Rosacea

Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin disease that can make your skin feel sensitive. It can present as redness of the cheeks or acne like lesions that can affect the nose, cheeks and even your eyes.

Symptoms:

Symptoms include flushing, redness, acne like breakouts, thickening of skin – at the nose, grittiness of the eyes, redness of the eyes

Causes:

Causes include ultraviolet light, emotional stress, extremes in weather (especially hot weather), alcohol (especially red wine), spicy foods, skin care and hair care products that include sodium lauryl sulfate, some medications.

Treatment:

• Rosacea is a chronic condition and the goal of treatment is to control the flares. The most important is avoidance of triggers!
• Preventative
  • Sunscreen, especially with zinc oxide or titanium oxide
  • Use gentle, preservative free skin products and moisturizers
  •  Green tinted make up can help to minimize the appearance of redness
  • Foods to avoid: Liver, chocolate and vanilla, soy sauce and vinegars, vegetables
    including eggplant, tomatoes, spinach, lima and navy beans, peas. Dairy products,
    including yogurt, sour cream, milk, ice cream and some cheeses. Fruits, including
    avocados, bananas, red plums, raisins, figs and citrus fruits. Hot and spicy foods.
  • Beverages: Alcohol, especially red wine, beer, bourbon, gin, vodka and champagne. Hot drinks, including hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee or tea.
• Topical treatments:
  • For redness:
    • Rhofade®
    • Mirvaso®
    • Finacea® gel
  • For acne-like lesions
    • Soolantra®
    • Metronidazole cream
  •  Your doctor may even prescribe a compounded cream that combines several of the options above
• Oral treatments
• • Doxycycline
  • Minocycline
  • Seysara®

Notable Points:
Rosacea has also been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disorders and thus it is important to follow up with your primary care doctor regularly as well.