Rosacea Treatment
What do Prince William, Former President Bill Clinton, and JP Morgan have in common? They were all diagnosed with a condition called rosacea.
Rosacea comes in several forms, and while it is a chronic condition, it is highly manageable. If you suspect you could have rosacea, the helpful team at IDI offers state-of-the-art treatment solutions designed to minimize symptoms and reduce the occurrence of outbreaks.
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What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a very common skin disorder with varied presentations and degrees of severity. Symptoms can range from a slight redness of the cheeks and nose to disfiguring nose enlargement and painful pus-filled bumps. Some of the other hallmarks of the condition include:
- Broken, swollen blood vessels on the nose and cheeks
- Skin tenderness at the outbreak site
- Papules and/or pustules on the nose and cheeks
- Swelling of the eyes and eyelids
- Irritated, dry eyes
Rosacea is often confused with Acne. However, they are different conditions, though they can coexist. Rosacea papules are accompanied by persistent redness of the surrounding skin. Acne papules can be red but do not cause redness in the surrounding area. Moreover, acne vulgaris causes blackheads, which rosacea does not. It is important to distinguish the two conditions because the treatment protocols are very different.
The cause isn’t precisely known, but it is believed to be an inherited disorder since it is often seen in families. Left untreated, it can lead to significant cosmetic and medical complications, most notably a condition known as rhinophyma. This is the accumulation of skin on the nose due to impacted sebaceous glands. The nose eventually becomes significantly enlarged and distorted.
Rosacea Diagnosis
Your dermatologist will conduct a physical examination of your symptoms. Although there aren’t any diagnostic tests specific to rosacea, other tests may be performed to determine the presence of conditions with similar symptoms, such as lupus.
Treatment Process
Treatment focuses on managing outbreaks and reducing the likelihood of future flare-ups. Rhinophyma – the excessive tissue buildup on the nose – could require Surgical Intervention.
Treatments for mild to moderate rosacea generally involve topical medications that constrict the blood vessels, reducing redness. Azelaic acid topical solutions might be prescribed to reduce and heal any associated bumps. Oral antibiotics could also be prescribed to address severe papules.
IDI offers the latest, most effective rosacea treatments, helping patients manage symptoms successfully and achieve healthy, vibrant skin.
Possible treatments:
- Topical agents
- Oral medications
- Isolaz (featured on Good Morning, America)
- Photopneumatic therapy, combining Intense Pulsed Light with deep pore cleansing, is very effective in treating Rosacea.
- Photodynamic therapy
- Diolite® Laser
- CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser resurfacing for rhinophyma
- Recently, a new, very highly effective topical treatment, MIRVASO Gel (Brimonidine), has been introduced. It markedly reduces the Erythema (Redness) of the face within 1-2 weeks. Continuous treatment is necessary.
- The Diolite with the Scanlite (a fractionated form of the 532nm Diode Laser) has proved to be very effective in treating some resistant cases of rosacea.
Newer topical medicines that have recently appeared are
- Brimonidine (Mirvaso), which helps reduce the redness by its effect on blood vessels (Vasoconstriction)
- Ivermectin (Soolantra), a broad spectrum antiparasitic drug that is very effective in killing large numbers of Demodex Folliculorum mite.
- Studies have shown that Ivermectin is superior to Rosacea’s two most common topical drugs: Metronidazole (Metrogel) and Azelaic Acid (Finacea).
- For Resistant cases, Intense Pulsed Light Treatments and Laser treatments (Nd YAG ) are very effective.
Causes and Risk Factors
- A family history of Rosacea and Celtic Ancestry are common.
- Sun Exposure is often an important factor, and in some cases, Rosacea and Precancerous or Cancerous lesions can coexist on a person’s face, often after age 30-35.
- A lot of attention has recently been given to a common mite (Demodex folliculorum) that inhabits all humans’ skin (Specifically the hair follicles). There is some evidence that this mite, or even certain bacteria present inside this mite, may cause inflammation (Redness and even Pustules) in prone skin.
- Rosacea may appear from teens to old age.
- Acne Rosacea (Papulopustular Rosacea) occurs more in the 40-60 age group.