Most of us have been through a phase in life when we wished we could just do something to hide our face from being flinched at by others. This phase in life is significant of sebum-rich bumps on face that are referred medically as acne rosanea.
Rosacea is a life-long condition as there is no cure for it, though treatment can control symptoms and make it appear like the bumps have dissapeared. There will be periods of better control and others of irritating flare ups. Aim of treatment is to control symptoms and improve the appearance of the skin. Besides treatment, good skin care and avoidance of trigger factors is needed to keep the condition under control.
Skin Care for Rosacea
Skin care is an important part of treatment for rosacea. Some skin care suggestions for people with rosacea include:
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- Try to find out the triggers of rosacea and avoid them as much as possible. Note when flare-ups occur as this can help you to determine the trigger factors.
- Apply sunscreen with protection against UVA and UVB rays daily. Use a sunscreen with sun-protecting factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
- Use a mild moisturiser and avoid the use of irritating products on the face. Use only those kinds of make-up, moisturisers, sunscreens, or other skin products on the face that do not contain alcohol or other irritating ingredients as these can cause flare-ups.
- Use gentle skin cleansers to wash your face. Apply the cleanser with your fingertips. Do not rub, tug, scratch, or scrub your face. Use lukewarm water (avoid use of hot or cold water) to wash your face. Pat your face dry after washing.
- Apply topical medication after ten minutes of washing your face and then wait for another ten minutes before applying make-up or rosacea skin care products.
Medications and other Treatments
Many people with rosacea need medications or other treatments in addition to their skin care regime to control symptoms.
- Topical and oral medications: The doctor may prescribe a topical antibiotic, such as metronidazole or an oral antibiotic such as tetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin, or doxycycline. Medication is prescribed based on the severity of condition. Topical antibiotic is applied directly to the affected skin, to control the symptoms. In most people, the papules (pink bumps) and pustules (bumps filled with pus) respond well to this treatment but the redness and flushing may not improve. Improvement of symptoms is usually noted several weeks or months after the start of medications.
- Laser Surgery: electrosurgery and laser surgery are used for patients who have red lines on their skin (from dilated blood vessels) or rhinophyma. Treatment with laser causes little or no discomfort but your face may look bruised for a few days after treatment and may also scab, peel, or crust. In people with rhinophyma (that is bulbous nose due to excess tissue that accumulates on the nose), laser can be used to remove the excess tissue.
- Dermabrasion: Excess tissue can be removed using a scalpel or a rapidly rotating wire brush by a procedure known as dermabrasion. The procedure is performed by dermatologists. Your nose may appear red for about a year after tissue removal, but it will assume the normal skin colour after that period of time.
Treatment of Ocular Rosacea
If you have ocular rosacea, the doctor would treat it with oral antibiotics such as tetracycline or doxycycline. If you have infection of the eyelids, your doctor will advise frequent eyelid hygiene. This includes scrubbing the eyelids lightly with diluted baby shampoo or an eyelid cleaner followed by the application of warm (but not hot) compressor several times a day. If the eyes are severely affected, steroid eye drops may be prescribed.
Rosacea lasts for a really long time and the symptoms keep showing up. The best way to treat it is by taking good care at home and taking medications as prescribed.
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