Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin disorder that makes your face look excessively red and may cause pimples and skin thickening. At their offices in Covington and Hammond, Louisiana, the Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics team diagnoses and treats rosacea, providing effective ways to calm the reddened skin. If you suffer from rosacea, learn more about the cutting-edge treatments available. Call Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics today or use the online form to book an appointment.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a chronic disorder where your face looks flushed and red even though you haven’t exercised. The redness will likely be worse on your cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin. Other symptoms include:

• Small, pus-filled bumps resembling acne
• Visibly broken blood vessels (spider veins)
• Swelling
• Sensitivity
• Dry, rough, or scaly skin
• Stinging and burning
• Raised skin patches (plaques)
• Oiliness
• Enlarged pores

More than 14 million people in the United States have rosacea, so it’s a widespread problem. Anyone can get it, but it’s more common in women and people with fair skin, blue eyes, blond hair, and aged 30-50. When men have rosacea, their symptoms are often more severe.

The condition has four subtypes:

Subtype 1

This is the most common form of rosacea, causing redness, flushing, and spider veins. 

Subtype 2

Subtype 2 causes acne-like breakouts and is most common in middle-aged women.

Subtype 3

This rarer form of rosacea makes the skin thicken. It can happen on the chin, cheeks, forehead, and ears, but it’s especially common on the nose (rhinophyma).

Subtype 4

Subtype 4 (ocular rosacea) affects the eye, which may be watery, look bloodshot, feel gritty, burn or sting, be very dry, and itch. Your eye may be sensitive to light, your vision might be blurry, and visibly broken blood vessels could appear on your eyelid.

What causes rosacea?

It’s unclear what causes rosacea, but genetic and environmental factors could be involved. Symptoms often flare up in response to triggers such as:

• Hot food and drinks
• Hot baths
• Sunlight
• Alcohol
• Extreme temperatures
• Vigorous exercise
• Negative emotions
• Steroid medication

Some people with rosacea also get dry, gritty, irritated eyes and red, swollen eyelids.

Ignoring rosacea symptoms can often worsen them, so it’s vital to seek expert medical treatment.

How is rosacea treated?

There’s currently no cure for rosacea, but the Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics team offers several effective treatments, including:

Topical treatments

Topical ointments or creams may contain active ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or lactic acid. Your provider might prescribe creams or ointments containing retinoic or azelaic acid for severe rosacea.

Prescription medications

You might need oral antibiotics to destroy the bacteria in your skin and help reduce inflammation. Severe rosacea that doesn’t respond to other treatments might benefit from isotretinoin medication.

Laser therapy

Noninvasive laser therapy reduces rosacea redness by shrinking the tiny blood vessels under your skin.

Broadband light (BBL)

BBL™ Corrective phototherapy technology uses the high energy rapid output (HERO) system to stimulate healthy tissue growth.

Call Soine Dermatology & Aesthetics today or book an appointment online for expert rosacea treatment.