Treatment for acne rosacea

March 20, 2022

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.

Trouble With Teenage Acne? Here Are Some Solutions
Teenage acne is another contributor to low self-esteem, something which many teenagers suffer from. Although they may deny it bothers them, the odds are it bothers them a lot. It can inhibit their emotional growth as well as affecting their grades in high school. No teenager today wants to live with this condition, and although it may take a bit of encouragement from parents it's important that they see the family doctors as soon as possible. There is absolutely no reason for any teenager to have to deal with this problem in the 21st century.
- It's also important that teenagers understand that the acne they are suffering with has absolutely nothing to do with dirty skin or poor hygiene habits. In many of the cases that doctors see, the cause is actually an infection. The skin becomes inflamed due to bacteria that everyone has on their skin. Not only that, but it's quite common that if your parents suffered from bad bouts of acne, then you will have inherited the condition. The biggest culprit when it comes to acne is hormones. Teenagers know well that they have little control over their hormones. The good news is, this condition is highly treatable these days using one or a combination of different methods. The earlier you start treating it, the more success you will have.
- Most teenagers have already gone the route of over the counter medications and soaps and usually with little results to show for it. If they still have acne then it's time to see a doctor. He will most likely recommend some prescription treatments. For most teenagers, this is all they will need as these also normally work well. On the other hand, if you have stubborn and very inflamed acne then your doctor will most likely refer you to a good dermatologist. Dermatologists have a number of different tools available to them to help cure even stubborn acne.
- Dermatologists have been using acne laser treatments for some time now with very successful results. These lasers kill the bacteria growth that is causing the acne. These lasers are completely painless and are a form of dermabrasion. Some stubborn acne can also be treated with a type of acid peel. They are simply a combination of fruit acids that help treat the acne that is present and can also help to improve scarring on the face from previous outbreaks.
Blue light is another treatment that helps many and some doctors will use it along with Levulan ala. It too helps to destroy the bacteria and also has the side benefit of helping with the production of collagen and it also helps to reduce the size of the pores. Although this procedure takes a bit longer it has a high success rate.
The main theme with all these therapies is killing the bacteria that are always on the surface of the skin. Since hormonal changes are the main culprit for teenage acne, it may be that teens will have to repeat treatments until the hormones in their body start to regulate themselves. This may take a number of years, but the good news is that their teenage years can be a lot happier with these treatments and will allow them to carry on a happy and normal social life.