1. Are you sure you have rosacea?

It can be common, affecting up to one in ten people, but red faces are not always pinkish. Dermatologists often see patients who are concerned that they have developed rosacea, perhaps after doing a little searching on the internet, but they may actually have another condition entirely. Facial flushing simply occurs because blood flow to the upper part of the skin increases, perhaps due to inflammation, sun damage, or fixed widening of the vessels. 

Rosacea, seborrheic eczema, chronic photodamage, atopic eczema, psoriasis, contact allergy, and inherited conditions such as keratosis pilaris Rubra are all examples of it. To further complicate matters, two or more conditions can coexist. Obtaining the proper IPL Treatment necessitates first obtaining the proper diagnosis, as each will necessitate subtle differences in the treatment approach.

2. don’t panic. a great deal is available

It is not yet possible to cure rosacea, however, it responds largely to proper IPL Treatment and can often be fully controlled. Patients are often very concerned when they go to see a dermatologist because they may have a long-term, progressive condition. People are particularly concerned about the development of a thickened nasal skin, a condition called rhinophyma. 

This is actually quite an unusual complication of rosacea, and it is extremely rare in women. A dermatologist should carefully explain the diagnosis to you and then discuss IPL Treatment options for both the inflammatory component of rosacea (in other words, the spots) and redness and flushing. Both can be treated very effectively with good results.

3. don’t break the bank on cosmetics

Rosacea is a common condition that is often distressing. The cosmetic industry is worth billions of dollars. Unfortunately, the claims made by cosmetic companies that their products can cure rosacea are mostly false. Cosmetics do not reliably reverse or treat inflammatory rosacea, despite the extraordinary claims of some companies. So what helps? Simple cleansers and moisturizers like the Cetaphil range and sunblocks like Anthelios, Sun Sense, or Altruist products. Green foundations and powders and moisturizers can also be helpful in covering redness and enhancing confidence.

4. consider consulting a dermatologist

Dermatologists are the UK’s train skin specialists. If you have any concerns about the diagnosis and management of your skin condition, it is worth consulting a dermatologist for an expert opinion and putting you on the right track for treatment. Diagnosing inflammatory conditions of the face can sometimes be difficult, as the conditions often overlap. New treatments are emerging all the time, and complex Intense Pulsed Light Treatment, such as lasers, are best done by experienced doctors. In the UK, you can check whether a doctor has completed specialist dermatology training to become a dermatologist on the specialist register of the General Medical Council. Look for “Dermatology” under the doctor’s specialist registry entry data.

5. if you have inflammation, treat the inflammation

A few years ago there was a breakthrough in understanding rosacea. We now think of rosacea as a disorder of the skin’s built-in (innate) immune system that causes inflammation. Rosacea patients’ skin has been described as “hardwired for inflammation.” ” In rosacea, there is increased production of a natural skin chemical call cathelicidin, which not only causes blemishes.

But likely causes long-term damage to the skin, including the development of widened blood vessels and fixed redness. Fortunately, we have IPL Treatment that can control the level of this chemical in the skin and reverse and reduce the signs of rosacea. People with rosacea often require long-term treatment to get under control, but treatment tends to be successful and rewarding.

6. protect your skin from UV light

Too much exposure to ultraviolet damages the skin, causing skin aging, pigmented spots, loss of elasticity, precancerous skin lesions, and, in some people, rosacea. Rosacea is more common in fair-skinned people, who are more susceptible to the sun, and in people who have spent a lot of time outdoors. While sunscreen won’t reverse the damage, using high-factor sunscreen is a good idea to prevent rosacea from getting worse. Aim for factor 30 a minimum of and preferably 40 to 50+. Moisturizers that contain an SPF are generally not as good as sun creams themselves, but they are better than nothing. Helpful brands include Anthelios, Sun Sense, and Altruist.

7. try ivermectin cream to control inflammation

If you have inflammatory rosacea, in other words, spots (papules and pustules), your doctor may recommend a topical IPL Treatment (a gel or cream). Ivermectin topical cream (Soolantra) became available in 2015 and has been incredibly helpful in treating rosacea blemishes and inflammation. It is probably the most effective topical treatment available at this time. 

It is believing to work in two ways, firstly by killing a common skin mite called Demodex, which is four to five times more numerous on the skin in inflammatory rosacea patients Secondly, it has anti-inflammatory effects, reducing the levels of inflammatory chemicals that is present in the skin with rosacea. Another IPL Treatment is azelaic acid, which is a highly effective, naturally-derive anti-inflammatory drug that also reduces levels of inflammatory chemicals in the skin. It can helpful in rosacea. Metronidazole is also often prescribe.

8. consider using brimonidine gel

Brimonidine (Mirvaso) is a completely different type of rosacea treatment design to treat redness, not blemishes. Actively reduces the size of these blood vessels on the surface of the skin. The effect is temporary and lasts between 12 and 16 hours, but it is very powerful and takes effect in 30 to 60 minutes. It doesn’t suit everyone, but in successful patients, it controls facial redness throughout the day and can significantly improve confidence. Some people find that their skin turns red when the cream wears off. However, there is nothing else that works the same way and this is the first time that a topical IPL Treatment has been available to control blood size. It is worth talking to a dermatologist before using the gel so you know what to expect. Probably about a quarter of the patients who consume it find that they can continue it regularly.

9. if you have fixed redness, consider having light treatment

The most effective long-term solution to correct redness and blush is the pulsed dye laser or intense pulsed light IPL Treatment. These treatments use light to attack blood vessels. A pulse of light is sending in a fraction of a second to the skin, heating the blood vessel and causing it to burst or injure itself. This then leads to remodeling of the blood vessels over the next several weeks. If you are receiving a pulsed dye or intense pre-light treatment, it is important to have it done by a specialist with experience in managing the condition and using these devices. 80-90% of patients who undergo these treatments improve and are happy with the results.

10. Low-dose oral submicrobial doxycycline treatment provides long-term control

A few years ago, an ultra-low-dose version of an oral antibiotic called doxycycline became available for rosacea. This gives a level of doxycycline in the blood that is too low to have antibiotic properties. However, it significantly improves skin inflammation and is specifically licensed in the UK for rosacea. It is a very effective drug to control inflammatory papules and pustules. It can also prevent the long-term progression of rosacea with the development of facial blood vessels and possibly thickening of the skin.

Rosacea patients have skin that can slowly become inflamed and damaged. Long-term use of a drug likely prevents this and provides complete control over the condition in many patients. Antibiotics in normal doses can also be effective and may be necessary, but they can cause more side effects.