Treatment for acne rosacea

Treatment for acne rosacea, as opposed to acne vulgaris (common acne), which usually occurs at the onset of puberty, acne rosacea, is a skin disorder that occurs in adults. Many mistake rosacea for common acne and refuse to see it as a long-term skin ailment. The problem with rosacea is that unlike common acne, patients do not “outgrow” the condition with the passing of age. Most patients do not even know that they have a skin disease. They often will mistake the redness on their face for sunburn or think that they blush easily.

Seen mostly in people with light or fair skin, this skin condition causes persistent redness of the face and gives them a perpetually flushed look. For some, exposure to the sun is the major reason for rosacea. For such people, application of the right sunscreen lotion or cream and general sun avoidance can work wonders. Rosacea was long considered an incurable condition. But today with the progress of science and technology, treatment for acne rosacea is available. Treatment options depend on the severity and extent of the symptoms.

For individuals with mild rosacea, whether the condition should be cured or not, depends strictly on the patient’s decision. If he or she is not particularly bothered, there is no need to cure it. For more resistant cases, a combination of several treatment options can be applied. Medical treatment for acne rosacea includes antibacterial washes, antibiotic pills, pulsed-light therapies, laser treatment, photodynamic therapy (PDT), topical creams and isotretinoin.

Apart from the application of highly sophisticated techniques like lasers and PDT, there are several work-at-home techniques that can be applied to combat the skin ailment. Washing with a prescription sulfa wash twice a day can work wonders with your skin. Or, there are antibacterial creams that can be applied in the morning and night and antibiotic pills to deal with flushed skin. But these should be used only according to the prescriptions of a certified medical practitioner. In fact, it is better to let a physician decide the treatments that suit you.

Among the topical creams that cure rosacea, metronidazole and Azelaic acid are considered to be very effective. Both help in reducing the redness of the skin and bumps on the skin surface. Another treatment for acne rosacea is antibiotics that can be consumed orally. This is found to be very effective for patients with moderate rosacea. Most commonly used oral antibiotics include tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, and amoxicillin. For those with severe rosacea, the best treatment option is isotretinoin. But this requires close monitoring by a physician and frequent testing of blood.

Generally, for all rosacea patients, harsh soaps and lotions should be avoided, and mild skin cleansers like Cetaphil be used. Then, of course, there is the laser and intense pulse-light therapy that can visibly improve complexion. However, not many are able to endure the discomforts of laser treatment. PDT (photodynamic therapy) is a relatively new entrant among the various treatments for acne rosacea. It uses a photosensitizer liquid, which is applied on the skin, and a light to activate that sensitizer. But it is true that PDT has been designed to treat regular acne (acne vulgaris). Glycolic-acid peels are another option for curing rosacea; however, it may cause irritation and inflammation in very sensitive skin types.