ROSACEA: DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT & PROGNOSIS

HOW IS ROSACEA DIAGNOSED?

This condition cannot be confirmed using medical test. To confirm the diagnosis of rosacea, your dermatologist will carry out a physical assessment on your skin and eyes. Your dermatologist will also take your medical history by asking the necessary questions.

Before a diagnosis is made, your dermatologist will try to rule out the presence of other medical conditions because some other medical conditions can manifest similar signs and symptoms like rosacea. To rule out such conditions, medical tests such as lupus and allergic skin reaction tests can be carried out.

Rosacea cannot be cured by treatments, however treatments can help by:

• Eliminating the signs of rosacea on your skin
• Easing your discomfort
• Preventing rosacea from becoming worse.

TREATMENT FOR THE REDNESS

If you have rosacea, you’ll likely have redness all over your face eventually. The redness may appear as flushing that keeps going a little longer each time. Without treatment for rosacea, this redness can wind up permanent. Another reason for permanent redness is noticeable veins on the face.

Regardless of the causal factor, you don’t need to live with the redness. If the redness irritates you, a dermatologist can make a treatment plan that incorporates at least one of the following:

1. Manage your triggers: Many of your habits can cause rosacea to flare up. Dermatologists refer to these tripwires as “triggers.”Common triggers include staying in a hot environment, letting the cold wind blow directly on your face, & eating spicy foods although these may not cause your rosacea to flare up as people have different triggers.Find out what triggers your rosacea to flare in order to stay away from them.
2. Opt for sun protection: People living with rosacea often experience skin sensitivity to the sun. You can protect your skin from the sun by doing the following:

• Apply a sunscreen with an SPF 30 (or higher) daily before you leave home
• Avoid the mid-day sun
• When outdoors, stay in shady areas
• Wear a wide hat to protect your face & neck from the sun
• Wear sun-protective clothing & sunglasses

3. Indulge in rosacea friendly skincare practices:Many skincare or beauty products can irritate your skin. Some skincare practices, such as scrubbing of the skin can cause rosacea to flare.  It is advisable to use mild skincare products to prevent flare-ups.If you are unsure about the skincare products to use, ask your dermatologist for recommendations. Washcloths, astringents, toners, and deodorant soaps can increase redness on the skin with rosacea; you should avoid them.
4. Green-tinted Cosmetics: These can’t reduce the redness but can hide it. Some cosmetics companies manufacture green-tinted makeup specifically for people dealing with rosacea.
5. Lasers & other light-based treatments:For people who constantly experience red face or spider veins, laser or other light-based treatment can be effective in the treatment of rosacea. It completely clears up the redness in some patients. This clearing can last for several years. Most people who live with rosacea need to undergo several treatments before results are seen. Insurance hardly covers the treatment cost because it is expensive. When handled by experts, the side effects are usually limited to redness and swelling. Inexperienced handling of lasers and poor medical knowledge of the skin can cause severe side effects such as burns, permanent scars, blisters and skin discolouration to accompany treatment. Not everyone who has rosacea can undergo laser treatment.
6. Brimonidine (bri-moe-nə-dean) gel and oxymetazoline (ox-ē-meh-taz-oh-lean) hydrochloride cream:These prescription medications can significantly help to reduce the redness on your face. They are effective for up to 12 hours. Daily use of these prescribed gel and cream can reduce the facial redness for up to 12 hours a day.

Speak to a dermatologist

Several options for the treatment of redness in rosacea. A dermatologist is in the best position to explain the most suitable option for you. You can speak with a dermatologist in London by calling us at Clear Skin London on 02037457528.

 TREATMENT FOR THE AFFECTED EYE(S)

Individuals who have rosacea are frequently unaware that it can likewise create problems in their eyes. Accordingly, manifestations, for example, aggravated or dry eyes, are frequently ignored. Many individuals erroneously accept that something different, for example, allergies or contact lenses, is causing their eye issues.

One of the advantages of seeing a dermatologist for rosacea and adhering strictly to your subsequent appointments is that you can identify eye issues early.

Ocular Rosacea affects some people in their eyes. The following are the signs and symptoms of ocular rosacea:

• Eyes look bloody or bloodshot
• Affected eyes feel gritty as if sand is in the eyes
• Burning or stinging sensation in the eyes.
• Dryness of the eyes.
• Itchy eyes
• Eyes become sensitive to light
• Blurry vision
• Visibly broken blood vessels or spider veins on the eyelids
• Cyst on the eyelids
• Vision becomes affected

If you discover any issue with your eyes, quickly fix an appointment with your dermatologist or ophthalmologist. To prevent developing issues with your sight.

At home, you can reduce the symptoms of ocular rosacea by:

• Applying warm compresses
• Cleansing with a gentle, eye cleanser
• Using eye drops and eye medication

Your Dermatologist might prescribe an antibiotic for you or refer you to an ophthalmologist.

ADHERE TO YOUR TREATMENT PLAN

Follow your treatment plan

When you develop ocular rosacea in your eyes, it is necessary to adhere to your treatment plan strictly. You should also wash your eyelids several times a day and also use your eye medication. Although this might be tedious, it is necessary to treat your eyes as instructed.

