When does the charming blush on the cheeks become a diagnosis?
Rosacea is not a simple cosmetic problem. It is a disease that affects the patient’s self-esteem and significantly disrupts the quality of life. Many people with rosacea go undiagnosed because it initially appears in a milder form. This leads to worsening of the condition unless you start treatment with the appropriate products in time. Rosacea is a chronic dermatosis in which redness, permanently dilated capillaries and acne-like inflammatory changes are observed. The central part of the face is affected – nose, cheeks, forehead, chin, and less often the neck, neckline, ears and eyes.
Rosacea in women and men
Both sexes suffer from rosacea, but women over 25-30 years of age are affected 3-4 times more often. It is especially characteristic of people with sensitive and lighter skin. It is no accident that rosacea is called “the curse of the Celts” in the Scandinavian countries.
The most severe form of the disease is observed only in men. The nose is mainly affected, which, due to the growth of connective tissue, appears large, with an uneven and lopsided surface. This condition is called rhinophyma.
Manifestation and course of the disease
Genetic predisposition and endocrine disorders – climacteric, thyrotoxicosis – are important for the manifestation of the disease. There is also an association with diseases of the digestive tract, such as gastritis and colitis.
Treatment of these conditions leads to improvement in rosacea. The role of some small organisms, such as Demodex folliculorum ticks that parasitize the sebaceous glands, is also discussed. There are also the so-called provoking or triggering factors – high or low temperatures, wind, sun, stress, alcohol, coffee, hot drinks, spices and spicy foods. Rosacea occurs in different forms. At first, redness appears briefly and then disappears.
But over time, the occurrence is much more frequent and stronger – accompanied by a feeling of warming, burning, pinching. Subcutaneous capillaries lose their elasticity and expand permanently, and the network-like or red structure becomes a permanent imprint on the face. At a later stage, pink-red nodules and purulent pimples appear. This form can often be confused with acne. As a chronic problem, rosacea undergoes periods of worsening and improvement. Hygienic-dietary measures and avoidance of provoking external factors are essential for prolonging periods of remission. It is best to use photo protection and hydration with creams that affect small blood vessels. It is recommended to eliminate the use of saunas and steam baths, peelings and scrubs, the consumption of spicy food, alcohol and carbonated drinks.
Corticosteroids
The use of corticosteroids in the treatment of rosacea is not recommended. Despite initial improvement, a sharp worsening often follows, causing persistent redness, enlargement of superficial blood vessels, and thinning of the skin. This condition is known as steroid-induced rosacea.
Treatment methods
Rosacea treatment is difficult and requires persistence. It includes topical and oral antibiotics, azelaic acid, retinoids, and more. In recent years, laser therapy has established itself as an extremely efficient method. It acts simultaneously on shrinking dilated capillaries and reducing general redness. IPL and Nd:YAG laser systems are used. The Laser Genesis and ICON MaxG procedures we offer provide a faster therapeutic effect as well as prolong remission periods. Depending on the form of the disease, it is important to determine a safe and effective therapeutic approach, individual for each patient.
