Rosacea Symptoms: Rhinophyma

Rhinophyma is a condition commonly associated with rosacea in which a slow growing benign tumor begins to form on the tip of the nose. This is due to hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands of the tip of nose. Rhinophyma appears as a pink, lobulated mass over the nose with superficial vascular dilation; mostly affects men past middle age. Rosacea patient seeks advice and treatment because of the unsightly appearance of the tumor, or obstruction in breathing and vision due to the large size of the tumor. Treatment consists of paring down the bulk of the tumor with sharp knife or carbon dioxide laser and the area allowed to re-epithelialise. Sometimes, tumor is completely excised and the raw area skin-grafted.

The Adverse Effects of Using Toners and Astringents When Treating Rosacea

Even though your skin may be oily in some areas, it still needs oil as a natural ‘protective barrier’ from bacteria to prevent acne. Many of the over the counter products commonly used in the treatment of acne contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or azelaic acid. These products can be too harsh and drying which results in the body producing more oil to compensate for the oils stripped from the skin by the harsher products. Often your skin still appears oily so you apply more of the product, which in turn causes the skin to produce more oil to protect itself from the harmful ingredients.
Salicylic acid is an ingredient commonly used i acne treatments and to remove calluses from your feet. Salicylic acid belongs to the family of ingredients called Beta Hydroxy Acid or BHA.

When you skin has become damaged by the use or over use of acne products containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or azelaic acid, applying jojoba oil to the skin “tricks” the skin into thinking there is sufficient oil on the skin so the body slows oil production to that area of the skin to prevent it from being too dry. When the skin is too dry, the skin pores shrink with resulting ‘clogged pores’.

Benzoyl peroxide, like most peroxides, is a powerful bleaching agent. Contact with fabric (including clothing and bed linens) or hair can cause permanent color dampening almost immediately. At high concentrations, benzoyl peroxide is highly flammable and explosive and should be handled with care. In the United States, the typical concentration for benzoyl peroxide is 2.5% to 10% for both prescription and over the counter use.

Other common uses for benzoyl peroxide include dyeing hair, and as an active ingredient in teeth whitening systems. It is also used in the preparation of flour, and can be used as an initiator and catalyst for polyester thermoset resins (as an alternative to the much more hazardous methyl ethyl ketone peroxide). When used as an initiator, benzoyl peroxide is thought to form two identical radical molecules through homolytic cleavage of the peroxide bond.

Benzoyl peroxide breaks down in contact with skin, producing benzoic acid and oxygen, neither of which are significantly toxic. When applied to skin benzoyl peroxide has been shown to induce cancer, but only when used at 100% concentrations; it has not been shown to do this at the far lower concentrations used for treating acne, and at lower concentrations benzoyl peroxide has been found not to be mutagenic or carcinogenic.

Benzoyl peroxide removes the top layer of skin, which also decreases the sun protective effect (roughly SPF 3). This can cause sunburn and premature aging if sun protection is not worn. If sun protection is used, benzoyl peroxide has similar effects to glycolic acid peels which are so-called anti-aging treatments.

Azelaic acid gel is used to clear the bumps, lesions, and swelling caused by rosacea (a skin disease that causes redness, flushing, and pimples on the face). Azelaic acid cream is used to treat acne. Azelaic acid is in a class of medications called dicarboxylic acids. It works to treat acne by killing the bacteria that infect pores and by decreasing production of keratin, a natural substance that can lead to the development of acne. The way azelaic acid works to treat rosacea is not known.

Azelaic acid may cause side effects. The following symptoms are likely to affect the skin you are treating with azelaic acid. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: itching, burning, stinging, or tingling. Some side effects can be serious. The following symptom is uncommon, but if you experience it, call your doctor immediately: rash. Azelaic acid may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

Azelaic acid may be useful as a hair growth stimulant. A research report by Stamatiadis in 1988 suggested that azelaic acid (and combinations of it, with zinc ion and vitamin B6) was a strong type I 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) inhibitor. However, no clinical studies have confirmed its efficacy in helping with hair loss.