Rosacea

There are over a thousand entities in dermatology; it is difficult to understand all in just a few pages. We are going to describe a few common skin problems. This is purely educational; if you have a skin disease, please consult your dermatologist.

Rosacea is a skin disease often misdiagnosed by doctors. Rosacea resembles acne, but is also much different. Rosacea commonly affects women between 30-50 of age. The cheeks appear flushed, but may redden considerably when stimulated. The aggravating factors are hot drinks, spicy food, hot environment, sunbathing, exercising and emotional upset.

There are numerous dilated capillaries in the affected area, giving the cheek a rosy colour. In severe cases, the affected areas will develop little raised bumps; and in the case of an affected male, the nose will thicken and may become distorted. This is known as rhinophyma.

Rosacea, unlike acne, does not give you a greasy face, and comedones are often not found. It can be treated with topical medication. In more resistant cases, oral antibiotics and Intense pulsed light treatment will help a lot. Aim to avoid the aggravating factors, and use a good sunblock everyday.