Rosacea

At the Skin Nurse Clinic we treat many patients male and female with acne rosacea and/or rosacea. This is quite a common condition in Ireland with different levels, from 1 to 5. Five being the worse with angry acne pustules to mild rosacea where the patient skin-colour can just appear red at times.

The Skin Nurse (Nicola O’Byrne) likes to compare rosacea to a 2 pronged fork.

  • Prong 1  is broken red vessels which usually accompany rosacea patients
  • Prong 2  is the actual rosacea itself (the red flushing).
  • Understanding that you are dealing with 2 different issues under the same umbrella condition is important.

A person may complain of a “stinging” sensation or cheeks becoming “very hot “. They may get spots small pimples with this condition. Rosacea skin can be very dry and feel tight and sensitive.

People with Rosacea may notice that there are certain triggers; for example spicy foods, extreme temperatures, alcohol especially red wine and cheese.

Home care creams play a very important role in hydrating the skin (vitamin c). The correct cleanser, a high SPF factor to protect the skin, a hydrating mask, and Hyaluronic acid are all good for hydrating the skin. The incorrect products can make the condition worse.

The rash of rosacea has a typical appearance and can be easily diagnosed by a suitable health care professional with experience in treating rosacea; there are no diagnostic laboratory tests. It usually starts with a tendency to flush or blush easily. After a while the central areas of the face become a permanent deeper shade of red, with some dilated blood vessels studded with small red bumps and pus filled spots which come and go in crops. The affected skin of the face is usually very sensitive, and the affected areas may feel hot or sting.

*DISCLAIMER Patient experience and results may vary. These are dependent on a number of factors such as lifestyle, age and medical history.

 

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a cutaneous vascular skin disorder characterized by papules and pustules which occurs on the face and is often associated with facial redness and flushing. At the Skin Nurse Clinic we have found that patients have presented varying symptoms of rosacea. In some extreme symptoms patients declare uncomfortable inflammation of the eyes and eyelids. Our research tell us that rosacea affects both sexes equally usually from the 4th decade onwards and is more common in fair-skinned individuals. It is a chronic condition, for which there is no cure, but can be managed very effectively with appropriate treatment.

What causes Rosacea?

Research tells us that we don’t really know what causes rosacea and it’s not fully understood, the skin nurse (Nicola O’Byrne) believes after over 18 years of taking full medical history and assessing each patient that there is an heredity element.

How to treat Rosacea

IPL laser

This is very useful to reduce the appearance of redness. There is a 20-30% improvement with each treatment session. Usually 6 treatment sessions are recommended and a maintenance session once or twice yearly after that. It is important to follow a good skin care regime to maintain results.

Antibiotics

After a diagnosis of Rosacea has been made a course of oral and/or topical antibiotics may be prescribed. Usually the course is for 3 to 6 months but sometimes a patient may require longer term antibiotics.

If you would like to speak to us about this or anything else, feel free to get in touch!