If its determined that a patients needs require laser treatments, the use of a cleared laser might be the best thing. However, the doctor might recommend other things such as isotretinoin, or photodynamic therapy. While these might not heal or take the symptoms of rosacea away forever, it will have results that are long-lasting and the patient could be in remission for either years or months to come.

Currently, many patients are finding success using the intense pulsed light (IPL) laser treatment in order to help with the redness. IPL treatments also help with a noticeable reduction of visible blood vessels located on the chest, neck, and face. This type laser is considered to be safe for the majority of people with rosacea, resulting in improvements to skin sensitivity and overall skin complexion, over the long course of treatments.

Most patients usually feel a slight discomfort with the laser procedure but they can still endure it by using creams that are topical anesthetic and ice packs. It can take around three to about six weeks for recovery and the sun should always be avoided because the skin will be very sensitive during this time period while healing.

The physician should go over any and all benefits and risks before doing it. Photodynamic therapy is used and combined so that the results are noticeable. When this is done it uses Levulan which is a chemical that is activated by the light. It takes around almost one hour and a half to complete this part of the procedure. Sunburns usually appear after it is done but not severe burns, just moderate. This procedure is mainly done with people that have acne vulgaris, or pre-cancers but it can be used to help people that have Rosacea. To some extent, it is usually considered off-label for that kind of use because its mainly for pimples but they have found it does work with people suffering from that and so it is taken into consideration.

Topical creams containing niacin amide, chrysanthellum indicum, and green tea can be used to calm rosacea flare ups and remove the visible signs such as redness and enlarged blood vessels. Niacin amide is vitamin B3 compound that can be taken both orally and applied externally. Niacin is a powerful detoxifier for the skin. Chrysanthellum indicum contains compounds that strengthen capillary structure to reduce blood vessels. Green tea seems to be especially helpful in reducing the acne like symptoms of rosacea.

Another common symptom associated with rosacea is indigestion. The indigestion seems to be caused by a deficiency of the pancreatic enzyme lipase. Pancreatic lipase helps to break down and digest fat, resulting in excess gas. Drinking kombucha, which contains active enzymes, can help to eliminate indigestion.

Another natural cream that has proved to have beneficial effect on the symptoms of rosacea is azelaic acid cream. This cream is a combination of wheat, rye and barley extracts. Azelaic acid cream seems to effectively treat all the signs of rosacea, from reducing the redness to removing the acne like bumps.

Various herbs can be used on a daily basis to reduce the risk of a rosacea flare-up. Making a tea out of chamomile, rose hips, red clover, or burdock and using it to wash your face can have a calming effect on the skin. A slice of fresh aloe applied to the affected area works as a great moisturizer and will cool the skin as well.

One of the most common laser treatments used redness associated with rosacea is the pulsated dye laser, or PDL. PDL will often significantly reduce the signs of rosacea. After just two sessions, redness will greatly be reduced, often by as much as 50%. Other symptoms reduced include flushing, burning, itching, dryness, and sensitivity. Temporary bruising is often caused by PDL treatment. Sometimes bruising can last as long as 2 weeks. Research has revealed that the bruising is actually effective in leading to a consistent decrease in overall redness as well as the other symptoms.

There are several other lasers used to reduce enlarged blood vessels. The KTP laser, diode laser and Nd:YAG laser are used to treat specifically blood vessels and are not as effective in treating redness. These lasers, however, do not cause bruising like the PDL laser does.

Some people suffering from rosacea will end up with a thickening of the skin on the nose and cheeks. This condition is called rhinoplyma. It is possible to remove the thickening skin with the CO2 laser and the erbium:YAG laser. Treatments with these lasers can also improve the contour of the nose.

Laser treatments can be a highly effective way for reducing and removing rosacea symptoms. However, it is not for everyone and not everyone has the same reaction or results. Talking to a dermatologist can determine which laser treatment is best for you.

