Let’s talk about Rosacea. What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes the skin to look flushed. It is a is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that causes reddened skin and a rash, usually on the nose and cheeks. Small bumps may be present which can look similar to acne. Rosacea has a variable course which is not predictable in everyone, but it tends to gradually worsen with age, especially if untreated. In small studies, many rosacea sufferers have reported that without treatment their condition had advanced from early to middle stage within a year.

What causes Rosacea?

The exact cause of Rosacea is unknown, and anyone can develop it. It is, however more common in middle-aged and older adult women, although men’s rosacea tends to be more severe), and fair skinned individuals. Physicians conclude that it could be caused by a number of factors such as an overactive immune system, heredity, environmental factors, abnormalities in the blood vessels, fluctuations in hormones (such as menopause) and a reaction to microscopic mites commonly found on the face.

What triggers Rosacea?

Triggers may include but are not limited to: Hot drinks, spicy foods, heat, strenuous exercise, cold weather, caffeine, stress, alcohol, hairspray, and sun. These are not thought to be the cause of the condition but may worsen rosacea.

What are the types of Rosacea?

There are four types of rosacea, though many people experience symptoms of more than one type.

Type 1: Erythematotelangiectatic Rosacea (ETR), which is the most common and is categorized by visible redness and the feeling of warmth. Telangiectasia (spider veins) are generally visible on the skin. Both of these symptoms are caused by an increase in blood flow to the face. Burning and stinging are often experienced. Type 1 is treatable with topical medications.

Type 2: Inflammatory Rosacea (Papulopustular) presents with papules (red bumps not filled with fluid) pustules (bumps filled with pus) and reddening of the skin with burning and stinging. Type 2 rosacea is treatable with topical and oral medications.
Type 3: Phymatous Rosacea is thickening of the skin on different parts of the face. Thickening of the skin can be seen on the chin, forehead, nose, as well as other areas such as the cheeks and ears. Thickening of the skin on the nose is the most common. Treatments are used to remove excess tissue along with oral and topical medications.
Type 4: Ocular Rosacea ,which affects the eyes. The eyes feel dry or water constantly, are red and irritated and vision is blurred. Ocular rosacea can also manifest on the eyelids as inflammation or cysts. Type 4 rosacea is usually treated with artificial tears and oral medications which may include tetracycline and ciclosporin.
How do you distinguish between rosacea, acne, and allergies?
Rosacea appears as redness or sometimes similar to an acne-like rash on the face and is often mistaken for acne or an allergic reaction. This may worsen over time.
How is rosacea treated?
Once rosacea is diagnosed, oral antibiotics may be prescribed and/or topical therapies such as Minocycline foam, Topical Ivermectin, Azelaic acid or Metronidazole.

What Is a Chemical Peel and how can it help?

The Elaine Brennan Skin Renewal Peeling and the Elaine Brennan GetGlow Micro-Peels are professional chemical peeling treatments done at a clinic (not at home), in which a practitioner will apply our peeling cream to the skin. Our peels are classified as superficial in that they do not penetrate into the living layers of the skin. The aim of a chemical peel is to deeply exfoliate the skin and improve the overall skin texture, tone, and appearance. It’s important to visit a trained professional who can consider your skin type and skin tone in order to find a treatment plan best suited to your individual needs. Our peels are a combination of resorcinol, salicylic acid and Kojik acid, formulated for the treatment of active acne, acne scarring, rosacea, pigmentation, psoriasis, lines, wrinkles, and improvement of under eye dark circles. The action of our peelings reduces skin thickening and enlarged pores. These conditions are often associated with rosacea.  The salicylic acid present in our peelings has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and stimulates exfoliation to remove the top layers of damaged skin. Resorcinol helps to soften thickened skin and reduce itching and irritation. These properties make our peels ideal for rosacea-prone skin.
Peels require a temporary wounding of the skin to promote healing. We have had clients report that post their peeling treatments, the frequency and severity of outbreaks have been enormously reduced and, in some cases, relegated their rosacea into remission. Rosacea is a relapsing condition, which means there are periods when symptoms are particularly bad and times when they are less severe. The time to administer our peels is when the skin appears to be at its calmest and not during an active outbreak. Identifying each individual’s triggers and making appropriate lifestyle changes helps reduce future outbreaks. Since there is no cure for rosacea, the goal of treatment is to control the outbreak and to promote remission of the condition.

What skincare should be used on skin suffering from Rosacea?

Less is more when it comes to skincare on skin suffering from rosacea. The use of irritating products will worsen the condition. The skin should be cleansed with a gentle non active cleanser, which helps to hydrate and soothe the skin. Cleanse using fingertips and avoid cleansing devices. Thoroughly remove cleanser using tepid water. Pat the skin dry using a soft paper towel.
Moisturize twice a day using a barrier repair cream or moisturizer formulated for rosacea. There are many excellent products on the market that are easily obtainable from an aesthetic practice. Applying a rosacea friendly moisturizer or barrier repair cream can also improve the results from treatment.
SPF and other forms of sun protection must be used daily. The skin must be protected from the sun year-round. The sun will worsen rosacea and is one of the most frequent causes of a rosacea flare-up. Choose a sunscreen formulated for sensitive skin containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Mineral-based and physical sunscreens are less irritating to the skin and create a physical barrier to block UV rays. Look for sunscreens which contain zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both.
Azelaic Acid is an excellent alternative to retinols and AHA’s.  Many clinical studies show that azelaic acid visibly reduces inflammation in the skin. Avoid products containing alcohol, camphor, fragrance, glycolic acid, lactic acid, menthol, sodium laurel sulfate, urea, and astringents.
Lynda van der Spuy and Elaine Brennan Skin Renewal peeling LLC assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness.