Rosacea is a chronic condition characterized by facial erythema (redness) and sometimes pimples. Rosacea affects all ages and has four subtypes, three affecting the skin
and the fourth affecting the eyes (ocular type). Left untreated it worsens over time. Treatment in the form of topical steroids can aggravate the condition.
It affects both sexes, but is almost three times more common in
women and has a peak age of onset between 30 and 60. Rosacea
typically begins as redness on the central face across the cheeks,
nose, or forehead, but can also less commonly affect the neck, chest, ears, & scalp.
In some cases, additional symptoms, such as semi-permanent redness, telangiectasia (dilation of
superficial blood vessels on the face), red domed papules (small bumps) and pustules, red gritty eyes, burning and
stinging sensations, and in some advanced cases, a red nose (rhinophyma) may develop.
Treatments:
Topical antibiotics such as Metronidazole are usually the first line of defense prescribed by doctors to relieve
papules, pustules, inflammation and some redness. Topical Briminidone may help reduce inflammatory lesions, bumps and papules. If papules and pustules persist, then sometimes Tretinoin can
be prescribed. Tretinoin has many side effects and is normally used to treat severe acne, but in low
dosages is proven to be effective against papulopustular and phymatous rosacea. Some individuals
respond well to the topical application of Tranilast or other antihistamines on the affected area, particularly in reducing the prevalence of redness.