Rosacea

Rosacea (rose-AY-sha) is a condition/disorder of skin, commonly causing inflammations and redness, to facial skin. Rosacea has also been called acne rosacea or adult rosacea. Over 45,000 million people are affected worldwide especially, white skinned Northwestern Europeans. In United States about 14 million people have rosacea including women and adults between thirty to sixty age group especially, individuals with blonde hair, lighter skin and blue eyes. Redness appears on forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and sometimes, on neck, ears, scalp and the chest. Sometimes redness increases to cause a ruddy appearance or the blood vessels appear visible. Rosacea is a chronic disease that is often misunderstood for sunburn and acne. Rosacea is often hereditary and usually women are afflicted more than men. It is often cyclic, flaring up for weeks/months.

The exact cause of rosacea has not been identified. The reason is believed to be swelling of blood vessels, environmental factors and hereditary. Another belief is that it is caused by a mite of name Demodex folliculorum, living in the hair follicles. The mites cause inflammation by clogging the oil glands. Fungus and malfunction of some connective tissue found under the skin are also cited as reasons of rosacea.

Phases of Rosacea

• Pre- rosacea: It can start as a flushing/blushing tendency. It can develop to continuous redness in the centre of the face, especially nose. This is due to the dilation of blood vessels near the surface of the skin.
• Vascular rosacea: If not properly treated, the condition worsens. The small blood vessels on the cheeks and nose become visible (telangiectasia) due to swelling. Oily, oversensitive skin and dandruff may also be the result.
• Inflammatory rosacea: Pustules or bumps can appear over neck, ears, scalp and chest. Very rarely the disease can become severe causing the enlarging of sebaceous glands on the cheeks and nose.

It can also lead to rhinophyma causing a build up of tissue around and on the nose. This happens more to men over a span of years. Also more than fifty percent of the affected people suffer from ocular rosacea, resulting in a gritty and burning sensation in their eyes. Many factors worsen rosacea, like drinking alcohol, sunlight, heat, frigid climate, saunas and hot baths, wind, hot/spicy food and beverages, strenuous exercise, chronic use of steroids, menopause, emotional stress, embarrassment and anger, and blood vessel dilating drugs like blood pressure medicines. 

Treatments for Rosacea

Unfortunately Rosacea cannot be completely cured today. But through proper treatment, from the initial stage itself, can result in better control of rosacea. This prevents the enlargement of blood vessels, and prevents telangiectasia or rhinophyma from occurring.  But even if rhinophyma occurs, it can be treated and the symptoms can be diminished. Dermatologists according to the individual needs, prescribe treatments. These can be a combination of oral medicines, usually antibiotics and topical products. Antibiotics generally prescribed are erythromycin, minocycline, doxycycline, and tetracycline. Topical medications to reduce the pustules and papules necessitates the application of medications like erythromycin, benzoyl peroxide, sulphur lotions, sulphacetamide, metronidazole, azelaic acid, and cyndamycin. Sometimes laser surgery and electro surgery are adopted to save the skin from damage or scarring. Self-care is also important. Avoid overheat and alcohol. Use of sunscreen for protection from sun, ski mask in winter, moisturiser along with topical mediation, noncomedogenic products, and yellow or green tinted pre-foundation creams, powders etc helps to prevent flare-ups.