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Editorial
 Topics of Intertest
January-June 2007

        Rosacea

 Rosacea is a common skin disease that causes redness and swelling on the face. Often referred to as "adult acne," rosacea may begin as a tendency to flush or blush easily, and progress to persistent redness in the center of the face that may gradually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose. It also may involve the ears, chest and back. As the disease progresses, small blood vessels and tiny pimples begin to appear on and around the reddened area; however, unlike acne, there are no blackheads.  When it first develops, rosacea may come and go on its own. When the skin doesn't return to its normal color and when other symptoms, such as pimples and enlarged blood vessels, become visible, it's best to seek advice from a dermatologist. The condition rarely reverses itself and may last for years. It can become worse without treatment.
Early symptoms of Rosacea Pimples of rosacea appear on the face as small, red bumps, some of which may contain pus. These may be accompanied by the development of many tiny blood vessels on the surface of the skin and persistent redness of the face. About 50% of people with rosacea have eye involvement. Some rosacea patients experience burning and grittiness of the eyes - a condition known as conjunctivitis. If this condition  is not treated, it can lead to even more serious complications for the eyes.

Who Is At Risk for Rosacea?
Those most likely to develop rosacea are fair-skinned adults, especially women, between the ages of 30 and 50, although it may affect men or women of any age and even children. For some unknown reason, women get rosacea  more often than men, and some cases of this disorder have been associated with menopause. Rosacea usually develops over a long period of time. It  may first seem like a tendency to blush easily, a ruddy complexion, or an extreme sensitivity to cosmetics. An occasional embarrassment or a tense moment may also trigger flushing.

Dos and Don'ts for Rosacea Patients
The exact cause of rosacea is still unknown. The best prevention may be to Avoid hot drinks, spicy foods, caffeine and alcoholic beverages. It's important to note that although alcohol may worsen a case of rosacea, symptoms may be just as severe in someone who doesn't drink at all. This includes limiting exposure to sunlight, wearing hats and using broad spectrum sunscreens with SPF of 15 or higher and avoiding extreme hot and cold temperatures, which may exacerbate the symptoms of rosacea.  Avoid rubbing, scrubbing or massaging the face. Rubbing will tend to irritate the reddened skin.  Exercise in a cool environment. Don't overheat. Avoid irritating cosmetics and facial products. Use hair sprays  properly.  Keep a diary of flushing episodes and note associated foods, products, activities, medications or other triggering factors.

Treatment Options
Many people with rosacea are unfamiliar with it and do not recognize it in its early stages.

Identifying the disease is the first step to controlling it. Self-diagnosis and treatment are not recommended, as some over-the-counter skin applications may make the problem worse.

Dermatologists often recommend a combination of treatments tailored to the individual patient. Together, these treatments can stop the progress of rosacea and sometimes reverse it.

Gels and creams may be prescribed by a dermatologist. A slight improvement

can be seen in the first three to four weeks of use. Greater improvement

is usually noticed in two months.

Oral antibiotics tend to produce faster results than topical medications.

Cortisone creams may reduce the redness of rosacea. However, they should be not used for longer than two weeks and strong preparations should be avoided. The persistent redness may be treated with a small electric needle or by laser surgery to close off the dilated blood vessels. Cosmetics may mask the redness. It's important to eliminate factors that cause additional skin irritation. Daily facial products such as soap, moisturizers, and sunscreens should be free of alcohol or other irritating ingredients. Moisturizers used along with topical medications should be applied very gently after the medication has dried. When going outdoors, especially on warm sunny days.

North Dallas Aesthetics in Dallas, a protocol used by Dr. Fathi Fam which consists of Laser treatment in combination with special chemical peel with lipohydroxy acid, does produces marked improvement in Rosacea.

For more information call 972-380-1510

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