Rosacea/ Pink face

SKIN & FACIAL REDNESS (ROSACEA)

About Rosacea

Rosacea is a common condition characterised by facial flushing and other signs of redness, coarseness of skin and pimples like eruption. It affects approximately 1 in 20 people.

Occurrence

Facialflushing could be seen from childhood or the early teens. More common in fair-skinned individuals.
Commonly affects face and eyes, especially around the nose, cheeks and chin and in between the brow.

Signs and Symptoms

Easy blushing and flushing of the facial skin is the most common sign.

Warm, swollen skin especially around nose and cheeks ( common in women)
Accompanying dandruff and oily skin
Small red bumps, pimples, pus filled lesions (pustules)
Broken dilated superficial blood vessels/ capillaries ( telangiectasia )
Enlarged prominent oil glands over nose, chin and cheeks
50% of affected individuals will have eye issues also-including redness, burning, gritty feeling in the eye,
foreign body sensation and swollen inflamed eyelids

Causes

The exact cause of Rosacea is still unknown. But a number of factors can aggravate or trigger Rosacea by increasing blood flow to the surface of your skin. Some of them include

Spicy foods
Alcohol (especially red wine)
Extreme temperatures
Sunlight
Stress, anger or embarrassment
Strenuous exercise
Hot baths, saunas
Corticosteroids
Some blood pressure medications
Fragrances
Astringents
Exfoliating agents

Diagnosis

There’s no specific test for Rosacea; it is usually diagnosed with a complete medical history and physical examination by a dermatologist.

Treatmentat Skin & You Clinic for Rosacea:

Rosacea cannot be cured completely, but can be controlled by using regularly prescribed medications and follow skin care routine:

Avoid Triggers – The first step is to avoid any triggers that may exacerbate the condition. Keeping a record of the triggers will allow you to identify and avoid them in future.

Use Sunscreen – Regular use of non-irritating sunscreens is important. They should preferably be paraben free and non-comedogenic, Physical sunscreens (titanium dioxide or zinc oxide)irritate the skin less than chemical ones and should provide protection against UVA and UVB rays with sun-protecting factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Frequent reapplications may prevent flares.

Reduce Touch – Avoid irritating your facial skin by rubbing or touching it too much.

Avoid Skin Irritants – Wash problem areas with a gentle cleanser and avoid facial products that contain alcohol or other skin irritants.

Topical Medications – A combination of topical medication and oral medicationcan treat Rosacea and should be used only under supervision of a dermatologist. Antibiotics such as topical metronidazole and tetracycline group of medications can be used for reducing inflammation and redness.

Oral Medications – Oral antibiotics have also been used and generally, they are used for inflammatory lesions i.e. papules and pus filled lesions; All antibiotics require a prescription from a doctor.

Oral Retinoid –They act by decreasing the production of oil by the sebaceous glands. These medications require close monitoring for side effects by a dermatologist, it can cause birth defects, so cannot be taken by pregnant females

Mineral Make-Up – Mineral make-up such as Glo-minerals, Jane -Ire dale is less likely to enter and congest the skin and exacerbate rosacea. They may also contain some calming ingredients like green tea extracts.

No Topical Steroids –can be prescribed for short term only, as they decrease inflammation initially.

Other Treatments

Why Skin & You Clinic for Rosacea?

We, at Skin & You Clinic, assess, examine and treat all dermatological conditions with utmost care and latest technology and treatment options available.