3 Most Effective Treatment of Rosacea
Dr. Vi Sharma has worked in the field of cosmetic surgery
He has a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery, Monash University; and former member of the Australasian College of Aesthetic Medicine and the Royal Australian College of General Practice.
Rosacea is a common skin condition that usually begins with facial redness or flushing. It can lead to permanent reddening of the skin, burning and pimple-like spots. It is more common in women and fair-skinned people, but it can affect people of all ages and skin types. Rosacea is often confused with acne, but they are different conditions with different treatments, so it’s important to get the right diagnosis.
If you have rosacea, there’s good news: There are many effective rosacea treatments available. Here we take a closer look at the different options, including ethical rosacea creams and gels.
What does rosacea look like?
There are four types of rosacea. But to put it simply, rosacea can be identified by redness, broken capillaries (small blood vessels) and red pimples on the face.
Symptoms of rosacea
Rosacea typically affects the center of the face – the nose, cheeks and forehead. Some people will also have rosacea symptoms that affect the neck, ears and even the eyes. People with rosacea tend to have sensitive skin and have trouble tolerating many cosmetics, skin care products, and topical medications.
Common symptoms of rosacea include:
- Redness or redness that won’t go away
- Burning, stinging or tight skin
- Rough, dry or scaly skin
- Red, pimple-like bumps or thickened skin
- Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
What causes rosacea?
The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be caused by an overactive immune system, heredity, environmental factors, or a combination of these. Rosacea can be caused by:
- Hot drinks and spicy foods
- Red wine and other alcoholic beverages
- Temperature extremes
- Sun or wind
- Emotion
- Exercises
- Medicines that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medicines
- Some cosmetic, skin or hair products
The best treatment for rosacea
There are many effective treatment for rosacea in sydney available, and which one you use depends on the type of symptoms you have. Creams, pills, and lasers are effective in treating certain symptoms. Rosacea creams and gels are usually used as the first treatment and are enough to keep symptoms under control for most people. You can find some topical treatments over the counter (OTC), while others are only available by prescription.
For other people, a combination of topical treatment with an oral antibiotic or lasers may be needed. More on those below.
Prescription rosacea creams and gels
There are several prescription creams and gels that are FDA approved to treat the symptoms of rosacea. They can help reduce redness and hot flashes or treat the breakouts associated with rosacea, depending on which remedy you choose. It can be benefited for some people by using a combination of different prescription creams and gels.
Here are two topical treatments that reduce Rosacea
Mirvaso
This gel works by causing small blood vessels to constrict (constrict), reducing blood flow. It works well but can be expensive. You may need to ask your doctor to help you apply for coverage with your insurer to get it.
Rhofade
This cream also works by causing the small blood vessels to constrict. Like Mirvaso, it can be quite expensive and is rarely covered by insurance plans.
There are several different rosacea creams that treat pimples, including:
Metrogel (metronidazole)
This is an antibiotic that helps reduce skin inflammation. Metrogel is available in the form of a cream, gel or lotion. It usually costs less than other topical rosacea treatments per prescription, so it is often prescribed first for rosacea therapy.
Soolantra (ivermectin)
This is an antiparasitic medication that, when used as a cream, helps reduce inflammation and kills demodex mites. It’s also expensive and rarely covered by insurance.
Sulfacetamide sodium/sulphur: This is an antibiotic that helps reduce skin inflammation and comes in a variety of strong creams, gels, and cleansers.
Oral medications for rosacea
Some people with rosacea need more than rosacea creams and other topical treatments to treat their symptoms. Adding a short course of low-dose antibiotics such as doxycycline (Oracea) can help improve symptoms quickly. Ask your provider if this might be a good treatment option for you.
Rosacea laser treatment
Some lasers, such as the pulsed dye laser (PDL), can help reduce the redness that occurs with rosacea due to flushing and broken capillaries. Although they are worth pursuing, treatment can be expensive as it is not covered by insurance and multiple sessions may be required.
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness, burning and pimples on the face. Rosacea treatment in Sydney completely depend on the symptoms patient have. For most people, rosacea creams and gels are all that is needed to control the symptoms. Other people may need combination therapy with oral antibiotics or lasers in addition to topical treatments. Rosacea medications can be expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to save.
