Facial Rosacea

Rosacea is a stubborn, embarrassing and potentially disfiguring condition. About thirteen million people in the United States have rosacea. Most of these people are between the ages of thirty and sixty and have fair skin. Rosacea is a disorder of the facial blood vessels . In response to numerous stimuli the facial blood vessels dilate. This causes skin changes such as facial redness, inflammatory papules, pustules, burning sensations and a related disorder called rhinophyma. Occasionally sufferers develop a condition called ocular rosacea, which affects the eye.

The main symptoms of Rosacea are:
· Facial Redness
· Facial telangiectasia
· Skin hyper-reactivity
· Lumpy-bumpy facial skin
· Facial papules
· Facial pustules
· Facial burning sensations
· Facial swelling
· Rhinophyma

There are many possible triggers for rosacea. Heat and humidity, stress, hormones, diet, skin irritation, chemicals in skin care products and exercise are reported most often. Most people eventually start to avoid the things that trigger a flare. This can be very limiting and distressing for the rosacea sufferer as most everything has the potential to cause a flare. Living in a hot climate can make going out without developing a red face impossible. Exercise, which is important to health, also creates a quandary, as the person must choose between an unfit body and a burning red face. For people with the more severe forms of rosacea almost everything used on the skin causes a reaction. Even makeup, which can help to hide the visible symptoms of the disorder, can be problematic.

The treatments for rosacea offered by doctors can be helpful for some. For many others they are lacking and possibly do more harm than good. The most common first line of treatment is a combination of a topical medicine called Metrogel and an oral antibiotic called Tetracycline. Metrogel is a topical antibiotic that is supposed to reduce inflammation. Many complain that it causes even more burning and dryness, which makes their condition worse. Tetracycline also has significant side effects. Prolonged use of any antibiotic can disrupt the flora in the digestive tract and cause chronic diarrhea. Tetracycline in particular also has the potential side effect of turning the teeth and jawbone yellow. This side effect is permanent.

Natural treatments for rosacea are starting to be recognized and used more often. This coincides with the general move toward more holistic ways of dealing with health problems. The herb Chrysanthellum indicum has been explored for the treatment of rosacea. Compounds in the extract appear to strengthen capillaries. A study showed that it significantly improved rosacea symptoms, including facial redness, compared to placebo. Green tea cream, Niacinamide, licorice, and Azelaic acid cream have all shown impressive results. Many people have had success when food allergies were identified and the offending food eliminated from their diet.