Acne rosacea is a chronic disease that affects mainly the facial skin, characterized by flare-ups and remissions. It generally begins over the age of thirty on cheeks, nose, chin or forehead, but sometimes can occur on the chest, neck, scalp or ears too. If untreated, pimples often develop and in most severe cases th nose grows swollen and bumpy due to excess tissue. In many cases, it acne rosacea also affects the eyes, which feel irritated and look watery and bloodshot.
Even though anyone can suffer from it, people with fair skin who flush or blush easily are prone to develop rosacea. It is more common in women than men, but men tend to develop more severe forms. There is no cure for acne rosacea, but medical therapy helps keeping it under control and reversing the symptoms. If you suspect you have rosacea, you should consult a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment.
What Are The Main Symptoms?
Acne rosacea symptoms vary widely from one individual to another and generally only some of the potential sign appear. Experts claim that it always includes one of the following primary symptoms:
* Flushing
* Persistent Redness
* Bumps and Pimples
* Visible Blood Vessels
Acne Rosacea Treatment
As signs and symptoms vary widely from one sufferer to another, acne rosacea treatment should be tailored by a dermatologist for each particular case. Dermatologists can prescribe various oral and topical treatments to cure pimples and redness associated with the disease. Generally, the initial treatment consists of oral antibiotics combined with topical treatment to bring the condition under control, followed by long-term topical treatment to maintain it. In some cases, laser or intense pulsed light therapy are used for acne rosacea treatment, in order to reduce redness, remove visible blood vessels and correct nose disfigurement. Ocular rosacea is usually treated with antibiotics.
Skin Care
Individuals who suffer from acne rosacea should consult their dermatologist to make sure the skin care treatment they are using is suitable for their condition. Patients are usually advised to use mild and non-abrasive cleaners to wash their face, rinse it with warm water and blot it dry using a soft cotton towel. They should only use non-irritating products and use a sunscreen with an SPF of minimum 15 to protect their skin from sunlight.
If you have acne rosacea, you may use cosmetics to conceal the effects. Green tinted, followed by a skin-tone foundation in natural yellow tones can be used to conceal redness. Makeup with ping or orange hues should be avoided.
Lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is also part of the whole acne rosacea treatment and it can help you maintain remission and avoid the external factors that cause flare ups or aggravate your skin condition. Here are some of the things you should do:
* Avoid hot drinks, lots of coffee, spicy foods and alcohol. Although most people think acne rosacea is linked to alcoholism, it can also affect someone who doesn't drink at all.
* Practice a good sun protection and avoid extremely high or low temperatures.
* Avoid aggressive behavior against your face, such as rubbing or scrubbing, as it can irritate the reddened skin.
* Work out only in cool environments and do not overheat.
* Avoid cosmetics and skin-care products that irritate your skin and use hair sprays properly.
* Try keeping a diary of all flushing episodes and write down what foods, products, medications ore activities are they associated with.
Even though the causes are still unknown and there is no acne rosacea treatment that can ensure you got rid of it forever, there are a lot of things that do help. Consulting a dermatologist and getting the right treatment, as well as following these lifestyle guidelines, can decrease the risk of pustules and redness and help you keep the situation under control.