ROSACEA

Rosacea is a chronic, inflamatory condition that affects the skin especially the face.
Often cheeks, forehead, chin.
If left untreated, the condition can worsen.
Rosacea commonaly affects women between ages 30 to 50 years especially those who are fair
skinned.
Rosacea affects about 16 million people in the United states alone.
And approximately 45 million people worldwide.
Rosacea has four subtypes, they are:
1. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR)
Associated with intense redness of the facial skin, frequent flushing, and visible blood vessels
2. Populopustular Rosacea
Commonly misdiagnosed and mistreated as acne. It is associated with acne like symtoms and
often affect middle aged women
3. Ocular rosacea
This subtype affects the area around the eyes.
4. Phymatous rosacea
Is a rare form and associated with thickening of skin on the nose and is usually common in
men.
Some people with rosacea feels bad because of the way their skin looks. There are groups
that can be joined for group support.
Causes:
The eact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be form a combination of heredotary and
environmental factors.
There are some factors that trigger rosacea, these include:
Eposure to temperature extremes, Strenuous exercise, Savere sunburn, Heat from sunlight,
stress, anxiety, cold wind, hot and spicy food, alcohol, foods and beverages that contain
caffeine, certain medications are known to trigger rosacea, having the intestinal bacteria
helicobacter pylori, demodex mites, presence of cathelicidin.
Symtoms:
Each subtype has its own symptoms
1. Symptoms of ETR
Visible broken bloods vessels, stinging and burning skin, swollen skin, redness and flushing
in the center of the face, dry, rough, scaly skin.
2. Symptoms of acne rosacea
Oily skin, sensitive skin, raised patches of skin, acne-like breakout and red skin
3. Symptoms of ocular rosacea
Dry, itchy eyes, bloodshot and watery eyes, broken blood vessels on the eye, swollen eyelids,
damage to the cornea, burning eyes, diminished vision.
4. Symptoms of phymatous rosacea
Large pores, visible broken vessels, thick skin on nose, bumpy skin teture.
Diagnosis and treatment
No specific test exists for rosacea diagnosis is based on symptoms and a physical
examination of the patient skin some other test may be undergone in some cases to rule out
medical conditins, that sometimes cause symptoms related to rosacea including.
Acne, lupus, psoriasis, eczema.
If the eye is involved, the doctor may recommend such patient see an eye doctor
(ophthalmologist)
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to control signs and symptoms which may require a combination of
topical medications and prescription treatment, the type and severity of your symptoms are
likely to determine the duration of your treatment. Topical medication such as brimonidine
that is applied on the skin either one or twice a day to redage inflammation and redness.
Other topical products include metronidazole and azelaic acid. Oral antibiotics such as
doxycyclin that is taken as pill and helps to fight inflammation when usednto treat rosacea.
Isotretinoin for severe rosacea that doesn’t respond to other therapy,
Laser treatment that can help to shrink the redness of enlarged bloood vessels.
Avoiding triggers that worsen the condition can help reduce the onset of the condition