Many reliable and effective options are available for treating rosacea. While the condition is chronic and not curable, with regular visits it is controllable.
By Victor Czerkasij, NP-C
Rosacea is a treatable condition that affects primarily Caucasian women that are over forty years of age and of Scotts-Irish or Dutch-German descent. Rosacea is a blistering inflammatory disorder that is often prompted by simple triggers.
The top two include exposure to ultra-violet light and continued stress and blood pressure increase, but can also include foods, such as coffee, chocolate and caffeine. In addition, some people find that acidic foods like tomatoes, strawberries and pineapples can aggravate the breakouts, as well as red wine and alcohol.
While not every person with a tendency towards rosacea will have a blistering event following exposure to any and all of these items, it is always good to be aware and begin avoiding the foods and conditions that cause flares.
While women outnumber men 8 to 1 in developing rosacea, when men have this skin condition, it can be far more serious. Individuals in popular culture who have suffered from it include the famous comedian W.C. Fields and politicians Tip O’Neill and Bill Clinton.
In advanced cases, the nose becomes swollen and red. This has been referred to, unfortunately, as ‘gin blossom’, because of the connection to alcohol use with rosacea, but as we discussed earlier, this is not always the case. Another term for the bulbous nose has been ‘rhinophyma’, which is referring to – obviously – a rhinoceros horn. The word for the swollen nose in rosacea is now simply ‘phymatous’. This can be treated very easily by a skilled surgeon trained in cosmetic work, such as those found in our practice.
Along with using sunscreen and stress control and food trigger awareness, it is important to note that gentle cleansers and products that are of a moisturizing nature are best for taking care of the face suffering from rosacea. For ladies, use a foundation that has a green tint, as it cancels out the red. Here at SCCD, we have a sunscreen called ‘EltaMD’ that is made for individuals with rosacea, and provides excellent coverage.
White people are not the only ones who suffer from rosacea, and many Latino and Black women have also been treated successfully for it, but require a steady and practiced eye not to cause hypopigmentation, or a loss of color.
A full assessment is required of the redness and blistering that occurs to ones’ face to make sure that the condition is not a form of acne (which is caused by excess oil and a bacteria, and very different from rosacea) or something more dangerous, like lupus. Regardless, many reliable and effective treatments are available to treat rosacea. While the condition is chronic and not curable, with regular visits, it is controllable.
*Photo from A Dermatology Color Atlas Online by Gary M. White, MD.