What is skin with rosacea ?
Rosacea, or more properly acne rosacea , is a chronic condition that causes redness of the skin on the face and visible blood vessels. In some cases, small bumps with pus also occur.
Skin with rosacea can last for weeks or even months. Rosacea typically only affects the skin on the nose, cheeks, and forehead.
However, it should not be mistaken for actual acne or other skin problems or natural redness.
Types of rosacea on the skin
There are 4 types of rosacea:
- Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea : Causes facial flushing, flushing, and visible blood vessels.
- Papulopustular (or acneic) rosacea : Causes acne-like breakouts and often affects middle-aged women.
- Rhinophyma : rare form characterized by thickening of the skin of the nose. It usually affects men and is often accompanied by another subtype of rosacea.
- Ocular rosacea : Symptoms are concentrated on the eye area and affects men the most.
How to know if you have skin with rosacea?
The first signs of the presence of rosacea on the skin of the face are:
- Redness on nose, cheeks, forehead and chin that fades and comes back
- Burning or stinging sensation when wetting the face with water or using skin care products
The redness is not easily noticed on darker skin. The redness becomes more intense as the rosacea worsens. There may be small broken blood vessels that do not go away as well as small pink and red bumps that may fill with pus.
Other skin symptoms with rosacea are:
- Dry skin
- Thickened skin, mostly on the nose (usually appears after many years)
- Swelling, especially around the eyes
- Yellow-orange spots on the skin
Causes of rosacea on the skin
The causes of acne rosacea are not known. It could be due to heredity, an overactive immune system or environmental factors, or even a combination of these causes.
We certainly know that it is not caused by poor hygiene and is not contagious.
However, there are certain conditions and eating habits that can trigger rosacea flare-ups on the skin:
Flare-ups could be triggered by:
- Hot drinks and spicy foods
- Red wine and other alcoholic drinks
- Extreme temperatures
- Sun or wind
- Emotions
- Physical exercise
- Medicines that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medicines
- Some cosmetics, skin care or hair care products
Skin with rosacea: what remedies for face and redness?
The causes that trigger rosacea are not yet known and there is no cure. However a family doctor can prescribe medicines to control symptoms. Without any treatment, rosacea gets worse.
The remedies to control the symptoms of rosacea on the skin are usually:
- Creams and gels
- Antibiotics for 6-16 weeks
- Intense Pulsed Light Treatment: May not be available on the NHS
In recent years, new medications have been developed for rosacea, which depend on the symptoms you've developed.
Topical medications to reduce redness : These are prescribed when rosacea is mild to moderate. It is a cream or gel that is applied to the affected skin area. Brimonidine and oxymetazoline reduce redness by constricting blood vessels.
Results are visible within 12 hours of application, but the effects on blood vessels are temporary, so the drug should be applied regularly to maintain improvements.
Azelaic acid, metronidazole and ivermectin . Azelaic acid and metronidazole usually don't give noticeable improvements for 2 to 6 weeks and ivermectin can take even longer to improve the skin, but the results last longer than metronidazole.
Oral antibiotics . One prescribed drug is doxycycline for moderate to severe rosacea with bumps and pimples.
Laser therapy . Laser therapy can make blood vessels less visible. The side effects of this laser therapy are swelling and bruising which could last for several days.
The results of laser therapy may not appear for weeks and it may be necessary to repeat the treatment periodically to maintain them.
Snail slime: is it useful for rosacea?
Let's start by saying that snail slime is a cosmetic, not a medicine, so it cannot be considered as a medical treatment for rosacea skin.
However, snail slime has several active ingredients and calming and soothing properties and can therefore offer help in relieving reddened skin from rosacea.
Active ingredients of snail slime useful for skin with rosacea
Allantoin : has moisturizing properties, preventing dryness of the skin. It soothes and protects the skin and is often used to treat skin irritation and rashes. It is also keratolytic, i.e. it exfoliates dead skin cells.
Glycolic acid : it is widely used in dermatological treatments, mainly to reduce and attenuate wrinkles, stretch marks, scars and to reduce acne. Exfoliate and moisturize dry skin. It also fades mild hyperpigmentation such as dark and age spots, freckles and melasma.
Glycolic acid fights acne by exfoliating dead skin cells that often clog pores and cause breakouts. Like allantoin, glycolic acid is also a keratolytic, helping to slough off dead skin cells and open up clogged pores.
Elastin : is a protein that provides elasticity to the tissues, thus contributing to the healing of regenerated tissues.
Collagen : Found in connective tissue, skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage. It gives structural support to tissues and plays important roles in cellular processes including tissue repair and immune response.
Vitamins : act against the bacteria of the epidermis, including acne vulgaris, protecting it from infections, allowing a greater speed of skin regeneration and reducing inflammation.
