Acne Rosacea

What is Acne Rosacea?

Acne rosacea is a skin disorder of the nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin that typically starts in adulthood. This condition will make the face turn red, and may cause the skin to swell with sores that resemble acne. It is a common condition that is incurable. However, acne rosacea is easily managed and controlled through medications and treatments. Rosacea can often be mistaken for sunburn as it can make the face rather red. It is harmless, however, could cause the individual embarrassment due to the looks of the skin. Triggers for rosacea include the wind, cold weather, hot baths or showers, exercise and some skin care products. Certain foods, such as cheese, citrus fruits, foods that contain high amounts of histamine, yeast extract, and spicy foods can also trigger rosacea.

Acne Rosacea Symptoms

Causes of rosacea is not known. However it commonly affects those in the age range of 30 to 50, and is more common in woman than men. Should men have acne rosacea, they will often experience worse symptoms than women. It more commonly appears on those that are fair skinned. Symptoms of acne rosacea other than a red face include blushing or flushing of the skin, a red nose, acne like sores that can ooze and crust over, stinging or burning sensation of the skin, bloodshot eyes that appear watery and irritated, and spider like blood vessels on the face.

What to do if you suspect you have Rosacea or Acne Rosacea ?

Should you feel you have acne rosacea, you can schedule an appointment with your skin specialist.

They will be able to examine the skin, and diagnose it after asking questions about family history and your skin. He or she will want to know if you experience any pain or stinging, and will look for the symptoms listed above. One thing that might be particularly useful is keeping a symptoms journal to see when flare ups happen the most. Look for times of stress, overheating, exposure to wind, sun, hot and cold, alcoholic beverage consumption, spicy food consumption, and keep track of all skin care products applied to the skin.

Acne Rosacea Treatment

There are many treatment options for acne rosacea. A prescription sulfa wash could be prescribed by your skin specialist. An antibacterial cream could be also applied a few times a day, at morning and night, and oral antibiotics could be prescribed to take during flare ups.

Topical medications can be applied to the skin by the patient suffering from acne rosacea. Metronidazole is a topical antibiotic that can significantly improve acne rosacea when applied once or twice daily after cleansing. Azelaic acid will work to control redness and the bumps on the skin associated with rosacea.

Laser therapies can be used to treat individuals with acne rosacea.  Laser treatments, such as Intense Pulsed light will help relieve redness while being safe and effective. Multiple treatments may be needed in three to six week intervals. Laser treatments may be used in conjunction with photodynamic therapy for even greater results. A topical photosensitizer liquid is placed on the skin, with a light that will activate it. This can help to reduce the inflammation caused by rosacea.

Glycolic acid peels are effective at treating rosacea. Every two to four weeks a peel can be applied professionally. These peels are left on for a very short amount of time but are very effective for some that suffer from acne rosacea.

How to prevent Acne Rosacea from developing?

To help prevent acne rosacea, one should avoid being in the sun. Always wear a high quality sun screen of at least SPF 30. Avoid activity on hot days or in areas that are hot. Watch your daily intake of alcohol, spicy foods and hot beverages and avoid any triggers that may cause the skin to flare up.

 

 

4 replies
  1. Natasha
    Natasha says:

    I have suffered from acne rosacea for a long time now. I used to be embarrassed of my skin because it was so red. I have had it long enough now, and while I am tired of it, I have grown used to it. I have looked into research before and was always told that nothing can be done to treat rosacea. However, after reading this article, I have some hope. I have never been to a dermatologist before because I figured why go if there is nothing they can do. I would love to try some of the treatment options for rosacea. I would not mind having the laser therapy done, or even having a glycolic acid peel. I am reaching for the phone now to see when the dermatologist can get me in! I have a new found hope for my skin and it feels great.

    Reply
  2. Lorry J.
    Lorry J. says:

    Growing up in my teen years I suffered from rosacea. I still do but it is not as bad as it once was because I have learned how to handle it. I remember kids being so mean to me. My face was always so bright red that they would call me Koolaid. One of my triggers was witch hazel. My mother instilled in my that natural products were always better so I used witch hazel as an astringent. I thought it was working for my face, but in reality it was what was causing my flare ups. I have since stopped using witch hazel and have not had a flare up for a few months, which pleases me. I am now 19 years old, and am learning how to live with rosacea. I wash with a prescribed face wash, control how hot I get, watch my stress and work with my dermatologist to find a plan that works for me. We are in the process of going over treatments to make my skin look better, and I meet with him next week again to decide what we are going to do for the next step, such as laser treatments.

    Reply
  3. Ester
    Ester says:

    I have noticed that one of my triggers is any kind of hot drinks. I love coffee and apple cider in the winter, but I just can not have them. They make me red, red, red! Especially the nose. I feel like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer when I drink them. I have been to my dermatologist before and I do have a special lotion that I put on my face (Sodium sulfacetamide) that will reduce any inflammation. I found this works particularly well on my face.

    Reply
  4. Rosa
    Rosa says:

    I have rosacea. I am 32 years old and first noticed it about 2 or so years ago. I have been to the dermatologist several times for my condition and have been successful with the options that I have tried. I was prescribed a special face wash, which works miracles for me. I am pleased with the results of using it twice a day. I have also done the intense pulsed light treatment. We (my dermatologist and I) decided that six treatments would be effective for me. I am very happy with the way my skin is looking now. I still watch for flare ups. I control my stress level with meditation and yoga, and do not allow myself to be out in the sun for very long. And sunscreen is a must for me now. I wear it daily on my face, and it is part of my skin care routine. I realize that in order to make this condition go away I have to take better care of my skin and that is what I am doing. My face is still red, but nothing like it once was.

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