August 25, 2006

Tips for Healthy Skin

What is Rosacea ?

By Danielle Farran
Secret Oasis Day Spa

Rosacea is a skin disorder affecting approximately 13 million Americans. This disease can be difficult to treat and can cause severe emotional distress due to the visible facial involvement. Rosacea is a common, chronic inflammatory disorder; a skin eruption featuring dilation of the small facial blood vessels. This dilation is seen as a flushing of the face. It usually affects the central portion of the face, the chest, the back and the scalp.

Rosacea is much more prevalent among females, but when men get Rosacea it is far more severe. There is a much higher incidence of this disorder in fair-skinned individuals, particularly those with Celtic genes. Rosacea is a progressive disease. It is not acne, but can be present at the same time as acne.

What causes Rosacea?
The cause of Rosacea is unknown, although it is aggravated by stress, hot beverages, spicy food, alcohol and physical activities as well as sun exposure, dehydration, and sulfite preservation in fresh fruits and vegetables. Hormones, in conjunction with the sun, can also aggravate redness.

The skin on the neck and chest is thin, so treating damaged skin in those areas can be difficult. Keep them covered with sunscreen containing zinc or use physical protection. Rosacea is treatable and can be controlled, but it cannot be cured.

Treatments
There are a several prescriptions that help control Rosacea. These include topical Metronidazole (Metro-Gel), which is available in gel, lotion and cream at 0.75 percent.

It is part anti -inflammatory, insecticide and antibiotic, and it provides excellent results.

Topical Noritate is a 1 percent Metronidazole in a cream formulation; Topical klaron is a sodium sulfacetanide lotion and there is also a medication called Azelaic Acid (Azalex).

Rosacea also responds well to oral antibiotics, such as Tetracycline, Doxycyline and Minocycline. Sometimes doctors recommend a short course of oral cortisone.

For those who want non-prescription treatment, Rosacea appears to respond extremely well to a combination of azelaic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid. Sufferers must use broad spectrum sunscreens.

There also are cosmetic treatments using vascular lasers, which can greatly eliminate the frustrating redness associated with Rosacea. Patients who opt for the laser treatment may experience temporary redness for few hours or a day.

Wishing you healthy skin!

Danielle Farran is the owner and esthetician of Secret Oasis Day Spa, located at 2690 S. White Road, #40 in San Jose. For information about the spa and its treatments visit www.secretoasisdayspa.com or call (408) 238-3216.