Rosacea Treatment in Ocala, FL

If You Have Rosacea, You’re Not Alone!

Many people assume that their face is naturally more red than others, when in fact, it could be due to rosacea. This skin condition affects over 16 million Americans and is becoming even more widespread with approximately three million new cases each year.

Question and Answer with Dr. Locke about Rosacea:

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes redness and raised, red bumps on the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. Rosacea is a long-term condition that can get worse over time.
Rosacea happens most often in adults ages 30 to 60.

What are the symptoms of rosacea?

Rosacea affects the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. Symptoms include:

• Redness
• Blushing easily
• Raised, red bumps with or without pus in them
• Tiny, swollen blood vessels on the skin (called “telangiectasias”)
• Burning or gritty feeling in the eyes
• A red, swollen, and rounded nose

Sometimes, people’s symptoms are under control. Other times, people’s symptoms worsen and flare-up. Flare-ups are usually caused by “triggers,” which are things that make symptoms worse. Common triggers include:

• Eating hot or spicy foods, or drinking hot drinks
• Drinking alcohol
• Being too hot or cold
• Sunlight
• Stress and other strong emotions

What are the types of rosacea?

Rosacea is most commonly seen around the nose and cheeks, but symptoms can spread to other areas of the face, and even reach as far as the chest and back. Since cases of Rosacea can vary in terms of symptoms, the condition is categorized into four subtypes:

• Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea -Redness, flushing, visible blood vessels.
• Papulopustular rosacea – Redness, facial swelling, breakouts that look like acne.
• Phymatous rosacea – The skin thickens and develops a bumpy texture.
• Ocular rosacea – Eyes become affected. Eyes can appear red and eyelids become swollen.

Is there a test for rosacea?

No. There is no test. But your doctor or nurse should be able to tell if you have it by learning about your symptoms and doing an exam.

How is rosacea treated?

A dermatologist will be able to determine if a patient has rosacea with a simple skin exam. Once diagnosed, rosacea is most often controlled with medication, cosmetic procedure, or a combination of the two.

Medications: In many cases, an oral or topical prescription will be prescribed to bring the condition under control. If these options work, most are safe to use long-term in order to keep symptoms from returning. The most common types of medication include:

• Topical cream -Topical creams are applied, usually, twice a day, to reduce inflammation and control redness.
• Antibiotics – Many times, oral antibiotics are prescribed over topical treatments because they yield faster results.
• Accutane – Reserved for severe cases that don’t respond to other treatments, this drug reduces the production of oil in the facial area.
• Tetracycline – For patients who are having symptoms that affect their eyes, tetracyclines can help reduce symptoms.

Cosmetic Procedures: Cosmetic procedures are recommended when previous types of treatment aren’t taking care of symptoms, or for patients with severe cases. The most common cosmetic procedures include:

• Laser treatment – When patients have visible blood vessels, a dermatologist may use laser treatment to shrink them, thus reducing their appearance.
• Plastic surgery – When skin becomes thickened and creates an unnaturally round appearance, a patient may be referred to a plastic surgeon to have the excess tissue surgically removed.