Archive for January 2011

TREATING... AND LIVING WITH... ROSACEA

For millions of sufferers, the fact that there is no known cure for rosacea can be disheartening. The good news is the condition is definitely treatable. In fact, by not treating rosacea you run the risk of having the symptoms worsen.

It is definitely important to work with a physician who can help with choosing the appropriate treatment plan, depending on the type and severity of your rosacea. The treatment options for rosacea can include antibiotics, topical medications, anti-hypertensives, lifestyle changes, and even laser treatments.

Rosacea is an inflammatory condition; and antibiotics can help to reduce inflammation, as well as inhibit blood vessel formation, which is at the heart of this skin problem. As is the case with most antibiotics that are prescribed, they aren’t intended for open-ended use, most especially because of the fact that your body can become resistant to the medication…not to mention that there are usually numerous side effects that can accompany antibiotics. Once the more irritating and severe symptoms have subsided, other treatment options can help keep the rosacea under control.

Working with your physician, a treatment plan can be created that might include other oral medications (aside from antibiotics) and topical medications. These options can help to reduce the redness and inflammation and, depending on what is prescribed, might also work on oil-producing glands in the skin to lessen outbreaks of acne rosacea. When using topical medications, a good rule of thumb is to wait after washing your face approximately 30 minutes prior to applying them to avoid stinging. Give the medication another few minutes to dry if you are then going to apply moisturizers, make-up, etc.

One option that can be worth researching with your physician is laser treatments. These treatments can help reduce the blood vessels that start to become more visible under the skin and possibly other symptoms, such as “pimples”; however, it is extremely important to enlist the counsel and services of a physician who has experience and is skilled in the use of lasers for rosacea therapy.

Lifestyle changes can be as simple as changing how you wash your face to something more challenging, such as controlling the stress in your life.

When cleansing your face, use lukewarm water rather than hot, use your fingertips rather than abrasive washcloths or scrubbing sponges, avoid products that contain alcohol and fragrances, and if you are shaving your face, consider using an electric shaver in lieu of a typical razorblade shaver.

Other lifestyle changes involve trying to avoid, as much as possible, the triggers that were discussed in last week’s blog: sun exposure, hot drinks, red wine, spicy foods, etc.

In 2007, the National Rosacea Society conducted a survey to determine how rosacea affects sufferers emotionally and mentally in their daily lives. The survey results showed that:

  • 76% had lower self-confidence and self-esteem
  • 70% of those with severe symptoms were negatively impacted professionally when interacting with others
  • 38% shared that they avoided social engagements and being out in public
  • 30% revealed it caused them to miss work

The vicious circle this can create is that stress can aggravate rosacea and the aforementioned results of having rosacea can cause that stress. Learning stress reduction techniques can certainly be of benefit. Some patients have been prescribed anti-hypertensives to lower their blood pressure (high blood pressure is a trigger), which can reduce certain symptoms (such as severe flushing); but this most definitely is not an option for everyone and must be seriously discussed with your physician.

Treating rosacea and minimizing the symptoms are very doable. If you suffer from rosacea, you owe it to yourself to learn as much as you can about the condition, and talk with your physician to find out what might be the best treatment for you.

If you have rosacea and either have an encouraging story to tell about how you are treating it or have further questions about dealing with it, I’d like to hear from you.

THE FACTS ABOUT ROSACEA

Rosacea…most of us have heard of it at one time or another, however, most of those who suffer from rosacea aren’t even aware that they have it. A good number of the population most relates rosacea with redness that occurs on the cheeks. The fact is Rosacea affects those who suffer with it in many different ways.

Rosacea is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that affects as many as 16 million Americans. If you are over 30, have fair skin, are a woman and have some family history of rosacea, you are at higher risk of developing rosacea. When rosacea occurs in men, it can often manifest in a more severe way, possibly because it hasn’t been treated in as timely a fashion.

The signs and symptoms of rosacea can include:

  • Blush or flush easily (this is one of the earliest signs)
  • Bumps/pimples (similar to acne)
  • Burning or stinging
  • Edema (swelling)
  • Irritated eyes and swollen eyelids
  • Dry and itchy facial skin
  • Plaques - redness and thickening
  • Small and visible blood vessels

Although the actual cause of Rosacea is still something being researched, there are well-known triggers, starting with the following foods:

  • Cheese
  • Eggplant
  • Beans (such as lima, navy) and peas
  • Citrus (as well as tomatoes, bananas, plums, raisins)
  • Spinach
  • Spicy foods
  • Vinegar
  • Vanilla
  • Yogurt

On the plus side, eating whole grains, blueberries and cherries can actually help reduce some of the redness of rosacea.

Along with avoiding the foods listed above, individuals with rosacea should minimize exposure to the sun (use at least SPF 30 sunscreen), wind, and high temperatures. Red wine and hot drinks are also known triggers and removing them as a routine part of your diet should be considered.

Add menopause and high blood pressure as two other conditions that may cause flare-ups, and you have a pretty large laundry list of things to look out for if you are dealing with rosacea.

Although there isn’t a cure for rosacea, there are things that can be done to treat it. We’ll discuss these in our next blog post.