Acne Rosacea Treatment Facts

Acne rosacea is similar to acne vulgaris, but is accompanied by red patches on the skin, spider veins, red cysts and sometimes a reddish tint in the eyes. Acne rosacea is incurable and can flare up at any time, though there are acne rosacea treatment options to minimize flare-ups and symptoms. Acne rosacea mostly affects people with fair skin, and is predominantly found in people of English or Scottish descent. The exact trigger for what causes acne rosacea is not entirely known.

Acne Rosacea Symptoms

The symptoms of acne rosacea are abundant, and diagnosis is usually done by sight alone. Besides being considered physically unsightly by some, acne rosacea also has other discomforting symptoms described below:

Red Patchy Skin: Acne rosacea is always identified by patchy skin surrounding the acne. These patches typically appear around the mouth, nose and eyes. The reddish patches appear rash like, and is where most of the acne (otherwise common acne) appears.

Visible Blood Vessels: When someone has an acne rosacea flare-up, it is usually combined with the appearance of blood vessels (telangiectasias) just below the skin. This is due to the vessels dilating. Most commonly, these vessels are found around or on the nose or on the cheeks.

Red Cysts: Besides the occurrence of acne in the red patchy areas of skin, rosacea can also facilitate the growth of red cysts. The cysts are much larger than a regular pimple, extrude from the face, and are usually quite hard. Large red cysts can result in scarring if not immediately treated. Rosacea keratitis can form if the eyes or the rosacea is not treated.

Reddish Eyes: Some people who suffer from acne rosacea also get a reddish tint in their eyes, which is sometimes itchy or painful.

Enlarged Nose: In some cases, mostly in men, acne rosacea can actually cause the nose to grow larger. Usually this is a result of chronic untreated acne rosacea. The cheeks can also swell but may return to their normal state after the flare-up has subsided.
Nausea: Many people who suffer from acne rosacea complain of nausea when their rosacea symptoms are at their peak.

Acne Rosacea Treatment

Similar to regular acne treatment, acne rosacea treatment comes in many forms and the treatment you use depends on the severity of your rosacea and your doctor’s recommendations. Below are some common acne rosacea treatment methods:

Topical Treatment: Antibiotic topical treatments are very common, and are applied once or twice a day until the rosacea subsides. Metronidazole, a common antibiotic for acne rosacea, works to reduce the redness and the severity of the cysts. Other antibiotic topical solutions contain clindamycin and erythromycin. Azelaic acid is also used to control the redness of acne rosacea.

Oral Treatment: In some cases, your doctor may prescribe oral medication, usually in the form of antibiotics. The antibiotics used are very similar to those used for other acne conditions: tetracycline, amoxicillin and doxycycline. Antibiotics specifically target the inflammation associated with acne rosacea and do not ‘cure’ the condition. In some cases, steroids are administered by a physician for sever symptoms of acne rosacea, which also reduce inflammation. Prolonged use of both antibiotics and steroids as an acne solution can have adverse side effects.

Retinoids (Isotretinoin): Retinoids are used for severe acne and are sometimes prescribed as an acne rosacea treatment. Retinoids are a chemical compound similar to Vitamin A, and work to with the skin in reducing severe cases of acne and acne rosacea. Retinoids need to be prescribed by your physician.

Laser Therapy: A very common form of acne treatment, laser therapy, or more specifically laser pulse therapy, is now widely used as a common acne rosacea treatment. Laser therapy can rid the skin of blemishes, red patches and noticeable blood vessels. Laser treatment usually takes more than one session, but the side effects are minimal and in many cases the appearance of acne rosacea is drastically decreased.

Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is widely used as an alternate treatment for acne. It is now being used as an acne rosacea treatment, and, like laser therapy, usually provides significant results in reducing the appearance of acne rosacea. In PDT, a photosensitizer liquid is applied to the skin, and then hit directly with a special beam of light. A session usually lasts a couple of hours, and other than mild irritation of the skin for a few hours/days, the side effects are minimal.

When to See a Doctor

Because acne rosacea has many symptoms, it is best to have a doctor or dermatologist diagnose the condition right away. Red patchy areas on the face could be the result of completely different underlying causes, where the acne associated with it could be normal everyday acne. If you know you have acne rosacea, but you are seeing the formation of large red cysts, it is best to speak with your physician or dermatologist and seek additional acne rosacea treatment and prevent scarring.