How to Recognize and Treat Rosacea

Rosacea can be a life-changing, long-term condition that can strike at any time of life. It’s characterized by the appearance of red marks on the face. These can vary from flushing or blushing to visible red blood vessels, small spots, skin thickening, and large pus-filled bumps. 

It’s most commonly seen in middle-aged, Caucasian females. However, it can affect anyone. While there’s no definitive cure, there are many treatments that can help reduce its acuteness and longevity.

Everything you Need to Know about Rosacea

• What is rosacea?

What is rosacea?

The cause of rosacea isn’t yet defined. It’s best described as a condition that, in the early stages, can cause your face to blush or flush more than normal. As it progresses, it can worsen, causing more severe symptoms and even extending to other areas—namely, the ears, back, and chest.

Current clinical knowledge categorizes the disease into four distinct types:

• Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: the mildest type, with flushing, redness, and visible blood vessels.
• Papulopustular rosacea: in addition to the above, swelling can occur along with breakouts—rather like acne.
• Phymatous rosacea: The skin becomes thickened and develops a bumpy texture.
• Ocular rosacea: As the name suggests, this involves the eye area. The eyelids can swell and what looks like a stye (or styes) might develop.

All types of rosacea seem to have a genetic link. Those who suffer usually have a relative who suffered or one who had severe acne. Acne itself is often a preceding condition, although this might have been some years ago in childhood or teenage years.

The Key to how to Recognize and Treat Rosacea

• Diagnosis of rosacea
• How to effectively treat rosacea

Diagnosis of rosacea

Because the condition tends to get worse over time, treating it as early as possible is preferable. There are no specific tests for the condition. Instead, a dermatologist will examine the skin and discuss any possible triggers to come to a diagnosis. For those who have ocular rosacea, you might also need help from an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

How to effectively treat rosacea

Treatment surrounds controlling the symptoms. This is usually approached in three separate ways:

• Defining and avoiding triggers: Many common triggers include extremes of temperature, spicy foods, hot drinks, alcohol, sun exposure, emotions, and some medications (such as those that dilate the blood vessels).
• Skin treatments: Some of the most effective include microneedling and laser therapy. The latter can reduce enlarged blood vessels. Microneedling is proving to be one of the best skin treatments for the condition, significantly improving discoloration for many.
• Medication: There are many prescription drugs that your dermatologist might suggest. In some cases, you might require more than one and it’s often necessary to try a few options to find which works for you. They include topical medications (creams or gels) that help reduce flushing and some that control small pimples. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed for more severe cases and, in some cases, oral acne drugs are also used

The key to getting the best treatment for rosacea is to seek advice from a dermatologist. This is a medical doctor who’s specialized in treating the skin. These individuals can combine all the necessary treatment options: diagnosis, skin treatments, and medication to ensure the best chance of reducing symptoms or even banishing them entirely. 

The Experts at Bayou City Dermatology can Recognize and Treat Rosacea

Our medically-led clinic provides so much more than cosmetic skin treatments. We offer dermatologists who’re experienced in both the diagnosis and treatment of rosacea in people of all ages. Microneedling is a proven method that works to reduce the symptoms of the condition for many who suffer.

However mild or severely you suffer, partnering with our doctors can dramatically reduce the trajectory of rosacea, as well as help you understand any triggers that might cause flare-ups.

Visit https://www.bayoucitydermatology.com/cosmetic/microneedling for more information and call us today to book an appointment.