What is rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease, which affects two areas of our body: the blood vessels and the pilosebaceous units. This can lead to confusion with acne of the face, especially the central part of the face: the areas are cheeks, nose, forehead and chin.
Rosacea manifests with clinical signs such as flushing, erythema which may be transient or chronic, telangiectasias, papules or pustules. When it worsens or progresses, there may be ocular involvement or an evident thickening of the skin, especially in the nose, which is called rhinophyma.
What are the causes of this condition?
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures, alcoholic or hot beverages, medications that can cause dilation of blood vessels, exercise, emotions, extreme wind, extreme sunlight. Women over 30 years of age with a family history are also more predisposed to rosacea.
What cosmetic treatments can correct rosacea?
As aesthetic treatments, chemical peelings are used to control the pilocebaceous glands (pimples) such as azelaic acid. IPL (pulsed light) laser is also used. In both cases, the duration of the treatment is approximately 30 minutes per session and they are performed in an interval of 15 days between one session and another. Fractional ablative CO2 laser can also be used, which also helps to reduce skin thickening.
Depending on the case, the treating physician may prescribe drugs such as brimonidine (Mirvaso) and oxymetazoline (Rhofade), which reduce redness by narrowing the blood vessels. Results may be evident within 12 hours after use.
Also used topically, in combination with these aesthetic treatments: azelaic acid (Azelex, Finacea) or long-term oral medication such as metronidazole (Metrogel, Noritate, others) and ivermectin (Soolantra), doxacycline, or isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis).
How are the results?
With medication and in-booth treatment there is an improvement in pimples and skin discoloration. The skin looks clearer, finer, cleaner and the pores are less dilated. But because this pathology is recurrent, each case must be well monitored. The important thing is to be consistent and avoid risk factors.