Rosacea

Rosacea is a common condition that causes red, inflamed skin and pus-filled bumps. At Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street in Washington, DC, Sarika Snell, MD, FAAD, and the team offer treatments to relieve rosacea symptoms, effectively reducing inflammation and redness. For help managing your rosacea, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is a common type of skin condition that occurs when the skin becomes inflamed. It makes your facial blood vessels more noticeable and causes reddened skin. If you have mild rosacea, you might just think that your skin is naturally redder.

Sometimes people with rosacea have small red bumps on their skin that can contain pus. This may also cause you to think that you have acne or another skin condition. However, rosacea may require a different treatment approach. 

Rosacea is more common in women with fair skin. It often appears or worsens during middle age.

What are the different types of rosacea? 

There are four main types of rosacea:

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR)

ETR causes flushing, facial redness, or noticeable blood vessels.

Papulopustular rosacea (PPR)

PPR is similar to acne, causing swelling, oily skin, and raised patches of skin (plaques).

Ocular rosacea

Ocular rosacea is inflammation in the eyes that causes irritation and blurred vision. It may be accompanied by lumps around your eyes (styles) or a gritty sensation. 

Phymatous rosacea

Phytmatous rosacea causes a thick, bumpy skin texture, particularly on the nose (rhinophyma).  

What causes rosacea?

The root cause of rosacea isn’t clear, but it’s likely that there’s a genetic link because rosacea tends to run in families. Environmental factors could also play a part.

Rosacea tends to flare up in response to certain triggers, which can include:

• Heat or cold air
• Sunlight exposure 
• Wind
• Hot drinks
• Spicy foods
• Red wine
• Intense exercise
• Blood pressure medications
• Certain cosmetic products

If you have rosacea symptoms, the Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street team can examine your skin and make a diagnosis. Then, you can get the most appropriate treatment for your condition.

How is rosacea treated?

At Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street, the team can develop a custom rosacea plan to reduce, as well as prevent flare-ups. 

They can prescribe medications to reduce rosacea symptoms. For mild to moderate rosacea, creams or gels that constrict your facial blood vessels can help reduce redness. If you have troublesome rosacea pimples, you could benefit from antibiotic creams and anti-inflammatory medications. You might need an oral antibiotic for moderate to severe rosacea. 

You may also benefit from laser treatment. With laser therapy, it can reduce thickened skin and the dilated blood vessels that cause red skin.

If you have rosacea, the Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street team offers timely diagnosis and effective treatments that minimize your symptoms. Call the office or schedule an appointment online today.