Common Treatments For Rosacea

Answer 1

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that affects nearly 14 million adults in the United States. Characterized by redness, flushing, and inflammation on the cheeks, nose, and chin, rosacea typically appears between the ages of 30 and 50. Women tend to experience the condition far more frequently than men do.

Left untreated, rosacea becomes persistent and progressive. But delays in treatment are very common. Since rosacea symptoms emerge slowly, the condition is often mistaken for sunburn. As rosacea progresses, the redness and stinging become more noticeable. Many rosacea sufferers mistake the solid bumps and pus-filled pimples for acne.

Rosacea is a condition that worsens over time, changing a person's appearance and affecting self-esteem. While the cause of rosacea is uncertain and there is no cure, the condition is treatable.

Medical Treatment Options

Although rosacea cannot be cured, certain medical treatments can relieve the symptoms. The best treatment combines prescription medication with lifestyle changes. Cleansers, moisturizers, sunscreen, and other products can also improve the skin and ease rosacea symptoms.

Topical prescription medications are available to reduce skin inflammation and redness. The most common topical solutions contain antibiotics such as metronidazole, tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, and azelaic acid. These medications may sting, burn, irritate, or dry the skin.

In addition to topical lotions and creams, oral medications are often prescribed to treat rosacea. In fact, they tend to work faster than topical treatments. Oral medications are typically antibiotics like tetracycline, minocycline, and erythromycin, which kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. Some doctors prescribe isotretinoin, a powerful oral medication, if other drugs are ineffective. Oral antibiotics do have side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

When redness, enlarged blood vessels, and other rosacea symptoms become permanent, surgery may be necessary to treat the condition. Laser surgery and electrosurgery are successful for reducing the appearance of blood vessels and removing excess tissue around the nose.

Lifestyle And Home Remedies

People with rosacea can minimize their exposure to flare-up causes with numerous home remedies and lifestyle changes. Once they discover what triggers their rosacea flare-ups, they can avoid those triggers. Heat and alcohol consumption are two common triggers.

A good sunscreen is one suggestion for reducing flare-ups. This is especially important in the summer sun. In the winter, a scarf or ski mask can protect the skin.

People with rosacea should use gentle cleansers and noncomedogenic moisturizers. Facial products made with alcohol and other skin irritants should be avoided. Women who wear cosmetics can use a yellow- or green-tinted foundation to counter the redness of rosacea.

Alternative Treatment Options

Various alternative medicines are said to treat rosacea. These include colloidal silver, laurelwood oil, oregano oil, emu oil, and vitamin K. While there is no medical evidence that these treatments are effective, there is anecdotal support for their use. As with all dietary supplements and holistic therapies, people should talk to their doctors about alternative treatments for rosacea.