Rosacea

The doctor’s explanation :

One often calls this disease deceptive because people tend to confuse it, above all in its early stage, with sunburn or with acne, and thus neglect to consult a doctor.
It is thus essential to inform the public on the symptoms of this disease and of the importance to obtain a quick diagnosis and to undertake a treatment before their condition worsens and affects their lifestyle.

This ailment which often distinguishes itself by successive periods of relapse and of remission normally manifests itself a little after about thirty years of age by the appearance of intermittent red blotches at the level of the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead.

With time, these red blotches can become brighter and more persistent, and some little blood vessels dilate and can become visible (the phenomenon known as ‘telangiectasie’).
Without treatment, one often notices the appearance of papules (bumps) and of pustules (spots), and at a more advanced stage, the nose can become swollen and bumpy from an excess of tissue.
With numerous people, the eyes also have the tendency to sting, to have tears and to be injected with blood. Patients complain of the discomfort at the level of the face, the burning sensations, of the stinging, or of the itching.
The signs can stretch beyond the face, either at the level of the neck, the chest, the scalp and the ears.

If the rosacea is more often diagnosed with women, they however have the tendency to be more acute than with men.
Moreover although this disease can affect all phototypes, it particularly affects those with pale skin who have a tendency to blush easily.
It has even been demonstrated that a predisposition to rosacea can be hereditary. This uncomfortable disease brings about difficult physical signs and equally a social and emotional burden, it has a negative influence on the confidence of affected patients, some of whom avoid going out in public and cancel social events.

How is rosacea treated ?

Although rosacea is not able to be healed, it can however be curbed by means of a medical therapy and of changes at the level of habits.
It is essential, from the time the symptoms are recognised, to follow an appropriate treatment before the disease reaches a more advanced stage.
Without treatment, rosacea can cause permanent damage to the face, disfiguring the victims and even, in some cases necessitates recourse to laser removal.

The treatment depends on the evaluation by a doctor, the symptoms present, and the attitude of the patient faced with the solutions proposed they must be observed with rigour and perseverance to permit in the long term the fading of the red blotches and to reduce the number of spots.
The speed and effectiveness of the treatment depends on factors such as the stage of development of the disease, the stage at which treatment starts and the level of observance of the patient
IMoreover, it is very important to avoid aggravating factors such as hot drinks, spicy food, alcohol and extreme temperatures.
Without regular treatment, the red blotches and spots can reappear.

The treatment followed is according to the stage of the disease is at, amongst other things, antibacterias, in pill or gel form, precautions against aggravating factors (sport, heat, cold, hot food, emotions…) and the vascular laser.

The vascular laser with the colouring pulse constitutes a complementary necessary therapy and permits the reduction of dilated vessels whilst lightening the colour of the skin.

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