Solutions & Treatments
Treating early minimises your red skin
Because red skin has so many different symptoms and can affect people in different ways, your dermatologist can tailor your rosacea treatment to your specific needs.
You have persistently red skin on your face, yet you aren’t sure what might be provoking it. A number of factors, both internal and external, may be causing your redness, ranging from stress, hormones and emotions to spicy foods, sun exposure and hot drinks. Your try your best with your own skin care and daily regimen to reduce the redness – but it only works up to a point.
When red, blotchy, flushed skin on your face won’t go away, it’s best to consult your dermatologist.
Only he can properly diagnose the reasons for your red skin, based on your background and your environment. And it’s only with the right diagnosis that you are able to care for it properly.
As well, receiving an adapted medical treatment during the early stages of redness on your face limits its development in terms of spread, intensity and other symptoms.
A number of medical rosacea treatments exist according to the severity and persistence of your symptoms. With careful monitoring, it’s possible to alleviate red skin and restore your quality of life.
To complement your own skincare regimen using dermaceuticals, there are both medication and dermatological procedures that can help relieve and soothe red skin.
Because red skin has so many different symptoms and can affect people in different ways, your dermatologist will tailor your rosacea treatment to your specific needs.
The main objective of both topical and oral medications is to improve skin’s appearance and comfort, preventing the development of symptoms, or at the very least limiting them. These treatments act by constricting blood vessels to prevent flushing and redness, or clearing up papules, pustules, swelling and redness. It may be several weeks or months before you see an improvement.
Topical treatments include azelaic acid and antibiotics, both of which act as anti-inflammatories.
Oral treatments are usually antibiotics. They act faster than topical versions, and again, are prescribed for their anti-inflammatory properties. Tetracycline is often prescribed for ocular rosacea. For cases of severe rosacea, isotretinoin may be given, under close medical supervision.
If prescription medication does little to control or relieve your symptoms, your dermatologist may then consider procedures including light therapy, and surgery for extreme cases.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy and laser treatments can shrink oversized blood vessels and spider veins, returning skin to a more even and natural colouring. Side effects are usually minimal.
Surgery may be the best option to correct disfigurement of the nose when rosacea has progressed to a severe stage. Usually performed with lasers, excess skin tissue is removed and the area is resculpted.
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Is it possible to avoid flare-ups?
According to a National Rosacea Society survey, 69 percent of respondents said they had a stress-related flare-up at least once a month*. During a flare-up, symptoms such as flushing, papules and pustules can last for days, even weeks. And it’s safe to say that flare-ups never come at a good time! It is really important to understand that it’s possible to control red skin but that there is no cure for it. Flare-ups will happen, although you can manage them by learning how to handle stress, sleeping well and following a daily routine. Be sure to discuss your expectations about your rosacea and treatment with your dermatologist. Knowing your red skin and how it behaves makes you better prepared to successfully manage your situation – during both flare-ups and good periods.
* https://www.rosacea.org/rosacea-review/2011/fall/survey-shows-controlling-stress-can-reduce-flare-up-frequency
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Why does red skin become permanent?
It doesn’t have to! But redness will progress and evolve if you don’t actively manage it. There are therefore a number of actions that you can undertake to reduce the redness in your face and keep it from developing. One of the most important things you can do is understand what makes your skin red. You will have triggers that are both internal and external, such as those mentioned above, and as much as possible, you need to limit your exposure to them. By preventing yourself from turning red, you also prevent the redness from getting worse. If redness does get worse, or you see that it’s not going away, then consult your dermatologist, who will be able to make a proper diagnosis and decide on the most effective treatment. It’s also important to remember that healthy skin also starts with clean skin. Wash with a gentle cleanser twice a day and moisturise to keep the skin barrier intact, reducing the possibility of new irritation. The earlier you understand, diagnose and treat your red skin, the better you prevent its progression.
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How effective are medical treatments?
Rosacea is a long term disease, and neither it nor red skin in general is well understood. Treatments therefore focus on alleviating symptoms, since we need to know the cause to be able to develop a cure. For rosacea, medical treatments can be very effective in mitigating flare-ups, controlling redness and reducing papules and pustules. Patients see their dermatologists once every one to three months, and treatments last a few weeks or months before being assessed for their effectiveness. Your dermatologist can always adjust to improve results. Topical treatments can be used long-term with good results and few side effects. Bacterial resistance is not a concern, since minimal medication passes into the bloodstream from the skin. The overall aim is therefore to use topical treatments as much as possible, moving to oral treatments only when absolutely necessary. And obviously, it’s also important to follow your dermatologist’s recommendations in general: stay out of the sun, apply sunscreen, and limit exposure to your irritating factors.
