Rosacea: How to Recognize and Treat Your Symptoms
Adults may notice changes to their skin such as redness, thickening, and pimples, sometimes with small red lines under the skin. These changes appear mostly on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. About half of the people affected may also have watering or irritated eyes. If you have rosacea, your symptoms may worsen over time without treatment.
What should I do if I notice these changes?
If you notice one or more of these changes, you should schedule a visit with a dermatologist (skin specialist) to evaluate your condition and give you a plan for treatment. Your treatment plan may include a skin care routine, medications, and lifestyle changes to manage rosacea.
How did I get rosacea?
Although the exact cause is not known, it is thought to be due to problems with the nervous system associated with blood vessels, changes to the immune system, and environmental factors. Rosacea occurs more frequently in people with fair skin color and may be an inherited condition.
My symptoms come and go, what may cause this?
Things that may affect rosacea may include:
- Direct or indirect heat, such as the sun or hot baths
- Weather, such as hot or freezing temperatures and strong winds
- Harsh skin care products
- Exercise or sweating
- Stress or anxiety
- Alcohol
- Certain foods
- Menopause
If you are affected by any of these factors, do your best to avoid them, if possible.
What treatments are available for these changes to my skin?
Treatments may include medications that are applied to the skin as well as those that you take by mouth. These treatments may be used alone or in combination as recommended by your doctor.
Treatments include:
- Azelaic acid – used on the skin to treat pimples
- Ivermectin – used on the skin to treat pimples
- Metronidazole – used on the skin to treat pimples
- Sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur – used on the skin to treat pimples
- Doxycycline modified-release capsules – taken by mouth to treat pimples
- Brimonidine – used to treat redness
- Oxymetazoline – used to treat redness
Other treatments given by devices include lasers or intense pulsed light to manage redness, visible blood vessels, or swollen bumpy changes to the nose area.
What treatments are available for problems with my eyes?
One suggestion is to apply warm compresses to the eyes and clean the eyelashes twice a day with baby shampoo on a wet, clean washcloth. You may also be prescribed eyedrops to manage the symptoms of dry eyes.
Summary
It may take several months of treatment to notice improvement of rosacea symptoms. Your doctor may need to change your medications depending on your progress. Be sure to ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about your medications.