Do you have facial redness and flushing that embarrasses or irritates you? It could be Rosacea, and the good news is, we can help!
Rosacea is a common condition normally affecting middle-aged adults. Rosacea can present with several different signs and symptoms.
Rosacea is an inflammatory condition thought to affect blood vessels and the nerves suppling the blood vessels. This leads to an increased susceptibility to flush with classic trigger factors like heat, hot foods, alcohol, tea and coffee. Some theories also implicate mites on the face causing rosacea. Rosacea can also develop at an earlier age, often with flushing cheeks in teenage years.
Although there is no cure for rosacea, there are good treatments available to manage the symptoms. An expert professional assessment for diagnosis and the appropriate treatment is essential. At Wellington Dermatologists we are highly experienced in treating Rosacea for our patients.
This will reduce the flushing episodes with rosacea and may slow down the progression of the condition.
Skin cleansers, moisturisers and other products commonly can cause irritation in people with rosacea. A gentle product regime is essential to reduce the flaring and activity of rosacea.
A number of topical treatments are available that provide good intermittent or long term management of rosacea. These can be prescribed by your dermatologist intermittently or on a long term basis, depending on the type of rosacea. Commonly prescribed products include Azelaic Acid, topical antibiotics and Soolantra. These all have anti-inflammatory effects and help reduce papules, pustules and redness. Topical treatments have also been developed for redness. These are effective for up to 12 hours after the product is applied. An example of this is Mirvaso.
Oral treatments are indicated for more severe forms of rosacea. They are also useful to get initial control of flaring rosacea. These commonly include antibiotics. The most common antibiotic used is Doxycycline. For more severe forms of rosacea, retinoids are indicated.
One of the more difficult components of rosacea is persistent redness. This can be treated with laser therapy, which would improve the appearance of the redness, but does not cure the underlying rosacea. Vascular lasers and IPLs are used.
While a chronic condition, rosacea is normally easily controlled and should not be a significant problem for most patients. Wellington Dermatology specialists are experienced in assessment, diagnosis and all treatments for rosacea. Make an appointment with us now.
