Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition usually affecting fair skinned-people from their mid 20’s to 60’s.
It occurs as a result of sebaceous gland disorder and affects the small blood vessels in the cheeks, resulting in a flushed appearance.
It is a spectrum disorder which may have several different presentations, from mild transient redness to tiny facial bumps, prominent underlying blood vessels to pustular acne. It may even manifest in skin overgrowth, causing a bulbous appearance to the nose, for instance.
As a condition, it is still poorly understood and currently there is no cure for it, unfortunately, so management is key.
Triggers range from extreme temperatures to stress, spices, some foods, caffeine and alcohol.
Several treatments are available and we recommend the following:
- Firstly, improve your skin’s barrier defence system, using good quality, medical-grade skincare. If the skin is functioning well, the barrier system will keep in natural moisturisation factors and water and keep out irritants. Try ASM’s Restore cream to normalise sensitive skin by reducing transepidermal water loss
- Likewise, balance your skin’s sebum production with at-home, medical-grade skincare and also in-clinic peels (e.g. PCA Skin’s Sensi Peel) to help reduce oil production, improve texture and tone
- Microtox may also be administered by your aesthetic doctor to help reduce oil production, target large pores, decrease inflammation, reduce fine lines and to give skin a glow. It is injected at a superficial level and targets the skin, preventing the “muscle freezing” effect that so many expect from toxin
- Laser /IPL treatment is best for the redness caused by rosacea as it can help remove the dilated visible blood vessels
- Remember sun avoidance and photo protection by using a good quality SPF – I’m a fan of Heliocare products, such as their Anti-Redness Emulsion
- Ivermectin cream is a doctor-prescribed topical treatment for pustular rosacea. Metronidazole or azelaic acid gel can also be used alongside oral antibiotics such as doxycycline however you may be advised to try to avoid antibiotics as a first line to avoid antibiotic resistance developing
- Istretinoin can be good for resistant cases but this needs to prescribed under specialist guidance and you will need regular monitoring and blood tests, along with careful precautions against pregnancy.
As with any challenging skin condition, always consult a professional. Hope this helps but if you have any questions, please call or email us.
