Why is treatment important for Rosacea?
When rosacea affects your skin, treatment can help you feel better. Treating your skin can:
- Prevent rosacea from worsening
- Help you feel more comfortable
- Improve your self-confidence and quality of life
Without treatment for your skin, rosacea can become more noticeable. For example, the long-lasting flushing can become permanent redness on your face. Spider veins may appear on your cheeks. Some people develop acne-like breakouts.
Treating your rosacea may also improve your mental health. Many research studies have shown that the constant redness, acne-like breakouts, and other signs of rosacea can lower a person’s self-esteem. People often say that they feel embarrassed by their skin. Some people say they try to avoid contact with other people as much as possible because they feel ashamed.
When rosacea lasts for years, some people develop depression, anxiety, or both. Researchers have found time and again that as the rosacea lessens so do these feelings.
SUGGESTED TREATMENTS
There is currently no cure for rosacea, but treatment can help control the symptoms. For most people, treatment can involve of self-help measures and medication, including:
- prescriptions for creams and gels you put on your skin
- taking antibiotics for 6 to 16 weeks (oral medications that can help clear up spots)
- Laser and IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment: These involve beams of light being aimed at the visible blood vessels in the skin to shrink them and make them less visible.
- Avoiding known triggers like avoiding too much coffee or alcohol (See the do’s and dont’s table above).
- Long-term treatment is usually necessary, although there may be periods when your symptoms improve and you can stop treatment temporarily.
The duration of your treatment depends on the type and severity of your signs and symptoms. Recurrence is common. New rosacea medications have been developed in recent years. The type of medication your doctor prescribes depends on which signs and symptoms you’re experiencing. You may need to try different options or a combination of drugs to find a treatment that works for you.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR ROSACEA
1. Topical drugs that reduce flushing
Brimonidine (Mirvaso) and Oxymetazoline (Rhofade) reduce flushing by constricting blood vessels. You can results within 12 hours after use. The effect on the blood vessels is temporary, so the medication needs to be applied regularly to maintain improvements. Other topical products help control the pimples of mild rosacea. These drugs include Azelaic acid (Azelex, Finacea), Metronidazole (Metrogel) and Ivermectin. With Azelaic acid and Metronidazole, noticeable improvements generally do not appear for two to six weeks.
2. Oral acne drug
If you have severe rosacea that does not respond to other therapies, your doctor may suggest Isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, others). It is a powerful oral acne drug that also helps clear up acne-like lesions of rosacea. It is strictly prohibited to use this drug during pregnancy.
3. Laser therapy
Laser therapy is an effective method to make enlarged blood vessels less visible. Because the laser targets visible veining, it is most effective on skin that is not dark in color or tanned. Side effects of laser therapy for rosacea include swelling and bruising that might last for several days. Icing and gentle skin care will be needed during the recovery period. The treated skin might be permanently discolored on skin tones that are darker.
The full effect of the treatment might not be noticeable for weeks. Repeat treatments may be needed periodically to maintain the improved appearance of your skin. Laser treatment can be expensive because it is considered a cosmetic procedure. So even if you have insurance, laser therapy would not be included in that.
