What is Rosacea - Symptoms and Treatment Options

Rosacea gives dilated blood vessels and- Distended hair follicles
inflammation in the skin. The skin is often also- Rosacea in other places than the face
infected by bacteria. Most often the face isWHAT CAUSES ROSACEA
attacked and especially the convex surfaces ofThe exact causes are not known, but some
the face. Sometimes also the eyes or other bodypeople seem to inherit the tendency of developing
parts are affected. Rosacea may begin early, butrosacea. People that blush very often seem to
distinct and serious symptoms usually develop asdevelop rosacea more easily. Therefore rosacea
an individual gets older.may be caused by blood vessels that dilate too
WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE SEEN BY ROSACEAeasily upon stimulation, and eventually become
The primary symptoms of rosacea are thepermanently dilated.
following. All the symptoms may not be presentThe following types of stimulation may cause
always.worsening of the rosacea symptoms: heat, hot
- Permanent redness in the skin. This redness canbaths, strenuous exercise, sunlight, wind, very cold
get better or worse periodically.temperatures, hot or spicy foods and drinks,
- Flushing or redness that comes and disappearsalcohol consumption, menopause, emotional stress,
periodically.prolonged use of topical steroids on the skin.
- Telangiectasia - This is a distinct widening ofHOW IS ROSACEA TREATED
small blood vessels in an area.Traditional medicine does not have any treatment
- Papules - Small dome-shape spots filled with fluid,for the basic processes of rosacea, such as
often group wise.redness and the blood vessel extention.
- Skin areas with rosasea symptoms often getLaser treatment may be used to take away
infected, and the infection worsens thedilated blood vessels or skin irregularities by
symptoms.rosacea. The laser light heats and destroys the
- Pustules or pimples - Sometimes infectiondilated blood vessels.
makes the papules develop into real pimples.When infection is a part of the disease, and
However, if the pimples appear in a hair folliclepapules or pustules occur, rosacea is treated with
stuffed with sebum (comedones), they are aantibiotics, usually applied directly on the skin, for
symptom of acne, and not rosacea. Pimples fromexample metronidazole. Oral treatment may also
acne and rosacea may exist together.be used by severe rosacea, for example with:
Rosacea also implies secondary symptoms thatTetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin, and
are caused by the primary symptoms, or appeardoxycycline.
later than the primary ones.By pimple formation, you can also use rinsing skin
- Burning or stingingcleansers in the same way as by acne.
- Placks - elevated red areasOn the market you can find several alternative
- Scaling, often associated with burning or stingingmedicines, mostly topical creams, to treat
- Dry skin, often occurring before scalingrosacea. These often contain natural oils, herbal
- Edema coming in areas that already has beenextracts, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that
red for some timealleviate inflammation and stimulate skin healing.
- Symptoms from the eyes like: Redness, itching,They may also contain mild antiseptic agents to
burning, corneal damagetreat bacterial infection.
- Thickening of the skin, or lumps in the skin