Symptoms Of Rosacea

The symptoms of rosacea can vary substantially from one patient to another, and may include various combinations of signs and symptoms. These symptoms of rosacea include facial redness or flushing; Telangiectasis also known as damaged or dilated facial blood vessels or spider veins; papules also described as a solid raised bump that may open when scratched, becoming crusty and infected; pustules which is a dome-shaped, fragile lesion containing pus that typically consists of a mixture of white blood cells, dead skin cells, and bacteria; skin sensitivity; a lumpy or orange-peel texture to the skin; facial swelling; burning sensations on the skin; ocular rosacea, often described as a red, irritated, gritty feeling in the eyes, the eyes may also have a swollen, watery appearance; the last symptom of rosacea is rhinopyma or nasal bumps that may produce a swollen misshapen appearance to the nose.Studies suggest that eye (ocular) symptoms may occur in over half of rosacea patients, and 12 to 20 percent of ocular rosacea patients reported they developed their eye symptoms before developing any facial rosacea symptoms. On the other hand, facial redness is one of the most common symptoms of rosacea, and frequently appears before other signs and symptoms develop. Medical therapy can be tailored to control various signs and symptoms, and may also prevent rosacea from getting worse.

FDA Approval For Rosacea Treatment Oracea

The Food and Drug Administration approved CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s rosacea treatment Monday.
The drug, called Oracea, is now the first FDA-approved, orally administered drug to treat rosacea.
"Oracea is the first of a series of dermatology products we have in development, and we are very pleased that our (new drug application) was approved by the FDA within 10 months of submission," said Colin Stewart, the company's president and CEO. "Over the past six months, we have built a first-rate specialty sales force to launch Oracea, and all of our representatives were fully trained and in their territories by the end of April. This is an extremely exciting time for CollaGenex, and we look forward to providing dermatologists and their patients with this exciting new therapy to treat rosacea."
Oracea contains doxycycline, the same active ingredient as CollaGenex's gum disease treatment Periostat. The company began focusing on its use in the dermatology market after getting reports from dentists that their patients taking the drug for their gums were surprised to find Periostat was also improving the condition of their skin.
CollaGenex shifted its focus to the dermatology market over the past two years following the approval of generic competition for Periostat.

Symptoms That Mimic Rosacea

The many symptoms that mimic rosacea and the many skin conditions with symptoms similar to rosacea can make the diagnosis of rosacea difficult. Medications used in the treatment of acne can be too harsh or aggressive leading to the onset of rosacea or acne rosacea. Aggressive acne treatments to reduce oiliness of the skin can result in the flaking associated with seborrheic dermatitis. The butterfly rash of lupus can also lead to a mis-diagnosis of rosacea. Learning the difference between the symptoms of rosacea, eczema, acne, lupus and psoriasis is necessary to understanding your skin condition.

Ingredients May Aggravate Rosacea

A survey of 1,023 rosacea patients by the National Rosacea Society identified types of skin-care products and ingredients that commonly pose problems for rosacea sufferers.
For women, the biggest culprits were astringents/toners (49.5 percent), soap (40 percent), exfoliant agents (34 percent), makeup (29 percent), perfume/cologne (27 percent), moisturizer (25.5 percent) and hairsprays (20 percent). For men, over 24 percent said flare-ups had been caused by shaving lotion; nearly 24 percent were sensitive to soap; 19 percent were affected by perfume/cologne; and sunscreen aggravated 13 percent.
Topping the list as the most irritating ingredient was alcohol, affecting 66 percent of all respondents. Other frequently aggravating ingredients included witch hazel (30 percent), fragrance (29.5 percent), menthol (21 percent), peppermint (14 percent) and eucalyptus oil (13 percent).
Despite the variety of skin-care products that may aggravate rosacea, 78 percent of the women and 56 percent of the men said they are now using effective skin-care products that do not irritate their condition.

Things To Know When Considering Laser

Once strictly industrial tools, lasers have transformed some areas of medicine, such as dermatology. There are dozens of different types, from cold, or so-called low-level, lasers, to sophisticated, high-powered devices. Others use radio waves, heat or pulses of intense light. The energy and light work at the cellular level of the skin, changing pigment and other skin imperfections.

Possible uses:
Skin rejuvenation; cellulite removal; hair, birthmark and tattoo removal; and improvement of acne and acne scarring, age and sun spots, skin irregularities, loose skin, and facial and leg veins.

Who does the procedure:
A doctor does not have to do the treatment, but be sure that whoever is performing it is properly trained and supervised. Talk to the medical director at the center you choose about how he or she ensures safe, high-quality work.

Where it is done:
Procedures are mostly done at doctor's offices and other medical centers.What it feels like: Usually not painful, the devices may be so bright that the intensity may be initially unsettling. It may feel as if someone snapped a rubber band against your skin.

Is it safe?
Yes, though there may be redness afterward. Some machines automatically shut off to protect patients if the devices get too hot, or have a cooling spray that minimizes side effects.

Know before you go
Considering a minimally invasive laser or related procedure?
Here are some important tips:
Play it safe:
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery recommends that a person have performed at least 10 procedures under the direct supervision of a specialist to assess his or her competency, before being able to do it alone. (For other safety tips, go to www.aslms.org/public/ patientsafetytips.html.)
Get answers:
Is the staff comfortable answering your questions? If not, go elsewhere. If they won't talk before a procedure, imagine how much they may dodge your questions if you are unhappy.
Ask to see follow-up pictures taken more than a year after a procedure. Pictures taken immediately afterward may not give accurate results.
Request a patch test if you have sensitive skin.
Tell the doctor about any health issues you have, including a history of scarring.

Treating Rosacea

It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but when it comes to health, your face can tell the true story. We all know that tiredness can dull skin tone and that stress may bring out spots, but the same cause-and-effect relationship can be seen for more serious health concerns.
The balance required for healthy skin is so delicate that a problem elsewhere in the body is often likely to affect your complexion.

So, when you visit your primary care provider with an unspecified grumble, he or she may well have an idea about what's wrong before you've even removed your coat.
These signs in themselves are not proof of any medical condition and would never be sufficient for a conclusive diagnosis, but your skin can and does give off warning signs that more investigation may be required.
But how much do you know about what your skin is saying? What do spots on your chin indicate, and why won't that dry patch disappear? We consulted the experts to find out.

Rosacea may begin as a simple tendency to flush or blush easily, then progress to a persistent redness in the central portion of your face. Your skin may become overly sensitive and these symptoms are sometimes accompanied by oily facial skin and dandruff on the scalp.
In addition, more than half the people who suffer from rosacea experience ocular rosacea, a burning and gritty sensation in the eyes. Rosacea may cause the inner skin of the eyelids to become inflamed or appear scaly, a condition known as conjunctivitis.
Research has not yet shown what causes rosacea - some health professionals believe it to be a blood-vessel disorder, and others that it is a bacterial infection.
Contrary to myth, alcohol does not cause rosacea. While the consumption of alcohol can lead to flushing of the skin and may make rosacea appear worse, there is no link.

Stress Affects Rosacea

Stress can activate a condition called rosacea, which causes red veins on the cheeks or around the nose. These are sometimes accompanied by a hot or burning sensation. "Stress triggers blood vessels to dilate - and in rosacea where the blood vessels are already overly large, this can cause an attack," explains dermatologist Dr Mervyn Patterson.
Apart from reducing stress - which goes for all the conditions here - avoiding alcohol and spicy foods, which also dilate blood vessels, can help reduce rosacea.