Rosacea on the face
Rosacea is a common skin disease that, if left untreated, can cause a lot of inconvenience. We will find out for what signs it is worth consulting a doctor and whether it is dangerous not to treat the disease

What is Rosacea

Rosacea is a common chronic skin disease. It can be determined by intense reddening of the skin of the face, dilated small vessels and asterisks, and the presence of papules and pustules (nodules and vesicles). Because of the papules and pustules, rosacea is often referred to as rosacea.1.

Rosacea is more common in women aged 30-50 years. Men are less likely to suffer from this disease, but they endure it more severely. Rosacea is more common in people with fair skin, and the highest incidence is observed in fair-skinned Europeans from Scandinavian countries.2.

Causes of Rosacea

The exact causes of the disease have not yet been established. In addition to genetic predisposition, many factors are involved in the development of the disease. Vascular instability, hormonal and immune disorders, inflammatory processes, exposure to ultraviolet radiation also affect the likelihood of the disease.2. The pathological process can be started by sudden temperature changes, stress and taking certain medications.

Various microorganisms can cause the inflammation that causes rosacea. For example, demodicosis caused by ticks can also cause illness.

Rosacea symptoms

The symptoms of rosacea are different for everyone. The most common are the following3:

  • erythema – redness of the skin, most often in the cheek area;
  • dryness and hypersensitivity of the skin;
  • the formation of spider veins and meshes;
  • papules (dense pink-red nodules);
  • pustules (vesicles with liquid);
  • swelling of the face;
  • red swollen eyelids.

Patients with pronounced symptoms of rosacea experience psychological discomfort while in society. That is why, when the first symptoms appear, you should immediately contact a dermatologist who will prescribe a competent treatment.

Rosacea treatment

First of all, before starting treatment, it is necessary to exclude other diseases, which only a specialist can do. There are a number of diseases that are difficult to diagnose, which manifest themselves in a similar way, but are much more dangerous to health.

Diagnosis of rosacea

Despite the fact that the signs of rosacea are easy to determine by visual examination, there is still no reliable laboratory diagnostic method. Often, to exclude diseases that have a similar clinical picture, it is necessary to perform dermatoscopy.4.

A mandatory diagnostic criterion for rosacea is persistent intense redness of the central part of the face that does not go away for at least 3 months.

Medical preparations

Rosacea is usually treated with a combination of drugs. To relieve inflammation, redness, local anti-inflammatory ointments are prescribed, and if signs of bacterial complications appear, antibacterial drugs are prescribed. Metronidazole is also used – in the form of tablets, gel and cream. In severe cases, retinoids are prescribed5. The specific dosage and the drug itself is chosen only by the doctor in each individual case.

Physiotherapeutic treatment

Rosacea is also treated with laser and cryotherapy. Each method is prescribed individually, for different patients their effectiveness will be different. When prescribing treatment, the doctor takes into account the characteristics of the patient’s life, allergic reactions, the degree of the disease. Based on the anamnesis, an individual balanced treatment concept is formed.

Traditional methods of treatment

Alternative methods of treatment, doctors strongly do not recommend using. Their effectiveness has not been proven, and long-term treatment complicates the course of the disease. Perhaps folk methods can alleviate the disease, but the effect of herbs, lotions and homemade ointments is unpredictable and it’s not worth risking your health. Acid burns or wound infections often occur.

Prevention of rosacea

The best treatment is always prevention, preventing the onset of the disease. The most effective therapy is achieved when the first complaints appear and the doctor is contacted as soon as possible.

Diet and Nutrition

The effect of nutrition on disease is still not fully understood. There are a number of foods that can increase the symptoms of rosacea: coffee, strong tea, peppermint, hot peppers. With this disease, alcohol should be completely excluded. It is also recommended to limit the use of salt, sausages, canned foods, vinegar, spices, any fried fatty foods, sweets.

Popular questions and answers

Popular questions about rosacea treatment are answered dermatologist Elena Chebykina.

What can not be used for rosacea?

– With rosacea, systemic drugs, such as hormonal drugs, should not be used. They can cause an increased blood supply and, as a result, skin erythema (severe redness).

Also, you can not use external preparations:

• cosmetic (waterproof cosmetic and tonic, which are washed off with solvents);

• detergents (which include soap).

All of these can contribute to increased redness and the development of rosacea.

What foods cause rosacea?

– Hot foods and drinks should be avoided. They must be warm. You also need to exclude carbonated drinks, alcohol and spicy foods from the diet. All this can cause redness of the skin.

It is important to stick to small portions and avoid overeating in order to eliminate a large burden on the body.

What vitamins can be taken with rosacea?

— Patients with rosacea can take any complex of vitamins. But special attention should be paid to vitamin D:

• get tested for vitamin D levels in the body;

• determine what doses of vitamin D can be used to prevent rosacea, since large doses of it can provoke the development of the disease.

For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should consult a doctor.

Sources:

  1. Clinical guidelines. Rosacea. Russian Society of Dermatovenerologists and Cosmetologists. 2019. https://medi.ru/klinicheskie-rekomendatsii/rozatsea_14251/
  2. Yusupova LA, Yunusova EI, Garaeva Z.Sh., Mavlyutova GI, Valeeva EM Clinical options and treatment of rosacea patients. Healing doctor, magazine. No. 6. 2019. https://www.lvrach.ru/2019/06/15437321
  3. Classification, clinic, diagnosis and treatment of rosacea. https://meduniver.com/Medical/otorinolaringologia_bolezni_lor_organov/rozacea.html? MedUniver
  4. Management of patients with rosacea | Dermatology in Russia. Abokvidir M., Feldman S., Center for Dermatology Research, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, USA http://www.dermatology.ru/translation/vedenie-patsientov-s-rozatsea
  5. Розацеа. Клинические рекомендации РФ 2013-2017 (Россия) https://diseases.medelement.com/disease/%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B5%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D1%80%D1%84/15254

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