What is Rosacea?

By some recent estimates Rosacea afflicts 13 million Americans. Rosacea is a chronic disease which usually first appears as subtle reddening on the face. Over time this may develop into some inflammation and may be accompanied by skin eruptions. About half of Rosacea suffers also have some sort of symptoms with their eyes (known as Ocular Rosacea). If left untreated, over time Rosacea can result in the appearance of red lines which result from swollen or damaged veins. [ More on Symptoms...]

Who Gets Rosacea?

Rosacea most commonly afflicts adults between the ages of 30 and 60 though it has been know to afflict children. Symptoms usually start to appear to people in their 30s or 40s. Men and women are equally likely to to be affected and there seems to be a genetic aspect to the disease. In one survey, forty percent of rosacea sufferers surveyed could identify a relative with the symptoms of rosacea. There is a reasonably common belief the people of Irish or Northern European descent are more likely to be affected though some studies have not necessarily supported this. There is no evidence that Rosacea can be passed from one person to another (i.e: it is not a contagious condition).

What Causes It?

The exact cause of Rosacea is still largely unknown, however the symptoms are reasonably well understood as are a variety of lifestyle factors (such as particular foods and activities) that are known to trigger outbreaks in people that have the disease.
[ More on Lifestyle Factors...]

Can it Be Cured?

At this time there is no complete cure for Rosacea. Several treatments have been shown to be successful in reducing or eliminating the symptoms. These treatments, in combination with modifying the lifestyle factors (mentioned above) can greatly reduce the day-to-day impact of the disease for most people.

If you believe that you may have Rosacea, the first thing to do is to see your dermatologist. Many of the symptoms of Rosacea could be the result of other ailments. As always when dealing with this sort of situation, professional advice should be your first course of action.

If you have been diagnosed with Rosacea you need to know that there is currently no cure. In fact, the cause of Rosacea is still somewhat of a mystery. Having said this however, the good news is that there are many things that can be done to bring the disease under control and minimize the symptoms and also to prevent the disease from progressing further. In general, the treatment is aimed at the control of redness, inflammation, and skin eruptions. Treatment is necessary to prevent permanent damage.

Forms of Treatments

In most cases, once a diagnosis of Rosacea has been made a dermatologist will prescribed a combination of oral antibiotics and the use of antibiotic gel as initial treatment. The oral antibiotics will bring the condition under control (reducing redness and the formation of papules and pustules), then the topical treatments will be used to keep the symptoms under control. In all cases the dermatologist should help to determine the relevant lifestyle factors which may need modification to keep flushing/blushing from occurring.

Long term use of Oral Antibiotics is not recommended due to a number of side effects which may occur including sun sensitivity and upset stomach.

A couple of important notes:

• It may take several weeks or more to see any improvement in the condition

• Since Rosacea cannot be cured it will often be necessary to continue with topical treatment (and modification of lifestyle factors) even after symptoms have been reduced or have disappeared. Your dermatologist will make a recommendation based on your particular situation.

Source from: http://www.about-rosacea.com/

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