What is rosacea and how can it be treated?
Rosacea is much more than a red, flushed face. A chronic but treatable skin condition, rosacea often starts off with intermittent flushing, redness, visible broken blood vessels, and flare-ups at the centre of your face. As the condition progresses, these symptoms become more prominent and persistent. If left untreated, rosacea can worsen with the development of inflammatory bumps and pimples, skin thickening, bumpy texture, and irritated, red eyes.
What causes rosacea?
Rosacea is more common in women; however, men are more likely to have severe cases of rosacea.
The cause of rosacea is mostly unknown. That said, scientists do have a few theories about what may trigger the condition, including:
Rosacea often runs in the family, so a genetic predisposition is likely
A bacterium called bacillus oleronius, a bacteria from the demodex mite found on the skin surface, causes the immune system to overreact
A bacterium called H pylori, found in the gut that can cause inflammation systemically, is common in people who have rosacea.
Studies have shown that a mite called demodex that normally lives harmoniously on our skin, is found in large numbers on the nose and cheeks of people with rosacea
Cathelicidin, an antimicrobial protein that normally protects the face, is found in significantly higher levels in people with rosacea and may cause the redness and swelling
Different types of rosacea
Not all rosacea is created equal. The breadth of signs and symptoms have meant that experts have identified four types – or subtypes – of rosacea.
Subtype 1 – Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea
Redness and flushing in the centre of the face
Visible broken blood vessels
Face sensitivity, where skin may burn or sting
Swelling of the face
Dry skin and rough skin texture
Subtype 2 – Papulopustular rosacea
Redness and swelling of the face
Acne
Subtype 3 – Phymatous rosacea
Skin thickening (particularly on the nose)
Bumpy skin texture
Subtype 4 – Ocular rosacea
Redness and irritation of the eyes
Swollen eyelids
How we can help: treatments for rosacea
The medical team at Skindepth Perth can help reduce the signs and symptoms of rosacea. We’ll step you through a full skin assessment and work out the best treatment plan for your skin type.
For example, acne accompanying rosacea will need to be treated first. Once the acne is under control, we can target the rosacea using Venus Versa Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments. The IPL energy penetrates through to the deeper dermal layer and is absorbed by the targeted area without damaging the surrounding tissue. This energy reduces the haemoglobin pigment inside visible blood vessels and dark pigmented spots. After a course of IPL treatments, you’ll notice a significant reduction in redness and, in most cases, visible blood vessels will completely disappear.
IPL is a comfortable treatment with minimal downtime. Most people will require four to six treatments every three to four weeks for optimal results.
Are you suffering from rosacea? The medical team at Skindepth Perth can help to quickly and effectively reduce your symptoms and discomfort.
