A: Acne rosacea can
be treated effectively
with oral tetracycline,
topical metronidazole
or clindamycin.
Treatment duration
varies but may last
several months.
Wilkin JK, DeWitt S. Treatment of
rosacea: topical clindamycin versus
oral tetracycline. Int J Dermatol. 1993
Jan;32(1):65-7.
be treated effectively
with oral tetracycline,
topical metronidazole
or clindamycin.
Treatment duration
varies but may last
several months.
Wilkin JK, DeWitt S. Treatment of
rosacea: topical clindamycin versus
oral tetracycline. Int J Dermatol. 1993
Jan;32(1):65-7.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha) is a common but little-known disorder of the facial
skin that affects an estimated 14 million Americans -- and most of them don't know it.
In fact, while rosacea is becoming increasingly widespread as the populous baby boom
generation enters the most susceptible ages, a Gallup survey found that 78 percent of
Americans have no knowledge of this condition, including how to recognize it and what to
do about it.
http://www.rosacea.org/index.php
Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea?
Signs and symptoms of rosacea include:
Causes of Rosacea?
Demodex species (mites that normally inhabit human hair follicles) may play a role in the
pathogenesis of rosacea. Support suggests that Demodex prefers skin regions that are
affected in rosacea, such as the nose and cheeks.
Studies also support that an immune response of helper-inducer T cell infiltrates occurs,
surrounding the Demodex antigens in patients with rosacea. Yet, conflicting evidence
indicates that Demodex does not induce an inflammatory response in patients with
rosacea. Moreover, Demodex is found in large numbers of healthy individuals without
rosacea.
More studies need to be performed to determine whether Demodex truly is pathogenic.
Also, inconclusive evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori is associated with the
etiology of rosacea.
However, many of the studies have not controlled for confounding variables that influence
H pylori prevalence, such as sex, age, socioeconomic status, and medications.
Furthermore, these studies were not statistically powered to account for the ubiquitous
nature of H pylori infection.
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic377.htm
How is Rosacea Treated?
The type of medicine your doctor recommends will depend on how your skin looks.
Treatment generally works best at improving the pimples and bumps of rosacea. The
redness of the skin is harder to treat.
Medicines used to treat rosacea include antibiotics, which can be applied to the skin or
taken as pills. Your doctor may recommend an oral antibiotic to start with and follow that
with an antibiotic gel or cream called metronidazole (one brand name: MetroGel) that you
apply to your skin.
It may take up to 2 months of treatment before the skin looks better. As your skin
improves, the amount of oral antibiotic you take can often be cut down or stopped.
Treatment with the gel may continue. It is hard to know how long you will need treatment
for rosacea. Each person's skin is different, and your doctor may want to adjust your
treatment.
Surgery may be used to correct rhinophyma. Enlarged blood vessels on your face can
sometimes be removed by using a fine electric needle or with laser surgery.
http://familydoctor.org/155.xml
Rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha) is a common but little-known disorder of the facial
skin that affects an estimated 14 million Americans -- and most of them don't know it.
In fact, while rosacea is becoming increasingly widespread as the populous baby boom
generation enters the most susceptible ages, a Gallup survey found that 78 percent of
Americans have no knowledge of this condition, including how to recognize it and what to
do about it.
http://www.rosacea.org/index.php
Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea?
Signs and symptoms of rosacea include:
- Red areas on your face
- Small, red bumps or pustules on your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin (but not the
same as whiteheads or blackheads) - Red, bulbous nose (rhinophyma)
- Visible small blood vessels on your nose and cheeks
- Burning or gritty sensation in your eyes (ocular rosacea)
- Tendency to flush or blush easily
Causes of Rosacea?
Demodex species (mites that normally inhabit human hair follicles) may play a role in the
pathogenesis of rosacea. Support suggests that Demodex prefers skin regions that are
affected in rosacea, such as the nose and cheeks.
Studies also support that an immune response of helper-inducer T cell infiltrates occurs,
surrounding the Demodex antigens in patients with rosacea. Yet, conflicting evidence
indicates that Demodex does not induce an inflammatory response in patients with
rosacea. Moreover, Demodex is found in large numbers of healthy individuals without
rosacea.
More studies need to be performed to determine whether Demodex truly is pathogenic.
Also, inconclusive evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori is associated with the
etiology of rosacea.
However, many of the studies have not controlled for confounding variables that influence
H pylori prevalence, such as sex, age, socioeconomic status, and medications.
Furthermore, these studies were not statistically powered to account for the ubiquitous
nature of H pylori infection.
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic377.htm
How is Rosacea Treated?
The type of medicine your doctor recommends will depend on how your skin looks.
Treatment generally works best at improving the pimples and bumps of rosacea. The
redness of the skin is harder to treat.
Medicines used to treat rosacea include antibiotics, which can be applied to the skin or
taken as pills. Your doctor may recommend an oral antibiotic to start with and follow that
with an antibiotic gel or cream called metronidazole (one brand name: MetroGel) that you
apply to your skin.
It may take up to 2 months of treatment before the skin looks better. As your skin
improves, the amount of oral antibiotic you take can often be cut down or stopped.
Treatment with the gel may continue. It is hard to know how long you will need treatment
for rosacea. Each person's skin is different, and your doctor may want to adjust your
treatment.
Surgery may be used to correct rhinophyma. Enlarged blood vessels on your face can
sometimes be removed by using a fine electric needle or with laser surgery.
http://familydoctor.org/155.xml
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on the subjects addressed. It is written with the understanding that the author(s) is (are) not engaged in rendering
medical, health, or any other kind of professional service(s). The reader should consult his or her medical, health or other
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any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and
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