Treatment for this disorder is often postponed due to the fact that it is quite common for the onset of rosacea to be confused with sunburn. This is because this illness normally appears on the skin very slowly and only develops fully over a period of time. The redness is often accompanied by an abnormal outbreak of acne that will not go away with any normal acne removal measures.

Environmental issues may play a part in heightening the symptoms of this disorder. Temperature change, rainy weather, sun and wind can all aggravate this ailment, causing even more redness of the skin and increased inflammation. Other factors such as eating spicy foods, drinking too many caffeinated drinks and over indulging in alcoholic beverages can also affect an individual’s rosacea. How badly any of these factors affect this disorder may also be dependent on the individual, as well as how severely the person suffers from the disorder.

If you are suffering from what you think might be the onset of this illness, it is important to consult a physician. Finding out early can help ensure that you receive the correct treatment and can result in less irritating symptoms than if it is left untreated. A physician will be able to prescribe a treatment plan that is right for you and allow you to spend your days dealing with more pressing matters and not worrying about a severe outbreak of symptoms relating to rosacea.

The symptoms of Rosacea can be controlled fairly well with the right kind of treatment. One method that is popular is using the topical creams like metronidazole. That only has to be applied twice or sometimes once daily. Something else that could be used is Azelaic acid and this kind is very effective. Both of these can treat the bumps or redness.

Oral antibiotics is something else that is common and easy to do. A few of the ones could be used include: amoxicillin, minocycline, doxycycline, and tetracycline. This is just a small amount of the many ones that is prescribed so that the inflammation plus pimples are reduced. The first time given patients are put on a dose that is high, and then it is lowered during the levels that are considered to be just maintenance.

There are some possible risks and side effects that is common and should be talked about before they are used. Some of the side effects include: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, confusion, and tightness within the chest. When these do not clear up or if a patient is feeling bad they should contact their doctor right away because they might be having an allergic reaction or their system just can not handle the medicine and so something else would be needed for treatment.

Many times, individuals require both an oral and topical medication to treat rosacea effectively. Topical creams treat the bacteria that often aggravate rosacea as well as help reduce redness and inflammation. Oral medications are often prescribed for the same reasons, but more so for their anti-inflammatory factors. Oral meds tend to work quicker, where the topical creams are great for maintenance of the condition. The type of treatment along with how long you need to apply them varies from case to case depending on severity. Typically, you will see results within a couple months, but more times than not, when you stop treatment, the symptoms return.

A word of caution: Accutane is sometimes prescribed for the skin condition rosacea, but more commonly for acne. Accutane is a powerful oral medication that may cause serious side effects. Be sure to thoroughly research and consider it before you jump full steam ahead and use. In fact, many dermatologists will not prescribe it and you often have to have a psychiatric evaluation before being able to take it.

In the end, medical intervention for rosacea is one of the most successful treatments available. It is not to be considered permanent and does require continuous maintenance. Consult with your physician before beginning any new treatment for rosacea.

Any substance, environment, or even emotional states or situations that cause an increase in these symptoms can be rightfully called a trigger. Rosacea triggers are varied and are unique each person, yet there is certainly many patterns that can be deduced from tracking data on what triggers people experience. Some of the more common triggers are ironically present in many medications that otherwise would be used to treat rosacea. This includes skin treatment products made with alcohol and other harsh chemicals. At the same time, products designed specifically for acne and rosacea treatment even act as a trigger for some people!

This has led to what many refer to as “natural rosacea treatment”. Natural rosacea treatment includes things such as all natural products, such as ZenMed, or the use of herbs in their natural state, such as green tea leaves, boiled and later placed on the skin to offer erythema relief.

These natural treatments are used by many of the tens of thousands of people, mostly women, who find themselves looking for less pharmaceutical based solutions and more natural, plant based solutions. However, while treatment can be improved the addition of naturally based products, it’s important to make such a strong distinction between natural and so-called unnatural treatments for rosacea. Why? Because in the end this can lead to a situation in which a patient shields him or herself from otherwise effective rosacea treatment that is deemed unnatural!

