Available Treatments for Rosacea
Available Treatments for Rosacea
1. LASER - this treatment is most effective at removing the structurally damaged blood vessels and diminishing some of the constant facial redness. For the past 5 years, the pulsed dye laser has been the ‘gold standard’. However, newer systems such as the Photoderm VL/PL (Intense Pulsed Light Source) are now available. This treatment offers a greater degree of selectivity for the treatment of the superficial facial microvessels (it does not damage facial skin) and can also target the larger and deeper blood vessels. It also effectively treats more extensive areas of the face with less pain and greater speed. Photoderm experts who specialize in the treatment of rosacea are able to achieve good to excellent clearance of telangiectasia and the chronic red face, as well as significantly decrease the intensity and duration of the facial flush or blush in many patients.
2. ISOTRETINOIN (accutane) - this is a vitamin A analog that has been used with much success to treat severe nodulocystic acne, disorders of keratinization and various other dermatological diseases. Isotretinoin works by inhibiting sebaceous gland function and physically shrinking these problematic glands. It also has potent anti-inflammatory properties, which make isotretinoin a good option for the treatment of resistant rosacea patients. It achieves long-term benefits and remission of papules, pustules, rhinophyma and a decrease in facial burning in almost half of the patients. Another benefit is that it allows patients to discontinue the use of acne products resulting in less facial irritation. Some do experience a relapse, but the symptoms are usually much milder. Many physicians find that 1 or 2 courses of low-dose isotretinoin may significantly decrease the severity of the entire disease process. Side effects include dry lips and skin, a transient elevation in cholesterol and triglyceride levels, mild headaches and dry eyes. One serious side effect (and the one that causes most physicians to not use this medication) is that it can cause severe deformities to the unborn fetus. Thus its use is contraindicated for women who are trying to get pregnant or who are not using birth control (at least two forms) while sexually active. With this said, the use of low-dose isotretinoin can be a godsend to many rosacea sufferers.
3. A GENTLE PROTECTIVE BARRIER - It is speculated that the outer layer of facial skin (epidermis), which forms a protective barrier from the outside elements, may be physically or functionally abnormal in many rosacea patients. This could lead to greater penetration of topical products (causing skin irritation and moisture loss) or in an abnormal release of inflammatory mediators from epidermal cells, resulting in a local inflammatory response with a resultant increase in facial blood flow (a facial flare). Therefore, one goal in the treatment of rosacea is to find a protective barrier that helps in normalizing epidermal water-holding properties, thus alleviating environmental or skincare mediated facial flares. Two substances have been shown to exert such beneficial actions - zinc oxide and dimethicone. Zinc oxide is approved by the FDA as a Category I skin protectant. It is used as a soothing preparation for facial redness and steroid-induced thinning of the epidermis. Dimethicone is also a good skin protectant as well as a non-greasy moisturizer. In a recently published clinical article, physicians studying rosacea sensitive skin found that dimethicone significantly decreased irritation to certain skincare products such as sunscreens. The only problem with a zinc oxide-dimethicone protectant cream is that it is usually not very elegant (i.e., it is thick and leaves a white residue on the face). However, with newer technology, skincare laboratories can now micronize zinc oxide into extremely fine particles and then bind it to dimethicone - resulting in a very elegant formulation. This new formulation has been found to be virtually transparent to the naked eye (i.e., it is very elegant), to have the broadest attenuation spectrum of all transparent sunblocks (i.e., it is an excellent sunblock) and to be able to absorb sunlight and remain photostable (i.e., it does not undergo any chemical or structural changes that could decrease its effectiveness or cause facial irritation). This special zinc oxide-dimethicone formulation could prove to be very useful for the daily protection of rosacea-sensitive skin against irritation from sunlight, wind, makeup, and other various skincare products.
1. LASER - this treatment is most effective at removing the structurally damaged blood vessels and diminishing some of the constant facial redness. For the past 5 years, the pulsed dye laser has been the ‘gold standard’. However, newer systems such as the Photoderm VL/PL (Intense Pulsed Light Source) are now available. This treatment offers a greater degree of selectivity for the treatment of the superficial facial microvessels (it does not damage facial skin) and can also target the larger and deeper blood vessels. It also effectively treats more extensive areas of the face with less pain and greater speed. Photoderm experts who specialize in the treatment of rosacea are able to achieve good to excellent clearance of telangiectasia and the chronic red face, as well as significantly decrease the intensity and duration of the facial flush or blush in many patients.
2. ISOTRETINOIN (accutane) - this is a vitamin A analog that has been used with much success to treat severe nodulocystic acne, disorders of keratinization and various other dermatological diseases. Isotretinoin works by inhibiting sebaceous gland function and physically shrinking these problematic glands. It also has potent anti-inflammatory properties, which make isotretinoin a good option for the treatment of resistant rosacea patients. It achieves long-term benefits and remission of papules, pustules, rhinophyma and a decrease in facial burning in almost half of the patients. Another benefit is that it allows patients to discontinue the use of acne products resulting in less facial irritation. Some do experience a relapse, but the symptoms are usually much milder. Many physicians find that 1 or 2 courses of low-dose isotretinoin may significantly decrease the severity of the entire disease process. Side effects include dry lips and skin, a transient elevation in cholesterol and triglyceride levels, mild headaches and dry eyes. One serious side effect (and the one that causes most physicians to not use this medication) is that it can cause severe deformities to the unborn fetus. Thus its use is contraindicated for women who are trying to get pregnant or who are not using birth control (at least two forms) while sexually active. With this said, the use of low-dose isotretinoin can be a godsend to many rosacea sufferers.
3. A GENTLE PROTECTIVE BARRIER - It is speculated that the outer layer of facial skin (epidermis), which forms a protective barrier from the outside elements, may be physically or functionally abnormal in many rosacea patients. This could lead to greater penetration of topical products (causing skin irritation and moisture loss) or in an abnormal release of inflammatory mediators from epidermal cells, resulting in a local inflammatory response with a resultant increase in facial blood flow (a facial flare). Therefore, one goal in the treatment of rosacea is to find a protective barrier that helps in normalizing epidermal water-holding properties, thus alleviating environmental or skincare mediated facial flares. Two substances have been shown to exert such beneficial actions - zinc oxide and dimethicone. Zinc oxide is approved by the FDA as a Category I skin protectant. It is used as a soothing preparation for facial redness and steroid-induced thinning of the epidermis. Dimethicone is also a good skin protectant as well as a non-greasy moisturizer. In a recently published clinical article, physicians studying rosacea sensitive skin found that dimethicone significantly decreased irritation to certain skincare products such as sunscreens. The only problem with a zinc oxide-dimethicone protectant cream is that it is usually not very elegant (i.e., it is thick and leaves a white residue on the face). However, with newer technology, skincare laboratories can now micronize zinc oxide into extremely fine particles and then bind it to dimethicone - resulting in a very elegant formulation. This new formulation has been found to be virtually transparent to the naked eye (i.e., it is very elegant), to have the broadest attenuation spectrum of all transparent sunblocks (i.e., it is an excellent sunblock) and to be able to absorb sunlight and remain photostable (i.e., it does not undergo any chemical or structural changes that could decrease its effectiveness or cause facial irritation). This special zinc oxide-dimethicone formulation could prove to be very useful for the daily protection of rosacea-sensitive skin against irritation from sunlight, wind, makeup, and other various skincare products.
posted by Thomas Domingo | 7:35 AM
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