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Can rosacea be cured and what treatment options
do I have?
Can
Rosacea Be Cured?
There is no cure known for rosacea. The goal is to identify
and avoid possible triggers, and thus reduce flare-ups. In fact, the National
Rosacea Society strongly recommends that you keep a symptom diary to identify
the specific triggers you may have. As you keep track of your symptoms, you
should start to see a pattern within several weeks of what makes your rosacea
worse. Use this information to avoid future flare-ups.
Here are some steps that may help:
- Avoid sun exposure. Use sunscreen every day.
- Avoid prolonged exertion in hot weather.
- Try to reduce stress. Try deep breathing, yoga, or other
relaxation techniques.
- Limit spicy foods, alcohol, and hot beverages.
Triggers vary from person to person. Other triggers may
include wind, hot baths, cold weather, specific skin products, exercise, or
other factors. Booklets and a symptom diary containing more detailed management
tips can be found at www.rosacea.org. Even
though there is no cure for rosacea, there are rosacea treatment options
available to help control your rosacea.
Oral antibiotics (such as tetracycline, minocycline, or
doxycycline) or topical antibiotics (like metronidazole) applied to your face
may control skin eruptions. Other medications (isoretinol or Accutane), which
are similar to vitamin A, are stronger alternatives that your doctor or
dermatologist might consider.
In severe cases, laser surgery may help reduce the redness.
Surgical reduction of enlarged nose tissue may also improve your appearance,
if you so choose.
Some people who have rosacea become depressed by the changes
in the appearance of their skin. Information provided by the National Rosacea
Society indicates that people who have rosacea often experience low self-esteem,
feel embarrassed by their appearance, and claim their social and professional
interactions with others are adversely affected. A doctor should be consulted if
a person feels unusually sad or has other symptoms of depression, such as loss
of appetite or trouble concentrating.
Doctors usually treat the eye problems of rosacea with oral
antibiotics, particularly tetracycline or doxycycline. People who develop
infections of the eyelids must practice frequent eyelid hygiene. The doctor may
recommend scrubbing the eyelids gently with diluted baby shampoo or an
over-the-counter eyelid cleaner and applying warm (but not hot) compresses
several times a day. When eyes are severely affected, doctors may prescribe
steroid eye drops.
Electrosurgery and laser surgery are treatment options if red
lines caused by dilated blood vessels appear in the skin or if rhinophyma
develops. For some patients, laser surgery may improve the skin's appearance
with little scarring or damage. For patients with rhinophyma, surgical removal
of the excess tissue to reduce the size of the nose usually will improve the
patient's appearance.
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