Rosacea is most commonly found in fair-skin individuals, but can affect any skin type. Unfortunately, there is no cure for rosacea, but with effective treatment, symptoms can be minimized or eliminated completely.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of rosacea include:
Symptoms of rosacea can be aggravated through environmental and genetic factors. These include:
You’re at increased risk of developing (or worsening) rosacea if you:
After inspecting your skin, your doctor may recommend a medication to combat your rosacea. These include medications that reduce redness, like brimonidine; azelaic acid and metronidazole; oral antibiotics like doxycycline, tetracycline, minocycline, and others to address inflammation in the skin; and, for severe cases, isotretinoin, an oral acne drug that eliminates acne-like lesions of rosacea.
Your doctor may also suggest laser therapy, which reduces the redness of enlarged blood vessels.
It is advised not to perform self-diagnosis or at-home treatments, as some over-the-counter medications may aggravate skin further. The key to rosacea relief is early diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, rosacea can worsen quickly and become more difficult to treat.
Give us a call if you suspect you have rosacea. Dermatology of Athens is trained on the myriad of common skin irritants, and we can provide expert guidance on how to combat your rosacea symptoms for clear, happier skin.