Everything You Should Know About Rosacea

Often mistaken for adult-onset acne or a ruddy (red) facial complexion, rosacea can make life miserable for individuals of any age, but it typically affects women over the age of 30. Fortunately, advances in medical technology and treatment strategies offer significant relief from the discomfort and cosmetic changes associated with rosacea.

Board-certified dermatologist and surgical expert, Dr. Alexander Stein, leads our team here at Stein Dermatology and Skin Surgery in Chula Vista, California. Under Dr. Stein’s guidance, our group has earned a stellar reputation for successfully combining exceptional medical care with patient comfort, education, and satisfaction in treating conditions that affect your skin.

Learn how we can help you overcome rosacea.

Rosacea basics

Rosacea is a relatively common skin condition that develops on the face. It causes varying degrees of redness and visible blood vessels across the cheeks and nose which can eventually involve the forehead, chin, ears, and chest. It may also include eruptions of small red papules and whiteheads that are often mistaken for acne.

Ocular rosacea, including dryness, irritation, and swelling of the eyes as well as redness and inflammation of the eyelids, may precede the skin symptoms. Over time, rosacea can cause enlargement of the oil glands in your nose and cheeks. This leads to thickening of the skin over the nose, creating a bulbous appearance (rhinophyma) that’s more common in men than women.

Along with the cosmetic changes, which can cause significant emotional stress, many individuals with rosacea also report stinging, burning, itching, and significant skin tightness during rosacea flare-ups.

Diagnosing rosacea 

The first step in effectively treating rosacea is accurately diagnosing the condition. This often presents a challenge since the effects of psoriasis, various skin allergies, lupus, and other common conditions can cause similar symptoms.

Depending on your symptoms, Dr. Stein may recommend further testing to rule out these possibilities. He may also recommend evaluation and treatment by an ophthalmologist if you’ve developed moderate-to-severe ocular rosacea.

Dr. Stein otherwise relies on his medical expertise, exam results, and details discovered during a thorough review of your symptoms to diagnose rosacea and develop a treatment strategy that addresses your current symptoms and helps prevent future exacerbations.

Treating rosacea

Unfortunately, there’s no known cure for rosacea. However, numerous effective treatments exist to successfully control and help prevent the redness, acne-like breakouts, and other symptoms of rosacea.

Dr. Stein designs an individualized and comprehensive treatment strategy for your rosacea which may include:

• Topical therapies to reduce redness and control acne-like skin eruptions
• Oral medication such as low-dose antibiotics to control breakouts
• Laser therapy to reduce redness and treat rosacea breakouts

An important part of controlling rosacea includes identifying triggers that may bring on a flare, which can include:

• Extremes in temperature
• Hot drinks, spicy foods, red wine, and other alcoholic beverages
• Sun exposure without use of sunscreen
• Windy days
• Extensive sweating, such as during exercise or outdoor work
• Medications that dilate blood vessels
• Skin care products that contain alcohol and other irritants

As part of the comprehensive rosacea treatment strategies we offer here at Stein Dermatology, our team works with you to help identify and avoid your triggers by providing common sense guidelines and information regarding daily skin care and sunscreen use.

You don’t have to live with rosacea. For outstanding skin care that’s medically sound and patient-focused, schedule a visit at Stein Dermatology and Skin Surgery today.