Do you often observe sudden redness due to broken facial capillaries in your cheeks, chin and forehead? Do your eyes become bloodshot red and blood vessels become visible during that time? Do you also suffer from solid or puss-filled bumps in the face?
Then it may be rosacea that you are suffering from. Let us find out more about rosacea and its treatment.
Causes of Rosacea:
The exact cause behind rosacea is not known, however, doctors rely on the history of your symptoms and a physical examination of the skin. In some cases, the doctor may suggest you to perform certain examinations to rule out other conditions, such as other forms of acne, psoriasis, eczema or lupus. Sometimes, these conditions can cause signs and symptoms similar to those of rosacea.
If your eyes are involved, the doctor may refer you to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist).
Treatment of Rosacea:
The treatment for rosacea focuses on controlling the signs and symptoms. More often, this requires a combination of skincare and prescription treatments. Nowadays, laser therapy is also widely used to heal broken facial capillaries.
The duration of treatment will depend on the type and intensity of the symptoms
Medicines:
The type of medication prescribed by the doctor depends on the signs and symptoms you have. There are several medicines such as brimonidine, etc. that is applied as a gel on the skin to heal the broken capillaries and reduce the redness. But, the effect of such medicine on the blood vessels is temporary, so the medication should be applied regularly to keep seeing the improvements.
There are other topical products as well that have been shown to reduce redness and papules caused by mild rosacea. However, their pace of action is quite slow and it requires continuous application for evident results.
Oral antibiotics:
Antibiotics help to reduce some types of bacteria, but it is likely that they mainly fight inflammation when used for this disease. Antibiotic is taken as a pill for the treatment of moderate to severe rosacea with bulges and pustules, however, there are not enough studies to support its effectiveness.
Isotretinoin:
If you have severe rosacea that does not respond to other therapies, your doctor may recommend isotretinoin. It is a potent, oral medication for the treatment of acne that also helps the acne-like lesions of rosacea disappear. Although, it is recommended not to use this medicine during pregnancy because it can cause serious birth defects.
Therapies:
Laser therapy can help reduce redness caused by enlarged blood vessels. Broken facial capillaries are also healed with the sessions of laser therapy. At Nitai Medical and Cosmetic Centre, we have helped numerous patients suppress the symptoms of rosacea by reducing redness. Here, we use Gemini Laser, which is known to show an effective response against broken capillaries. (Will include Before/after images of patients with broken facial capillaries)
Lifestyle and home remedies:
The following practices can help you decrease signs and symptoms, or prevent exacerbations:
- Avoid exposing yourself to triggers: Try to find out what things tend to provoke your exacerbations and avoid exposing yourself to those triggers.
- Protect your face. Put on sunscreen daily: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30. Take other measures to protect your skin, such as wearing hats and avoiding the midday sun. On cold, windy days, wear a scarf.
- Treat your skin carefully: Do not rub or touch your face too much. Use a soap-free, mild cleanser and a moisturizer frequently. Avoid products that contain alcohol or other skin irritants.
Alternative medicine:
- A gentle daily facial massage can help reduce swelling and inflammation. Make a circular movement with your fingers starting from the central part of the face towards the ears.
- Consult with your doctor if you are considering dietary supplements or other alternative therapies to treat rosacea. He can help you evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each alternative therapy.
The vivid redness caused by rosacea may hurt a person’s self-esteem at times and might make the person feel a bit embarassed. But, don’t let such things impact you. Remember, you always have an option to eliminate its appearance.
For any further discussion on the laser treatment for broken capillaries or rosacea, get in touch with us at admin@nitai.com.au.
