Rosacea

Rosacea is a common condition characterized by symptoms of facial flushing and a spectrum of clinical signs, including erythema, telangiectasia, coarseness of skin, and an inflammatory papulopustular eruption resembling acne scars. It is more common among fair-skinned individuals especially European population.

Patients are likely to have a background of facial flushing, often staring from childhood or the early teens. In adult life, flushing may be increasingly precipitated by alcohol, hot drinks, heat, emotion, and other causes of rapid body temperature changes.

The symptoms are usually intermittent but can progressively lead to permanently flushed skin. The latter may be described as high color and is associated with the development of permanent telangiectasia. Additionally, a few individuals report a gritty quality of the eyes and facial edema.

Treatment

1. Sunscreen: broad spectrum sunscreen covering protection over UVA and UVB is needed to control rosacea. The patient is encouraged to avoid astringents, toners, menthols, camphor, or products containing sodium lauryl sulfate.

2. Laser treatments: vascular laser can eliminate the facial telangiectasia which can improve the flushing, facial redness of rosacea.

3. Surgical intervention may be needed to improve rhinophyma which is associated with rosacea.