Conditions & Diseases: Skin Diseases

Rosacea

Introduction: Rosacea is a chronic (long-term) skin disease in which the blood vessels of the face become enlarged and red. Rosacea is characterized by a redness or rosy coloration of the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. In rare cases, rosacea may also affect the ears, scalp, neck, and/or chest. Pimples similar to acne may also occur. Like other forms of skin inflammation, rosacea goes through periods of flare ups and remission.

Rosacea occurs when there is an increased amount of blood flow through the small blood vessels in the face which become enlarged. In some cases, bumps which appear similar to acne may occur and the capillaries may become visible and dilated in a condition called telangiectasia.

Rosacea often occurs in adults after the age of 30 and affects women more then men. It is also more common in fair skin, blue-eyed people of Celtic origin, but can affect anyone of any background. According to the National Rosacea Society, 14 million Americans have rosacea.

The secondary signs include:

• Eyes become irritated, water and blood shot in a condition called ocular rosacea.
• Burning and stinging sensations of the affected facial skin.
• Dry or rough appearance of the affected skin.
• Raised red patches known as plaques develop.
• Skin may thicken and enlarge from excess tissue, most often on the nose. This condition is known as rhinophyma.
• Facial swelling.
• Redness or skin inflammation spread to the ears, scalp, neck, and/or chest.

The experts stress that the signs and symptoms differ from patient to patient who may have some but not all of the symptoms.

Causes & Triggers: The exact cause of rosacea is not clearly understood, but researchers have found:

• The condition tends to run in families
• The condition more often affects people with fair skin and complexion.
• Rosacea occurs when tiny blood vessels enlarge and dilate. Why? They are hyper-sensitive to some unknown triggers, but the body's immune system is one suspect. (2)

Rosacea is a skin condition that goes through cycles of flare ups and remissions. Certain triggers may cause flare ups to occur. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the triggers or factors behind flare-ups may differ from one person to the next.

"Although the following factors have not been well-researched, some people claim that one or more of them have aggravated their rosacea: heat (including hot baths), strenuous exercise, sunlight, wind, very cold temperatures, hot or spicy foods and drinks, alcohol consumption, menopause, emotional stress, and long-term use of topical steroids on the face." (3)

Treatment: Unfortunately, there is no cure for rosacea. However, it can be treated, prevented and controlled to a large degree. If you believe you have rosacea, see a dermatologist who specializes in conditions and diseases of the skin and hair. "The goals of treatment are to control the condition and improve the appearance of the patient's skin. It may take several weeks or months of treatment before a person notices an improvement of the skin." (3)

Treatment plans may vary from patient to patient and be in accordance to the symptoms. Treatment options available for patients with rosacea include:

• Topical antibiotics, such as metronidazole, applied directly to the affected skin areas.

• Oral antibiotics most commonly prescribed include: tetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline. Oral antibiotics are also used to treat the ocular rosacea that is a symptom of many rosacea cases.

• Lasers can shrink the dilated blood vessels and telangiectasia which may occur. "When appropriate, treatments with lasers, intense pulsed light sources or other medical and surgical devices may be used to remove visible blood vessels, reduce extensive redness or correct disfigurement of the nose." (1)

• Surgery is an option for those with rhinophyma (an enlarged, redness of the nose). "The nose can be planed and shaped under anaesthetic. The nose is then dressed and forms a new layer of skin." (2)

Prevention: Since the triggers which can cause rosacea flare ups differ from person to person, the National Rosacea Society and other expery resources recommend that patients keep a diary and take note of the lifestyle and environmental factors (food, liquids, medications, sun exposure, etc.,) that may lead to rosacea outbreaks.

The United Kingdom's National Health Service offers the following tips to prevent and reducing rosacea flare ups:

Article by Jason Morrow,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources:
(1). National Rosacea Society
(2). National Health Service, Rosacea, Health Encyclopaedia, NHSDirect.nhs.uk
(3). National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Questions and Answers About Rosacea, June 2002

Rosacea is sometimes misspelled as rosacia, roseacea, rosecea, rosatia, and roscea.