Treating Acne Rosacea

What is Acne Rosacea?

Acne rosacea and acne are not the same thing, although they are often confused as being one and the same. The signs and symptoms can overlap but with acne rosacea there are no blackheads. Like with regular acne, pustules and papules are present but with rosacea there is an accompanying facial redness and dilated blood vessels.

Both men and women in the 30-50 age group are susceptible to this skin condition. It has been noted that while the incidence is more prevalent in women, the severity with men is usually greater. Care must be taken to avoid alcohol, spicy foods, extreme temperature and exposure to sunlight as these can aggravate the condition.

Currently, doctors do not know the exact mechanisms behind this disorder other than the fact that the sebaceous glands and blood vessels are involved.

Who Gets Acne Rosacea?

Those with fair skin and blush easily are at highest risk for developing this disorder. Doctors believe that acne rosacea may have a genetic component, with Northern and Eastern Europeans being the highest risk group.

The bad news is that acne rosacea can not be cured. The good news is that with proper treatment it can be controlled and no one ever need know that you suffer from this skin disorder! Left untreated, redness persists and skin becomes ruddier. Bumps and pimples can develop and the nose can become misshapen due to excess tissue. This severe side effect is most notable in older men.

Acne Rosacea In Darker Skin

Although not nearly as common, acne rosacea can occur in those with darker skin. Some 4% of Hispanics, 2.3% of Asians and 2% of African Americans are known to have this skin condition. However it is often mistaken for regular acne or dermatitis.

Signs And Symptoms Of Acne Rosacea

• Facial flushing and blushing
• Dilated blood vessels
• Persistent facial redness that lingers and looks like a sunburn
• Bumps and pimples
• Absence of blackheads
• Irritated eyes with red swollen eyelids - this is known as ocular rosacea
• Facial swelling

For the most part, acne rosacea always includes at least one of the following primary signs:

• Persistent redness (sunburn like)
• Bumps and papules ( pimples)
• Dilated blood vessels that are visible
• Facial flushing

Common secondary signs and symptoms are:-

• Irritated Eyes
• Burning or stinging
• Dryness
• Plaques
• Thickening of skin
• Swelling
• Signs beyond the face

Conventional Treatment For Acne Rosacea

Since signs and symptoms vary from person to person treatment needs to be customized.

• Oral or topical antibiotics can be used to control the situation
• Antibiotics work by reducing inflammation
• Antibiotic treatment must be continued to maintain results
• Lasers can be used to remove redness and blood vessels
• Lifestyle factors that worsen the patient's symptoms must be identified and avoided.

Natural Treatment Options

• A Chrysanthemum indicum cream of 1% applied topically improved acne rosacea symptoms much greater than a placebo.
• A combination of Milk Thistle and MSM (methylsulfonymethane) applied topically proved to be effective after a one month period in a controlled study.
• Niacinamide topicals are promising as a possible treatment solution. However more studies need to be done in order to confirm this.
• A cream made with green tea may also be beneficial. Green tea is a natural anti inflammatory and is great for reducing redness.

Caring For Your Skin

• Reduce the number of beauty products that you use. Aim for those that can multi task.
• Always test a product before using. Place a small amount behind the ear or on the inner forearm. Only use a product when there are no reactions of any kind.
• Look for fragrance free and allergy tested products.
• Note down any unusual reactions as rosacea irritants will vary by individual
• Use only luke warm water ( too hot or cold will aggravate rosacea symptoms)
• Alcohol, witch hazel, fragrance, menthol, peppermint and eucalyptus oil can be harsh on the skin and should be avoided.

Acne rosacea requires immediate attention in order to treat and control the symptoms. Left untreated, redness can persist, skin is ruddy and blood vessels are dilated. Pustules and papules can appear too, just like with regular acne.

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