The Red-faced Regret of Rosacea
Katy has cause for concern: I have clusters of dry, red raised bumps on either side of my chin. I’ve been using hydrocortisone that helps but doesn’t cure them. I also have a flush to my cheeks and am prone to blushing, which are two characteristics of Rosacea. Does this sound like Rosacea and do you know of any better remedies Hydrocortisone?
The Right Brain rambles on Rosacea:
Katy, based on your description you might have a form of Rosacea but you really should really check with a dermatologist for the best course of treatment. Your question prompted us to include Rosacea in our Cosmetic Diseases and Disorders Series so everyone gains a better understanding of this condition. Hopefully you’ll find this information helpful.
What is Rosacea
Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that causes the skin around your nose, cheeks, chin and eyes to become very red and flushed. Over 14 million Americans suffer from this neurovascular disorder, according to the National Rosacea Society. Why is this such a disturbing disorder? Because it’s more than just a simple case of being red-faced! The condition has psychological effects as well. The Society has done studies that show nearly 70 percent of Rosacea sufferers have lowered self-esteem, and 41 percent say that the condition causes them to avoid public contact or cancel social engagements.
What causes Rosacea?
No one knows for sure but there are several theories. It could be related to how facial blood vessels cope with being flushed and dilated. Or, it could be that it’s an over active inflammatory response to some unknown pathogen. Though the exact cause is unknown, we do know that it can be worsened by harsh skin treatments, strong acne medications, and even exposure to excessive sunlight.
How can you tell if you have Rosacea?
Again, you should consult your dermatologist to find out if your condition really is Rosacea. But here are some common symptoms you can look for. The redness associated with Rosacea primarily occurs in the flushing zone, the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. Besides the reddening, you may see dilated blood vessels and facial swelling. You may also feel a slight burning sensation on your face. Inflammatory papules and pustules (the red bumps you described?) may develop as well.
You should also note that Rosacea starts as mild episodes of facial blushing or flushing which can turn into a permanently red face over time.
There is a special type of Rosacea, known as Ocular Rosacea, that affects both the eye surface and eyelid. This condition can cause redness, dry eyes, redness, crusting and even loss of eyelashes.
What does Rosacea look like?
You can see for yourself by checking out these links, but some of these are a bit disturbing so use your discretion.
What can you do about Rosacea?
We didn’t find any reference to using hydrocortisone to fight Rosacea, but there are other medications that are used to control the redness and reduce the number of papules and pustules.
The most commonly used drugs are oral antibiotics and topical metronidazole. Isotretinoin (Accutane) has also been shown to work against severe papopustular rosacea because it physically shrinks sebaceous glands and it has potent anti-inflammatory properties. And there has been some discussion that topical application of a drug called Finacea may be a promising treatment as well. You’ll need a prescription form your doctor for all of these though.
There are some things you can do without a prescription: according to the experts, you should use a gentle cleansing regime to avoid aggravating the condition. So make sure you’re using a mild facial cleanser and not scrubbing too much! You should also limit sun exposure by protecting your skin with a good non-irritating sunscreen everyday. You might find a product that uses physical sunblock ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide might be less aggravating than some of the reactive sunscreens.
For much, much more on this subject, visit the Rosacea Support Group or the excellent Rosacea Blog.
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thebeautybrains.com » Does Aveeno Ultra-Calming Lotion Reduce Rosacea Says:
[...] pink tones in their fair skin? The Right Brain’s red-faced reply: As you know if you read our recent post on Rosacea, there are only a few drugs that have been proven to be effective in the reducing redness. The [...]
cheryl mccoy Says:
most dermatologists would strongly recommend NOT using hydrocortisone if you suspect rosacea.
“4. My doctor prescribed over-the-counter hydrocortisone for my rosacea. Is this recommended for rosacea?
No. Absolutely not. Topical hydrocortisone at any strength will worsen rosacea symptoms over time. It causes rebound dilation, thinning of the epidermis, thinning of the blood vessel walls, and holes in the architecture of the dermis. ”
from http://www.drnase.com/patient_faq.htm
thebeautybrains Says:
Cheryl: thanks for your confirming comments on hydrocortizone. Are you a sufferer?
cheryl mccoy Says:
that would be an affirmative and recently diagnosed. There is a cost to fair skin and acne free teen years, dang. I’d be delighted to share any of my resources for combating this pain in the face.
cheryl
WenG Says:
A few additional issues for rosacea sufferers that you can perhaps address: how helpful is laser surgery for treating broken veins and patches of red skin that never settle down?
My esthetician advised against laser procedures. She found among her clients a failure rate of 3 out of 4. Meaning 3/4 of her clients ended up with a long healing time and little change in appearance of the skin. The best advice she gave me was to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. A good moisturizer that doesn’t contain irritating ingredients is your best friend. My skin has calmed down considerably since I’ve used a daily moisturizer and always wear non-chemical sun screen, even in the winter.
thebeautybrains.com » Blog Archive » Menage a Trois Causes Adult Acne Says:
[...] the cause of rosacea, a condition also referred to as adult acne. (You can learn more about the red-faced regret of rosacea here.) They discovered that unlike real acne, which is caused by bacteria, rosacea is caused by a [...]
Busylizzie Says:
Re: laser for rosacea
Rosacea manifests itself differently in different people. In my case, I had extensive patches of broken blood vessels under the surface, and laser treatment did a very good job; the positive effects lasted for a couple of years each time. If you have pustules on the surface, pimple-like breakouts etc., I really can’t say what lasers will do, but for broken blood vessels it’s useful, though expensive.
sofia Says:
i have a mild/medium case of rosacea and my dermatologist has prescribed MetroLotion from Galderma. MetroGel is for sufferers of adult acne, but MetroLotion helps especially for sufferers of rosacea because it moisturizes and calms your dry sensitive skin while simultaneously getting rid of zits. it has worked wonders for me and i would really recommend asking your dr about it.
Emily Says:
Is rosacea by any chance hereditary?
My father I know has rosacea, and I’m starting to wonder if maybe I have it too. The skin on my nose, and around my nose is red and flairs up very easily(from using moisturizers, getting too hot, or too cold, washing my face, etc.) I’m starting to think using an exfoliating face wash is not the best choice.
o0benji0o (benji lol) Says:
yea i have rosacea and its hell sometimes, i’ve had it throughout my whole high school career and nw i’m 18 i wana meet new ppl nd go out with m8s but can’t because its some how embarasing! but!… i have tried ZENMED (and lots of other treatments) and i have to admit it has made a big difference in the redness and flushing! ne1 with rosacea i would very strongly recomend buyin it @ its cheap price on the internet!!! yea thnx
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Jennifer Says:
I have a product that may help with your rosacea, especially if you have extremely sensitive skin. I have testimonies of many people with rosacea and have had success with the products thru a very reputable company I am now working with. The company has been around since 1980. The products are formulated in Switzerland which has a higher standard than the US. They are botanical with NO chemicals, fragrances or dyes. No mineral oils or animal by-products. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact me by email. I don’t wish to give out too much info on this site, but if you or anyone else reading wants to know more, I will be glad to send you free samples, etc.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
Jennifer@rogersdirect.com