How to Heal Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic (long-term) skin disease that usually occurs in adults between the ages of 30 and 60. It is more common in women with fair skin. This inflammatory skin condition causes symptoms on the face such as redness, red bumps, small but visible blood vessels, a bulbous and swollen-looking nose, and even a burning or gritty sensation in the eyes. The cause is not known. Although there is no cure for rosacea, treatments can heal its symptoms. This might include a combination of prescription medicine such as creams, lotions or gels, or oral medications like pills, tablets or capsules.

Instructions

1. See a dermatologist as soon as possible to get a thorough diagnosis and treatment remedies. By treating flare-ups of rosacea early, you can keep it from worsening. Ask him about first trying topical medications such as metronidazole, tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid. If you have rosacea of the eye, ask your doctor about oral antibiotics or steroid eye drops.

2. Find out if you can take oral antibiotics such as tetracycline, minocycline, doxycyclin, and erythromycin, if the topicals don't take care of rosacea. These antibiotics are taken at very low doses, so you can take them every day for the long term. You will likely need to take them for many months to see a difference.

3. Consider using Accutane if the antibiotics don't work. Accutane (isotretinoin) is an oral medication also used for cystic acne. It does require close monitoring by your doctor due to the possibility of serious side effects.

4. Ask your doctor about surgical procedures or laser or light therapy if thickened skin and broken blood vessels are problems. Lasers, light therapies, dermabrasion, and electrocautery are surgical procedures used by dermatologists. More than one of these procedures may be recommended for you.

5. Keep a diary of what you think might have caused your rosacea flare-ups, so you can try to avoid them in the future. Other things you can do to try to prevent flare-ups include protecting your face from the sun; wearing SPF 15 or higher sunscreen; protecting your face from cold winter winds; avoid rubbing your face; use products that won't clog your pores; avoid getting overheated; apply rosacea medicine first and let it dry before applying a moisturizer; use mild cleansers like Cetaphil or Dove; and avoid drinking alcohol.

Tips & Warnings

• The treatment your doctor will prescribe depends on the type and severity of your rosacea. You should notice healing within two months of treatment. However, flare-ups can recur.

• Laser treatments and other light therapies should only be performed by a doctor who has expertise in the skin such as a dermatologist.

References

• National Institute of Health
• American Academy of Dermatology
• Mayo Clinic