Treatments for Bad Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition that affects adults usually over the age of 30. According to the National Rosacea Society, "more than 76 percent of rosacea patients said their condition had lowered their self-esteem, and many reported that it had caused them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements." Rosacea is considered a disease, and while there is no cure, if it is treated early the symptoms can be reduced. If you already have bad rosacea there are treatments available.

Phases

• Rosacea is classified into phases. In the first couple of phases your symptoms can seem to get better, only to come back worse.

  The first phase is considered pre-rosacea in which the patient's skin flushes or turns red easily. The main focus of redness is the center of the face and nose where there is a dilation of blood vessels.

  The second phase is called vascular rosacea in which the symptoms worsen. Small broken blood vessels appear on your nose and cheeks. Cheeks may appear swollen. Your skin becomes sensitive and you may have more oily skin with dry patches on your cheeks.

  The third stage is inflammatory rosacea in which all of the above symptoms still plague you, but you also develop small red bumps that are pustules. In this stage, 50 percent of people will also experience watery and burning eyes, this is called ocular rosacea.

  The fourth phase of rosacea is thickening of the skin called rhinophyma. This condition affects the nose where the blood vessels become so enlarged the skin thickens and bumps appear. If the condition is left untreated, the nose will get larger. Surgery can be done to correct this condition. Actor W.C. Fields was thought to have rhinophyma, as well as President Bill Clinton.

Doctor's Treatments

• Rosacea is best treated before it gets to the third stage. If your rosacea is bad already, it is important to be under the care of a dermatologist. Rosacea gets worse over time if left untreated. Many over-the-counter medications can make your rosacea worse, as they may contain acids and other irritants. Your doctor for the proper treatment.

Treatments

• Your doctor will prescribe topical treatments for your rosacea. The common medications used are antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid. You will apply the creams once or twice a day to reduce the redness and swelling.

  Your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic such as tetracycline or erythromycin. These antibiotics are used to reduce inflammation.

  Accutane is used for severe inflammatory rosacea if all other medications are not working. Accutane is a powerful drug that has serious side effects, so you must be under a doctor's care to use it.

  If you have ocular rosacea, your doctor can prescribe steroid eye drops.

  Dermabrasion and Laser skin resurfacing are becoming popular ways to reduce rosacea. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, after doing at least two laser skin resurfacing treatments, "patients have reported that their redness and flushing did not return for 7 or 8 years."