use a mild cleanser, avoiding products that are comedogenic (acne-causing) and ones that contain alcohol.

SPF - You should protect your face daily with a sunscreen of SPF 25 or higher, even on rainy, cloudy, overcast days.

Moisturizing - Moisturize as needed with a cream that is "noncomedogenic," (non-acne causing) and won't clog pores. If your treatment includes a topical medication, you can apply the moisturizer after the medication has dried.

Look for non-comedogenic (non-acne causing) products for your hair and makeup.

Your esthetician will help make the appropriate recommendations and instructions on how your products should be used for the best results.

Shaving Care For Men

It is suggested that men use an electric shaver instead of a razor, and avoid applying after-shave and lotions that burn or sting.

Makeup

Makeup can help hide your rosacea while you are in the process of getting your symptoms under control and afterward. Select foundations with yellow (not pink) undertones and green tone products specifically designed to be worn under foundation to disguise facial redness are perfect for covering rosacea. I recommend yellow tones that are available at ttsc@stjoelive.com. Tierney specializes in cosmetics that are non-comedogenic and non-irritating foundation, loose powder, blushes, eyeshadows, etc. and she will personally advise you on the correct shade for your skin tone.

Avoid Rosacea Triggers

Once diagnosed you need to experiment to determine all of your own personal triggers. You may find it helpful to keep a daily diary of your food consumption and activities to get a better idea of what causes your episodes of flushing. Once you have identified your own triggers, try staying away from them for a few days. If you notice a reduction in the frequency and severity of your flare-up, you have identified what you should avoid to help keep your rosacea under control.

Triggers:

Hopefully I have covered information that is helpful to you in your treatment of rosacea. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to guide you in the right direction.

SHARRON C.P.E.
SHARRON THE BLENDER®
CLINICAL-BASIC SKIN CARE, INC.