Rosacea Treatment in NYC (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Harlem)

Rosacea

No one knows how many people in the U.S. suffer with rosacea because not everyone with the condition reports it. Experts estimate that about 18 percent of Americans are being treated for the skin condition. While you may believe that rosacea only affects your appearance, leaving it untreated can lead to serious consequences. Don’t merely accept it as a condition that you can’t treat. You can take action against the unsightly skin disorder and the potential health dangers by calling a highly regarded dermatologist in Brooklyn at Century Medical and Dental Center.

Rosacea is a common skin malady responsible for inflaming the blood vessels in your face, creating an excessively ruddy complexion. The condition usually begins with a healthy-looking blush on your cheeks or nose, but it can often worsen and spread to your chin, forehead and ears, eventually making its way to your chest, neck and scalp.

If left untreated, rosacea can worsen and develop solid or puss-filled bumps on your face and be mistaken for acne or even an allergic reaction. It can also result in a red, bulbous nose, called rhinophyma. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, untreated rosacea also may increase your risks of developing:

• Crohn’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Diabetes
• Migraine headaches
• Heart disease

Types of Rosacea

Rosacea appears in so many different forms that dermatologists have split the condition into four different subtypes:

1. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea. Your skin is very ruddy with visible blood vessels.
2. Papulopustular rosacea. The redness eventually resembles acne.
3. Phymatous rosacea. Your skin becomes thick and bumpy.
4. Ocular rosacea. Your eyes become inflamed and red. Your eyelids can swell and develop sties.

Individuals Susceptible to Rosacea

Although approximately 14 million Americans have rosacea, most of them are not even aware they have it. While rosacea is more common in women, men tend to have more extreme symptoms, which may be a result of men postponing treatment. Rosacea can appear on anyone, but it’s most common in those who are:

• 30 to 50 years of age
• Fair-skinned
• Have family members with the condition

Rosacea Causes

Researchers have yet to determine the exact cause of rosacea. They have uncovered, however, a number of correlations to explain the skin discoloration, such as:

• An over-reactive immune system. Those suffering from the acne version of papulopustular rosacea have immune systems that react strongly to the presence of a strain of bacteria called bacillus oleronius.
• Demodex. This refers to a skin mite that dwells on facial skin near noses and cheeks. Rosacea sufferers tend to have large amounts of these mites on their skin.
• Genetics. Rosacea tends to run in families. It may be an inheritable condition.
• H pylori. This type of bacteria causes intestinal infections. While many rosacea patients have these bacteria, H pylori is also present in those without rosacea.
• Cathelicidin. Although this protein normally prevents skin infections, it may be responsible for the redness and swelling in some people with rosacea.

While rosacea does not correlate with poor hygiene, other factors that may increase the blood flow to the skin surface seem to trigger or worsen it, including:

• Extreme temperatures
• Cosmetics
• Sun exposure
• Medications that focus on blood vessels
• Alcohol consumption

Rosacea Symptoms

Each of the four different subtypes of rosacea manifests its own particular symptoms.
Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is characterized by:

• Frequent and obvious blushing
• Redness on and around your nose
• Dry or scaly skin
• Burning or stinging sensation on your face
• Skin sensitivity
• Spider veins
• Swelling

Papulopustular rosacea exhibits symptoms such as:

• Oily skin
• Intermittent acne where the skin is red
• Sensitive skin
• Burning sensations
• Spider veins
• Skin plaques, similar to psoriasis

Phymatous rosacea is the rarest subtype, and its symptoms usually begin as one of the other subtypes. Eventually, the skin takes on characteristics that include:

• Bumps
• Oily skin
• Large pores
• Obvious blood vessels
• Thickness, most often on your nose, but can still appear on the chin, cheeks, forehead and ears

Ocular rosacea symptoms appear in your eyes in various ways, such as:

• Watery or bloodshot
• Stinging or burning
• Itchy
• Light sensitivity
• Inflamed or swollen eyelids
• Eyelid cysts
• Blurry or worsening vision

Reaching a Rosacea Diagnosis

There’s no specific test for rosacea. Your experienced dermatologist at Century Medical and Dental Center conducts a visual exam, reviews your medical history and performs blood and skin tests or biopsies when deemed necessary to rule out similar conditions, such as:

• Skin discoloration
• Red spots on skin
• Skin rashes
• Eczema
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Skin cancer

Rosacea Treatment

Due to the highly variable nature of rosacea, treatments of the condition must be customized by your doctor. Since your Brooklyn dermatologist is part of a multi-disciplinary team at Century Medical and Dental Center, you have access to other specialists for diagnosis and treatment when needed. Common treatments for rosacea include:

• Medicines. There are both oral and topical drugs available that can eliminate the symptoms and keep them under control.
• Surgery/Therapy. Light therapy and laser surgery procedures can help reduce or even remove the enlarged blood vessels on your face.

If you’re suffering from rosacea, you’ve got some good company. Bill Clinton, Princess Dianna, Prince William and Cameron Diaz are just a few of the many celebrities that didn’t let rosacea hold them back. Contact Century Medical and Dental Center doctors to get a firm diagnosis and begin treatment to restore your healthy appearance and reduce the risk of further, serious complications.