April is Rosacea awareness month. Rosacea is a common skin condition. Many famous people suffer from rosacea including Bill Clinton, Princess Diana, Cameron Diaz, Renee Zellweger, Rosie O'Donnell, and Maria Carey. There are a number of different symptoms. Most commonly those affected will get redness on the skin, typically on the central face, but this can also extend to the chest. Redness can be seen as generalized over the area or as broken capillaries. This flushing can be induced or exacerbated by heat, alcohol, spicy foods, emotional stress, and other factors. Sometimes bumps can be seen on the skin that resemble acne; but it is not acne. Rosacea can also affect the texture of the nose, giving it a cobblestone appearance (rhinophyma); this is more common in men. It can also affect the eyes, making the eyes feel as if there is sand in the eyes. Patients with rosacea very commonly complain of sensitive skin.
 |
| Rosacea treated with a skin care regimen and three IPL photofacial treatments. |
Rosacea can be treated in different ways and those who use a combination approach get the best results. First one must avoid triggers such as heat, alcohol, and spicy foods. Topical medications such as metronidazole and niacinamide (vitamin B3) will decrease the redness. Sunscreen is mandatory on a daily basis. I recommend a sunscreen such as the Elta MD UV Clear because it has an SPF of over 30, it has broad spectrum protection, and it contains niacinamide to reduce redness. Finally laser treatments such as IPL photofacials can provide significant improvement. Most people will start with a series of three to five treatments at four to eight week intervals, then have maintenance treatments at three to six month intervals thereafter.
While rosacea is a common concern, unfortunately at this time there is no cure. But there are many things we have available to control it. Contact Dr. Alex for a free consultation: 818-835-1833, info@aeskin.com).
No comments:
Post a Comment