Rosacea Treatment Guide

Dealing with the skin condition known as rosacea is a part of the lives of many people all over the world. Often mistakenly thought of as bad or severe acne by outsiders, the skin condition – although similar to acne – effects a person quite differently, and one does not “grow out of it” with age, as is the case with acne and young adults. Rosacea actually becomes more common as a person moves from youth to adulthood, targeting by and large caucasion women in their 30’s to 50’s.

This is the age range in which symptoms begin to appear for most people. How the skin condition develops is not known, but it is not contagious or infectious. It’s speculated that its origins are genetically related but this has not been proven, and the official word is that rosacea has an unknown cause.

In any case, one symptoms begin to appear is when a proper diagnosis and treatment should begin. Symptoms typically come on as a redness of the face – known as erythema, along with red bumps known as papules and pastules (and thus the mistaken correlation to acne is made.)

It’s estimated that 1 of 5 diagnosis made by dermatalogists is a diagnosis for rosacea. It is because of these high numbers thats nearly any dermatologist you work with is going to be quite familiar with rosacea and the proper treatments for this skin problem.

The first rosacea treatments prescribed to a new patient are typically two-fold with antibiotics. This includes a topical antibiotic, such as a Metronidazole. The term “topical” means that the substance is applied to the surface of this skin. In this case, it means applying an OTC acne product or gel such as Metronidazole to the skin for relief. Secondly, oral tetracycline antibiotics are prescribed to the patient as well – interestingly, the same ones of which are also prescribed for acne treatment, too. These are swallowed in the form of a pill. Oral tetracycline antibiotics are actually used to target a variety of health conditions, and they are usually successful at reducing the severity of symptoms for rosacea as well. These symptoms include redness, irritation, inflammation, and the presence of papules and pastules, on and around the face and neck.

If the initial rosacea treatment in the form of antibiotics doesn’t meet the desired results i.e a reduction in symptoms and relief for the patient – doctors and dermatologists have a number of other medication that can be used. There is also the question of avoiding rosacea triggers so as to minimize outbreaks or the severity of outbreaks.

Treatment for rosacea is not an overnight event. It’s actually more a lifelong process between the doctor and the patient, along with the lifestyle of the patient and how this effects the rosacea condition. The good news is that the earlier treatment begins, the better off the patient is at getting rosacea treatment that meet their needs and keeps their conditions under minimized and under control.

What sort of Prescription and Over the Counter Medication is available for Rosacea Treatment?

There are a number of prescription and non-prescription drugs available to patients to treat Rosacea.

Typically, after an initial consultation, the first “round” of drugs used as treatment include topical antiobiotics and oral tetracycline antiobitics. (Teteracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, and metronidazole, respectively.)

Note: A “topical antibiotic” means an antibiotic that is applied directly to the skin via a cream, lotion, powder, or spray. An oral tetracycline antibiotic, on the other hand, is swallowed via a capsule.

These two medications are intended to treat a bit of the redness, but most inflammation, pustules, and papules on the skin.

Sometimes acne medicine is used as a cross treatment rosacea – for instance, isotretinoin, a strong acne medicine, can be prescribed (in low dosages) as an effective treatment, more specifically for phymatous and papulopustular rosacea.

Here is a list of some medications used to treat Rosacea:

ZenMed - According to the website, ZenMed consists of..” two systems (Dry Skin & Oily Skin) to manage your complexion, reducing redness and irritation. Both Systems work to manage your skin condition and won’t irritate already sensitive skin.” (This is an over the counter medication.)

B. Kamins – According the website, B. Kamins is a free of fragrance and provides both sun protection and antioxident protection. It “contains anti-redness ingredients while moisturizing the skin… (which)….cools, calms, and relieves the redness associated with sensitive skin and inflammation associated with rosacea. “

It is used in conjunction with other OTC meds such as Booster Blue Rosacea Cleanser and Booster Blue Rosacea Cleanser. daily.

B. Kamins is equivalent to the sun protection of an SP15 lotion.

(This is an over the counter medication.)

DERMAdoctor Calm Cool & Corrected 2N1 Rosacea Tx – An over the counter treatment gel/lotion.

Oracea – an oral antibiotic (prescription only)

Finacea – a topical treatment (prescription only)