You should also keep to all of your follow-up appointments to let your dermatologist observe your response to treatment.

By strictly adhering to your dermatologist’s instructions, problems with your eyesight will be prevented, and rosacea symptoms will be reduced.

TREATMENT FOR THE ACNE-LIKE BREAKOUTS

If Rosacea causes breakouts on your skin, making it look like acne, there are some effective treatment plans your dermatologist can provide.

MEDICATIONS FOR THE SKIN

• AZELAIC ACID: Most patients apply this medicine two times every day — toward the beginning of the day and again at night. Discoveries from 6 research studies demonstrate that somewhere in the range of 70% and 80% of patients have had discernibly less rosacea with azelaic acid. A few patients saw a total clearing. You may shiver when you apply this medicine at the start. Another conceivable side effect of this prescription is skin lightening. On the off chance that your rosacea caused patches of darker skin on your face, you shouldn’t fret on this side effect. Should you notice skin lightening, make certain to tell your dermatologist right away.
• METRONIDAZOLE: Accessible as a gel or cream, this treatment has been utilised for over 60 years to treat skin breakouts like the breakout of rosacea. Research studies demonstrate that it can viably decrease both the redness and the skin break out like breakouts. A few patients can quit applying this medication and keep the results they picked up by utilising metronidazole. In one investigation, just 23% of patients had rosacea erupt a half year after halting the use of metronidazole. If you need more grounded medication to control your rosacea, your dermatologist may recommend metronidazole alongside different treatments. Utilising everything in your treatment plan can improve results.  Conceivable side effects of utilising metronidazole gel or cream include itching, stinging, irritated skin, or dryness where you apply the medication.

ANTIBIOTICS: Tetracycline has been trusted for years in the treatment of rosacea.  It can reduce the acne-like breakouts & redness fast enough.  It can be effective within a month.

Other antibiotics, such as erythromycin, doxycycline or minocycline, can also effectively treat rosacea.

One of these antibiotics can be prescribed to get the rosacea under control. Once under control, a milder treatment plan can be used to maintain results.

Frequent and long term use of antibiotics can cause a serious health issue called antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when life-threatening bacteria become difficult to treat because the antibiotics used are now less effective. To prevent this from occurring, you may be placed on another treatment option called low-dose doxycycline.

Research has shown that taking the low dose of doxycycline is safe as it will cause fewer side effects. It is contraindicated in pregnant women and nursing mothers.

TREATMENT FOR SKIN THICKENING

You need to pay close attention to your skin if you have rosacea.  If you notice the growth of firm/rounded bumps on your skin or thickening of your facial, you should visit a dermatologist. These changes (referred to as phyma) mostly appear on the nose, chin, forehead, eyelids, and the ears.

It is best to treat phyma early because the more the skin thickens, the more difficult the treatment becomes.

When left untreated, phyma can lead to serious medical problems. It can cause troubled breathing when it affects the nose. Your eyesight can become affected by the swollen and thick eyelids.

Your dermatologist can treat phyma through the use of medications or surgery.

Isotretinoin: This medication is approved for the treatment of severe acne, as well as preventing phyma from worsening. Although Isotretinoin can prevent the thickened skin from getting worse, it cannot clear off existing thickened skin. This can only be achieved through surgery.

Isotretinoin is contraindicated in pregnancy because it can cause serious congenital disabilities.

Surgery: Your dermatologist will refer you to an experienced dermatologic surgeon for the surgical removal of the thickened skin. Surgical removal of phyma is a complex approach which often requires the use of several surgical procedures to remove the excess layers of skin and also reshape the nose and other affected areas of your face.

You may be given isotretinoin after surgery to maintain the results. You’ll also be expected to avoid your rosacea triggers.

ROSACEA: HOW TO MANAGE

• Visit a dermatologist: This will help you get enough information about rosacea that will help in making informed decisions. Prompt treatment of rosacea by your dermatologist will help prevent complications.
• Know your triggers:Many of your habits can cause rosacea to flare up. Dermatologists refer to these tripwires as “triggers.”Common triggers include staying in a hot environment, letting the cold wind blow directly on your face, & eating spicy foods, although these may not cause your rosacea to flare up as people have different triggers.It is important to find out what triggers your rosacea to flare in order to stay away from them.
• Opt for sun protection:People living with rosacea often experience skin sensitivity to the sun. You can protect your skin from the sun by doing the following:
• Apply a sunscreen with an SPF 30 (or higher) daily before you leave home
• Avoid the mid-day sun
• When outdoors, stay in shady areas
• Wear a wide hat to protect your face & neck from the sun
• Wear sun-protective clothing & sunglasses

• Indulge in rosacea friendly skincare practices:Many skincare or beauty products can irritate your skin. Some skincare practices, such as scrubbing of the skin, can cause rosacea to flare. It is advisable to use mild skincare products to prevent flare-ups.If you are unsure about the skincare products to use, ask your dermatologist for recommendations.