Some skin conditions can be painful and frustrating to manage. Rosacea is a common skin condition that affects one in twenty people. If you think you may be showing symptoms of rosacea, knowing the causes and treatment options can help you manage the skin condition and minimize your flare-ups.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes inflammation and flare-ups, primarily on the face. This skin condition is common and affects millions of Americans. Rosacea is commonly mistaken for acne, eczema, or skin allergies because it has similar symptoms as these other conditions. The most common symptom is facial pustules, which are small bumps that contain fluid or pus. Other symptoms of rosacea include:
- Blushing
- Inflamed blood vessels
- Stinging or burning skin
- Rough or dry patches of skin
- Swollen nose
- Large pores
- Bumps on the eyelids
- Problems with vision
While the symptoms of rosacea can be treated or go away on their own, they often worsen with time if they are left untreated. There are various things that individuals with rosacea can do to minimize the effects of the skin condition.
Causes of Rosacea
Rosacea has no known cause or cure. Several things have been linked to rosacea, including genetics and blood vessel issues. Some specialists think microscopic mites on the skin may also cause rosacea in individuals with sensitive skin. Additionally, the bacteria H. pylori is a digestive hormone, and when an individual has high levels of the hormone, it may cause the skin to look flushed.
Although rosacea is not linked to one specific cause, it is more common in individuals with light skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. The condition is more common in women between the ages of 30 and 50. Individuals with severe acne and smokers are also more likely to have rosacea.
Individuals with rosacea may also find that certain factors trigger symptoms to flare up. These triggers may include dairy products, spicy food, sunlight, hot and cold temperatures, wind, stress, hot baths, alcohol, and intense physical activity. Medications like blood pressure drugs and steroids may also set off rosacea. These are common things that many rosacea patients report leading to flare-ups, but it’s important to remember that everyone’s triggers may be different.
Treating Rosacea
Rosacea has no cure, but there are certain things that patients can do to treat and minimize symptoms of the skin condition. In addition to avoiding triggers, an appropriate skincare routine can help prevent rosacea flare-ups. Using gentle products that do not include alcohol, fragrances, and other harmful ingredients will be less harsh on the skin and allow the skin to heal more quickly.
In addition to using gentle skincare products, various facial treatments can help reduce symptoms of rosacea. At Mirabile M.D., we provide two treatment options that have helped many patients that we see for rosacea. These treatments are the excel V+ laser and VI Peel.
excel V+ Laser
One option for professionally treating rosacea is the excel V+ laser treatment. In addition to rosacea, excel V+ treats deep and superficial vascular conditions, cherry angiomas, hyperpigmentation, and other skin conditions. This treatment consists of two precise laser wavelengths in one device that sends mild heat pulses through the skin. The laser delivers the energy below the skin for revitalization and improved tones.
The excel V+ is a non-ablative laser, which means that it does not disrupt the skin. Because of this, there is little to no downtime. Although patients may see improvements after one treatment, the provider may recommend multiple sessions to achieve optimal results.
VI Peel
The VI Peel is a chemical peel from the Vitality Institute Line. This peel can treat a variety of skin conditions on the face, neck, and hands, including rosacea. The VI Peel improves the tone, texture, and clarity of the skin by using an acidic solution to remove the outer layers of the skin. Removing this skin stimulates the production of new, healthy skin cells. There are several varieties of the VI Peel, including the VI Peel Acne and VI peel Precision Plus.
The VI Peel involves one to two days of redness followed by two to three days of peeling. Like the excel V+ laser, patients may see results with just one treatment, but several treatments offer better results.
At Mirabile M.D., we treat patients for a variety of inflammatory skin conditions. We provide plenty of cosmetic, facial, and laser services to patients in the Kansas City area. To see if one of our MedCosmetic treatments is right for you, call us at 913-888-7546 to set up a consultation today.
