Rosacea is a skin condition affecting a person’s face. The skin on the forehead, nose, cheeks, chin and eyelids may experience symptoms, such as tiny blood vessels at the surface of the skin, acne, swelling, patches of skin that are thickened. Rosacea sufferers may also experience dry, reddened and itchy eyes and facial blushing. While the cause of this condition is unknown, some factors may increase the likelihood of developing the symptoms of rosacea, such as temperature fluctuations, sunlight and medications. There is no cure for rosacea, but medications, lifestyle changes and products help decrease and prevent the symptoms.
Protecting the Skin
Protecting the skin helps treat rosacea and assists in preventing future flare-ups of the condition. To protect the skin, staying out of the sunlight is important. Wearing a daily sunscreen on the face decreases the damage caused by the skin. Covering the face with a scarf will help block the wind and cold weather from the face in the winter. Wash with a mild soap and avoid rubbing the skin on the face too aggressively.
Avoid Triggers
Certain foods, drinks, medications and products may increase the symptoms associated with rosacea. Keeping a record of rosacea flare-ups may help decrease the chance of having the symptoms. Some common triggers include avocados, spinach, alcohol, topical steroids and cosmetics containing alcohol or fragrances, according to the National Rosacea Society.
Medications
In addition to protecting the skin and avoiding triggers, treating rosacea may require medications. Common medications used to treat the condition include antibiotics and isotretinoin. The antibiotics may be topical to spread on the rosacea, oral pills or a combination of both. The function of the antibiotics is to decrease the eruptions on the skin. Tetracycline antibiotics work best for many individuals, according to the Merck Manual of Medical Information. Isotretinoin, reserved for severe cases of rosacea that do not respond to other treatments, decrease the production of oil in the facial skin. Serious side effects, such as birth defects, may occur while taking isotretinoin so strict monitoring of pregnancy and two methods of birth control are required for females on the medication.
Surgery
Some individuals may require surgery to treat the rosacea on the face. For most people, rosacea will come and go over time. For other sufferers, the enlarged, reddened blood vessels do not improve and become permanent. Several different surgical options may help decrease the redness of the rosacea. These surgeries include electrosurgery and laser surgery. The procedures will also help reduce the thickness of tissue buildup on the nose, according to the Mayo Clinic.
