What is an effective rosacea treatment for Plano area patients?
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that appears as redness mostly on the face. It can cause many patients to feel extremely self-conscious about their appearance, and can have a negative effect on their self-esteem and confidence. When patients visit DSA Dermatology of Plano, TX to speak with Drs. Achtman and McConnell about conditions such as rosacea, our team will work hard to determine the best course of rosacea treatment for you and your lifestyle.
Rosacea is a condition that cannot be cured, but it can be well controlled. Most patients should consider regular treatment options to avoid flare-ups, and determine what conditions tend to trigger their condition. Working with a dermatologist will help in finding the best treatment plan. Below are just a few of the many new and effective treatments used to address rosacea.
Topical Medications
These medications can be used directly on the rosacea affected areas. They are typically antibiotics such as metronidazole, erythromycin, clindamycin, or anti-inflammatories such as azelaic acid, or topical dapsone. There are also some exciting new natural botanical products such as asquassia wood extract with Vitamin B3, as well as natural anti-infective agents and ginger to soothe the skin. This combination is a natural anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory agent. Another new exciting product is topical brimonidine. This prescription gel reduces redness by gently constricting the swollen blood vessels that occur in rosacea.
Oral Antibiotics
Sometimes a dermatologist may suggest treating the rosacea from the inside out by using oral antibiotics. These may include tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline, and amoxicillin. Oral antibiotics are often used for patients with moderate rosacea. There are also other oral anti-inflammatory treatments available for more severe forms of rosacea.
Cleansers
Anti-redness cleansers that are formulated for more sensitive, rosacea skin can provide relief for the irritation and redness of rosacea. Patients need to choose all their products very carefully, as many patients are very sensitive to many different chemicals that are found in common over the counter shampoos, sunscreens, and creams. Let the doctors at DSA Dermatology guide you into choosing products that are safe for you, without having you always try and avoid “everything” for fear of rosacea flares.
Laser and Light Therapies
Laser treatments, light therapies, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are wonderful ways for patients to address this condition. These treatments may help put the rosacea in remission for several months with no “downtime” involved. These gentle red eliminating lasers actually shrink the engorged blood vessels that cause the skin to look excessively red.
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Chemical Peels
Rosacea patients have to be very careful when choosing chemical peels. The best peels are the ones that are specifically designed to soothe the skin and reduce the redness in rosacea. At DSA Dermatology, we have a peel that is intended for only rosacea patients. Occasionally a mild glycolic peel can be used on rosacea patients to help improve their condition and control it, but this advanced treatment can only be decided by your doctor and yourself.
Accutane (Isotretinoin)
For patients with advanced and severe rosacea who have not seen results with any other treatments, Isotretinoin or other similar oral medications may be suggested. These medications are taken every day for approximately six months to see if improvement occurs. Patients should discuss the benefits of these treatments with their doctor as well as the possibility of side effects and the risks associated with this particular treatment.