If a proper perspective can be kept on treatments for rosacea, then this is obviously not a problem. The best approach is to always work with your doctor, taking care to note your own triggers to avoid them, and have an open mind on various treatments – whether they’re called an OTC, prescription, or natural rosacea treatment!

Men tend to be more reluctant to go to a doctor than women, generally speaking. For rosacea, this makes for an interesting twist because by and large women are effect in far, far greater numbers than men. However, most people do not even know what rosacea is yet I bet they can recall a man they’ve seen with it, even if they didn’t know it was rosacea! The stereotype of the old cranky man with a red, bulb-like nose is actually related to the real life skin condition known as Rhinophyma Rosacea. It’s more common in men than in women, and when left untreated, it can lead to tissue buildup around the nose, accompanied with a red appearance, thus creating the stereotype of the old man with a bulb nose.

Is this what happens without rosacea treatment? Yes, absolutely, this is what can happen if treatment is not done. Now the case of a person with a grossly shaped nose caused by rosacea is rare, and occurs when treatment has been delayed or non existent for many years, if not the lifetime of the person.

But what about others with rosacea?

The truth is that while medical professionals estimate something in the range of 40 million people worldwide have rosacea, the majority of those people in the eye popping number have only a mild to moderate form of rosacea. Many of them are never even officially diagnosed with rosacea! This means they probably believe they have common acne or just, for whatever reason, tend to flush easily. For very mild cases of rosacea, not having treatment means they’ll simply have to deal with the mild symptoms they have.

For those with moderate to severe rosacea, the lack of treatment has more dire consequences. For one it means a lifetime of irritation and discomfort on the face and neck. This obviously is not an ideal situation. Over time, it can lead to scar tissue development on the skin, leading to facial disfigurement. This second part often scares those who might be tempted to not bother with treatment, and yet it’s hard to say what’s worse. Decades of facial burning and itching, not to mention constant redness, or scar tissue problems on the face? Either one is something no individual should experience.

For this reason, it’s very important to seek a proper diagnosis from a doctor on any skin problem that bears resemblance to rosacea. If diagnosed, the next logical step is the addition of antibiotics and prescription as well as  OTC rosacea treatment medications designed to reduce the symptoms.

The bad news is that without treatment, the consequences are real and while not deadly, are certainly not pleasant. The good news is that with proper treatment, most people with rosacea find a middle ground that keeps their symptoms at bay and then from there, life goes on with rosacea treatment – and rosacea! – receding to the background.

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.

Depending on the type of rosacea, these symptoms are different for different people. Additionally, most products – especially those sold over the counter – focus on one subset of symptoms more than others. OTC medications are more effective at reducing the overall redness and inflammation experienced than something more specific, such as the itchiness of the eyes, which is the main symptom of whats known as “ocular rosacea”.

The question then that many have who want to help their rosacea is this: what is the best rosacea treatment available over the counter? In other words, what’s going to help the most that can be bought at the store or over the internet without a prescription?

The trouble with this question is that is assumes there is one type of rosacea, one symptom, and one medication that works for all. As many rightfully suspect from the get go, the truth is more complicated and not nearly as black and white as the phrasing of the question indicates.

The best over the counter rosacea treatment medicine is the one that works best for each person, individually. For some this may be something like Booster Blue cream. Others it might be MetroGel. Some people with rosacea swear by the product called ZenMed. There are a dozen other products sold without a prescription that help people with rosacea, and for other people, it’s these products that are the best treatment for them.

What it all means is this:

It’s clear that there’s not simply one spectacular OTC drug that does all the work that others cannot. The truth is that it takes time, experimentation, and patience to find what works best for an individual, and then – and only – then – can the question rightfully be answered as to what is the best rosacea treatment!