What is rosacea?
Rosacea starts with redness particularly cheeks and nose. It comes and goes as a ‘flush’ or ‘blush’ gradually becoming permanent and more noticeable. Small blood vessels (telangiectasia) become enlarged and visible.
Facial skin may become very dry. Pimples may appear as small, red, solid or pus filled bumps that resemble teenage acne but without the blackheads and whiteheads seen in acne. The eyes and lids may be irritated. Knobby bumps (rhinophyma) may develop on the nose. Without treatment it often progresses.
Due to the gradual development it is often mistaken for a sunburn or acne. Early treatment helps prevent worsening and formation of permanent telangiectasia and rhinophyma.
What causes rosacea?
It generally develops from 20 to 70 years old, may run in families and is more common in fair skinned people with a history of blushing easily and more frequently. Women are more likely to get rosacea, but men are more likely to develop rhinophyma on the nose.
What is the best rosacea treatment?
Although there is no cure, treatment can decrease symptoms and slow or stop progression. Treatment varies depending on severity. Options include surface or oral antibiotics, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL®), and DeepFX® Laser treatment. Avoidance of triggers is important.
Do light treatments help rosacea?
Intense Pulse Light uses specific wavelengths of light to heat up the small veins so that body absorbs them. It is very effective in reducing the redness and dilated blood vessels.
Dr. Diaz recommends our Rosacea Kit. Helpful in reducing rosacea, mineral makeup with a high SPF is used.
Sunlight and rosacea is a bad combination:
Sun exposure worsens rosacea. Sunscreen use is essential. In our rosacea treatment, Texas sun is very strong and we recommend daily broad spectrum sunscreen year round regardless of weather.
