Most teenagers will know what it is like to suffer from acne, but equally, in time most of them will grow out of it.Disturbing memories of acne in their teenage years are brought sharply into focus for many adults if they start suffering from acne rosacea.
So what is acne rosacea?
The first question to ask is, what exactly is acne rosacea?Whilst appearing to be acne, acne rosacea is actually a distinctly different skin condition.Red or pink patchy skin on the face is a very common rosacea symptom.Eyes could appear irritated and underneath the skin surface small blood vessels will be visible. The skin itself will also have small red bumps that are easy to see and may be tender to the touch.More bad news is the likely development of a number of red cysts on the skin.These cysts are usually painful when touched and can very easily become irritated.
Treatment may not be required in mild rosacea cases. Just keeping the face, as much as possible, free of bacteria by normal cleansing may be enough. Cases that are more severe or that are resistant to such mild treatment may require a stronger approach using one of the many acne rosacea treatment medicines now available in the marketplace.
So what are the most common acne rosacea treatment options?
A variety of different acne rosacea treatments exist, available as either an over the counter medication or a prescription treatment.Don’t worry if your usual anti-acne over the counter treatment isn’t working too well. When appropriate, your doctor will prescribe a stronger type of acne rosacea treatment.
Your doctor may recommend some of the following types of acne rosacea treatments:
Topical antibiotic cream – Various topical antibiotic creams, including metronidazole, erythromycin, clindamycin, and azelaic acid have proven to be effective against acne rosacea.Combining some of these antibiotics has proved beneficial to some patients.
Antibiotic pills – A simple oral antibiotic pill can often be an effective acne rosacea treatment as well.The antibiotics used could include tetracycline, amoxicillin, doxycycline, and minocycline.
Light therapy – One of the latest and most exciting breakthroughs in the treatment of acne rosacea which is helping an increasing number of patients.The most common types of light therapy are lasers and intense light pulses. These techniques normally require a series of treatments with a three to six week break between appointments.
Choosing the right acne rosacea treatment
How do you go about deciding on the correct acne rosacea treatment? The answer to that question depends very much on how severe your rosacea is and how much it is bothering you.Important questions to ask are, how noticeable is the rosacea? How much of an issue is it? If it’s hardly noticeable and honestly not an issue, then normal skin cleansing with a mild face wash will be your best acne rosacea treatment.
You should be prepared to visit your doctor or dermatologist for a professional evaluation if your rosacea is more severe.They will consider this evaluation to recommend a suitable treatment routine for you to start. And if that initial regimen is not entirely effective you will be able to move to other treatments easily until it gets under control.