How to Find the Right Rosacea Treatment
Are you tired of living life with red bumpy splotches on your face? You could be one of millions suffering from the nuisance known as rosacea. But luckily, this condition is easy to diagnose and even easier to take care of. Rosacea treatment comes in many forms, depending on what your doctor thinks is best. Curious as to whether or not you might have this skin condition? Take a look at this information to get a better assessment of whether you should have a chat with your doctor. When in doubt, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Most medical dictionaries define rosacea as a chronic dilation of blood vessels underneath the skin. It primarily targets the regions of skin around the nose, as well as contiguous areas of the cheeks. The severity of rosacea can vary from mild to persistent (medically referred to as “erythema”), to extensive (defined as “hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands”).
But what does that mean in English? Namely, that the worse it gets, the more splotches and bumps your face is likely to receive. Men are also more likely to have rosacea develop into rhinophyma, which involves a thickening of the skin around the nose, due to deeply seated papules and pustules.
Who is Most Likely to Develop It?
According to research, fair-skinned people with roots in northern European ancestry. Case studies have also been documented in areas of South Asia and China, particularly those that have recently undergone significant development in a socio-economic sense. Which begs the question, is lifestyle, more so than skin color, a potential cause of rosacea? The research continues, with experts keeping an open mind for both theories.
How Can I Be Diagnosed as Needing Rosacea Treatment?
While there is not a technical test to diagnose rosacea, it is possible for your general practitioner to reach a conclusion through a series of examinations and questions. Any inflamed skin is given close observation, and your doctor ask about your symptoms as well as what could have triggered your most recent outbreaks. If your blood vessels are so dilated they are visible, your doctor will be able to make a pretty solid assessment. The best diagnosis is an early diagnosis, because it can quickly lead to prompt rosacea treatment, and exponentially lower the risk of progressing or worsening. You may also be referred to a dermatologist by your GP.
If you have a rash on your scalp or your ears, you may receive a diagnosis for a different skin condition and not need rosacea treatment. This condition only affects the skin around the face.
What are the Possible Options for Rosacea Treatment?
Unfortunately, there is not a cure for rosacea at present. In the meantime, there are several different types of rosacea treatment that can minimize even the most stubborn of symptoms. For best results, most doctors recommend a hybrid combo of lifestyle alterations and medications for flushes and flare ups. One highly effective rosacea treatment is a camouflage cream, which is prescribed by doctors to help mask bumps or disfigurement to skin.
According to a study recently held by the University of California, Irvine, the medicine Pyratine XR was shown to vastly improve the most major signs and symptoms of the condition. The study was conducted among a group of individuals living with mild to moderate versions of rosacea. Pyratine is non-prescription, but it dispensed by physicians, so all interested patients must first speak with their doctor.
Other Types of Rosacea Treatment
Doctors often prescribe a unique cocktail of oral drugs and topical creams for anyone living with rosacea. Here are some listings of the more commonly recommended medications.
Medications Applied Directly to Skin
This type of rosacea treatment can significantly reduce the redness and inflammation of rosacea. Most of these creams only need to be applied once or twice a day. The most commonly prescribed creams of this type are the antibiotics metronidazole, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, and tretinoin. Your doctor will be able to prescribe the combination that will fit your situation best.
Medications Taken Orally
Doctors commonly prescribe oral antibiotics that specialize in having anti inflammatory properties as a great rosacea treatment. An added benefit of taking a pill orally is that it tends to work a bit faster than one applied topically. Commonly prescribed oral antibiotics for rosacea treatment are minocycline, tetracycline (although it is worth noting that pregnant women are not recommended to take this), and erythromycin.
In more serious cases of rosacea outbreak, Isotreinoin may be prescribed. More commonly called Accutane by the medical community, this medicine is used to treat severe inflammatory rosacea, frequently in cases where other medications have been previously utilized. The reason this drug is so powerful is because it inhibits the ability of the sebaceous glands to produce oil. This can result in equally severe side effects, so when it is used, patients are often subjected to close scrutiny and monitoring.
Treatments for Ocular Rosacea
Blephamide is a powerful brand of eye drop, particularly because it uses steroids to provide relief. In severe cases of ocular rosacea, this drop can come in very handily. Because of its strength, Blephamide’s drops only need to be applied once a day, for up to three days a week. After that, limited use is suggested, and taking a break from use is also recommended. In short, if your eyes are not on fire, you probably do not need to use this. Proceed with caution, and make sure to contact your doctor before taking any action with a medication as powerful as this one.
Don’t let a little redness get you down. This condition is a lot more common than one may think, and rosacea treatment is easy to receive, provided you contact your doctor as soon as you suspect you may have it. Rosacea is nothing that can’t be taken care of. With the right combo of creams, oral antibiotics, and sensible lifestyle choices, you will be back among the pale faced in no time at all.
There are no comments yet, add one below.