Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that is distinguished by flushing or redness of the face, by small thin veins called telangiectasia that course over the skin of the cheeks and nose, and sometimes by acne like pimples and pustules.

While the cause of rosacea is still unknown at present, we do know that various stimuli, hot and spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, coffee or other caffeinated drinks, excessive sunlight and emotional stress can lead to a dilatation or widening of the blood vessels of the face, resulting in exaggeration of the normal flush response.

This repeated flushing and blushing is followed by permanent redness. In advanced untreated cases, unsightly pimples, pustules, and fine veins will materialize. It may even progress to bulbous enlargement or disfigurement of the soft tissue of the nose called rhinophyma.

Treatment

The treatment of rosacea aims at eliminating all stimuli that flush or blush the face:

1. No alcoholic beverages
2. No hot and spicy foods
3. No coffee
4. No excessive sunlight
5. No stress

Specific treatment consists of Tetracycline in low dosage; as well as various types of surface remedies.

Remember, don’t get discouraged. Appropriate treatment results in improvement in almost every case.