What is Acne Rosacea?

If you have been diagnosed with Acne Rosacea do not panic. This is a skin condition that affects millions of people in the US and millions more worldwide. Many people do not realize they have rosacea and think that they are prone to blushing or have mild sunburn. For best acne treatment it is necessary to identify the type of acne. The more common skin symptoms to look out for are as follows

1)    Irritated or dry itching eyes or pink eye coloration
2)    Sunburn lookalike skin (pink or red patches)
3)    Small lumps that are red or pinkish in color.
4)    Small cysts that are red or pinkish.   

How Does Acne Rosacea differ from standard forms of Acne?

Unlike acne, rosacea is classed as a long term non curable skin condition that remains with a patient for life. Most people diagnosed with rosacea will not grow out of this condition unlike other forms of standard diagnosed acne. Commonly rosacea attacks the central facial region and looks like a constant red face or blushing cheeks where as acne will target facial, neck and back regions. Standard acne is generally less red in color and consists of blackheads. Rosacea instead of blackheads consists of small red lumps that cannot be squeezed (blackheads in standard acne can be extracted).

It many cases rosacea have been incorrectly diagnosed as a form of teen acne. Once again a consistent red face is a common form of rosacea with visible broken blood vessels. People between the age of 30 and 55 with fair skin are more at risk to develop acne rosacea. It is important to realise that rosacea is different to acne.

Are Men or Women More Prone To Develop Acne Rosacea?

Rosacea attacks both male and females a like, however it tends to flare up more in women than men, but in reverse the condition tends to be more severe in males and irritating. This condition is rarely seen in children and people with dark skin.

What Is the Main Cause of Acne Rosacea?

Although the root cause of rosacea remains to be unknown, trigger factors such as the following tend to be linked.

1)    Stress
2)    Alcohol Consumption
3)    Anxiety
4)    Hot or spiced food types such as curry etc
5)    Exercise
6)    Humid weather  

Acne rosacea has not been ruled out as a genetic condition. It also has links to people exposed to the sun (mainly fair skinned), Helicobacter Pylori (this is the bacteria found within stomach ulcers). Many Dermatologists believe that there is also a hereditary link.

Where Facially is Acne Rosacea Most Common and First Exposed?

If you develop rosacea you will notice it will contract firstly and most commonly on the nose. It is advisable to seek medical advice as soon as possible. If left without proper care you can risk developing Rhinophyma, this is a condition leading to growth in the nose disfiguring its original shape and enlargement. Rhinophyma can in rare but advanced conditions lead to surgery to repair the damage and nose structure. Once again if you have lumps on your nose that are red and suffer this redness continuously seek medical attention. Early intervention is the key to reduce the risk of developing rhinophyma. A red nose has also been attributed to a large in take of alcohol. Although this can also be true to high level alcohol drinkers, it can also be misleading as it could easily be rosacea at its early stages.

Rosacea can also affect the eyes but not in all cases. Ocular rosacea is an advanced condition that tends to affect the eyes. If you feel you may have ocular rosacea it is advisable to visit your doctor as it can in cases lead to a condition called Rosacea Keratitis (can damage the cornea and leave permanent impaired vision). Rosacea eye drops are available from any Ophthalmologist once diagnosed correctly.  

Is Acne Rosacea Curable?

Currently rosacea in not a curable skin condition but once treated correctly can be maintained easily and maintained with regular treatments. Patients who can afford laser treatment have experienced exceptional results with prolonged relief and in times feel that the condition is in remission. Laser treatments can be affective for months or even years but once again is not classed as a cure and rosacea may come back at any stage.

What about Using Medication To Cure Acne Rosacea?

Because there are so many different oral medications available some needing prescriptions and some over the counter you would certainly need medical advice from your doctor or dermatologist. Acne and rosacea have certain similarities and certain antibiotics can be used for both and also some sulfa based washes. Rosacea tends to be a more irritable and itchy condition to that of standard acne so not all acne medication or washes can be used in both cases. Some standard acne medicines can actually trigger or flare rosacea, especially acne washes, so once again medical advice has to be obtained to determine what medication is more suited.

How Do You Treat Acne Rosacea?  

There are a wide range of treatments for this condition and it is all depending on your severity. In some cases no treatment is administered at the condition is considered to mild or may not be irritating the patient to justify medication or specialized washes. The following is a list of possible treatments:

1)    Antibiotics
2)    Laser Treatment
3)    Topical Cream
4)    Antibacterial Wash
5)    Photodynamic Therapy
6)    Isotretinoin
7)    Pulse-Light Treatment / Therapy

As antibiotics are not a practical long term medication and can lead to stomach complications if taken over lengthy periods in some patients, most doctors will administer long term antibiotic creams or washes. Laser treatments can be expensive but very affective. A consultation with your doctor is advised to determine the extent of your rosacea and how best to treat it.

How Can I Avoid Flaring Up My Acne Rosacea?

Not all rosacea patients or conditions are the same but there are similarities where flaring up or irritation can be avoided or minimized. If you suffer from acne rosacea it is best to try avoiding the following:

1)    Alcohol
2)    Smoking
3)    Spiced Foods (especially hot spiced)
4)    Hot Drinks such as Tea or Coffee etc
5)    Prolonged Sunlight Exposure
6)    Extremes in temperatures from very cold to very hot