A blush in the cheek is quite attractive and may mean ruddy good health, but, if this blush or redness persists long after sun exposure or you are embarrassed, then that could mean that you have Rosacea and that some sort of Rosacea Treatment should be sought for it, lest it becomes serious.
A common skin problem among fair-skinned people all over the world, Rosacea is quite often erroneously taken for sunburn because it appears first as a red or pink blotch with a burning sensation.
It is also mistaken for acne since it can manifest as red bumps and small cysts in the face, particularly on the forehead, nose, cheek, and chin, much as it affects the other parts of the body like the chest and neck.
The other symptoms of rosacea include a burning sensation of the face, redness or pinkness, red bumps and lesions, and thickening skin.
Patients with rosacea do not complain about excessive pain, except when it becomes so severe that it could develop into unsightly bumps and lesions and will affect the eyes (ocular rosacea).
In this condition, there is a probability that the patient's eyesight will be impaired.
Unfortunately, there is no cure that will banish Rosacea permanently.
Because it is chronic and its level of symptomatic severity changes overtime, it should be managed with proper medical attention and Rosacea treatment.
There are different subtypes of Rosacea which responds to specific and/or combined therapies prescribed by dermatologists.
For Erythematotelangeic Rosacea characterized by flushing, redness and visible blood vessels, the treatment starts with proper skin care to heal the damaged skin.
Sunscreen and barrier-repair emollient are applied to affected areas two times daily.
When the skin is healed, topical medications like metronidazole, Azelaic Acid, and Retinoid will be applied to reduce the redness.
The patient, however, should not expect dramatic results because it may take months before they will see improvements.
Moreover, electrocautery gets rid of visible blood vessels while lasers and other light therapies can effectively treat all three symptoms.
As to Papulopustular rosacea, which has bumps and pus-filled lesions, it responds to topical medications like antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin), azelaic acid, retinoid and sulfur lotions.
Again, long-term application is necessary to see noticeable results.
With regards to Phymatus Rosacea exemplified by thickening skin, surgery is opted to remove the unwanted thick skin.
Surgical procedures include the use of lasers and other light therapies, electrocautery and dermabrasions.
Ocular rosacea is another subtype that affects the eyes.
There are dilated blood vessels on the eyelids and the eyes appear bloodshot.
Another symptom is a cyst which could be growing in the upper or lower eyelid.
Because this needs immediate attention, the treatment for this comprises an eyelid hygiene regimen or the cleansing of the surrounding eye area with recommended solutions, as well as the application of a warm compress.
The medications are eye drops and oral antibiotics.
To combat rosacea, rosacea treatment must be undertaken at the early stages to arrest and control its effects on the physical and emotional health of the patient.