Rosacea and Perioral Dermatitis

Many times a picture can tell so much about the condition of one's rosacea. Some people don't realise how far their rosacea has progressed until they see a picture of themselves.

The rosacea picture may show signs of perioral dermatitis. Perioral dermatitis is a facial rash that tends to occur around the mouth. Most often it is red and slightly scaly or bumpy. Any itching or burning is mild. It may spread up around the nose, and occasionally the eyes while avoiding the skin adjacent to the lips. It is more rare in men and children. Perioral dermatitis may come and go for months or years

There may be more than one cause of perioral dermatitis. One of the most common factors is prolonged use of topical steroid creams and inhaled prescription steroid sprays used in the nose and the mouth. Overuse of heavy face creams and moisturizers are another common cause. Other causes include skin irritations, fluorinated toothpastes, and rosacea.

IPL Results

Had IPL for redness over a year ago. It melted my fat cells. It put
dents in my skin. The more I search online, the more people I come
across who have suffered dents from IPL. I had the Lumines machine
only once at low settings.

http://photos.yahoo.com/cheekless2004

Before and after. My cheekpad also fell a bit. The dents appeared
gradualy in the weeks and months post - as they do with thermage
victims.

What is Lupus?

Lupus can cause a reddish skin rash that spreads across the bridge of the nose and face, often in a butterfly pattern, it can appear similar to rosacea. However, while both rashes can be smooth in texture, the presence of bumps and pimples, which rarely occur in a lupus flare, may help to distinguish the two conditions. In addition, lupus is almost always accompanied by other symptoms not associated with rosacea, such as fever, arthritis and signs of renal, lung or heart involvement. A dermatologist can usually quickly tell the difference between a butterfly rash of lupus and rosacea.

Moreover, unlike lupus, as many as 50 percent of rosacea patients may also have ocular signs. Visually, an eye affected by rosacea often appears watery or bloodshot. Sufferers may feel a gritty or foreign body sensation in the eye, or have a dry, burning or stinging sensation.

Learn more about Lupus at:
http://www.lupus-treatments.org/lupustreatments.htm

Rosacea Photo Tips

Do you avoid family photos because of your rosacea? Here are some tips for making you and your rosacea look its best.

Red or plain black-and-white clothing accentuate your redness. Try wearing softer hues like blues, yellows, khakis and other neutral colors.

When scheduling a portrait session, choose a time of year when your rosacea tends to be well under control.

Full-service beauty salons offer makeup artists who can give individual advice about preparing for a portrait. You can even schedule a full makeup session directly before the shoot.

When applying makeup keep it simple. Apply a contrasting concealer, usually a green or yellowish tone to offset rosacea's red appearance. Choose and apply a good foundation in the correct skin tone -- most people mistakenly match foundation to the back of their hand, but a truer color match is made by testing foundation colors under the chin. Blend the foundation and concealer down the neckline and out toward the ears and hairline to provide a natural look and prevent a "mask" appearance. Follow with a loose powder to finish, making blemishes less striking or noticeable. Emphasize your eyes to draw attention away from other areas by using natural eye shadow shades that match your coloring. Apply two colors -- one for contrast and one for contour.

Put yourself at ease and be as natural as possible. The camera will capture you at your best if your smile is stress-free when your rosacea tends to be well under control.

Curing Rosacea

Dr. Thomas Bateman in 1812 stated: “The perfect cure of rosacea is, in fact, never accomplished.” We have often been told; “there is no cure for rosacea”, but does it have to be this way? Proper management of rosacea can be a cure in itself. In cancer, the term sure is never used but instead one goes into remission and with proper care, remission can last a lifetime. If rosacea can’t be cured, can we at least attain remission?

Metronidazole for the Treatment of Rosacea

Topical metronidazole: a new therapy for rosacea.
Schmadel LK, McEvoy GK.
American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Bethesda, MD 20814.

The chemistry, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects of topically applied metronidazole are reviewed, and the drug's use and efficacy in the treatment of rosacea and other conditions are discussed. Metronidazole is a synthetic, nitroimidazole-derivative antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent. For topical use, metronidazole is available in the United States as an aqueous gel. Polar reduction products of the drug appear to be responsible for its antimicrobial effects, which include disruption of DNA. The mechanism by which metronidazole ameliorates the lesions and erythema of rosacea may be related to anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive actions of the drug rather than to suppression of skin bacteria. Metronidazole does not seem to be appreciably absorbed after topical application to the skin. Little is known about the distribution and elimination of topically applied metronidazole. Topical metronidazole has been designated an orphan drug by the FDA for the treatment of rosacea. In clinical studies metronidazole 0.75% topical gel or 1% cream resulted in improvement in inflammatory lesions in 68-96% of patients. Like other currently available therapies, metronidazole is only palliative; when the drug is withdrawn, symptoms commonly recur. Topical metronidazole has been used with some success in the treatment of decubitus and other ulcers and in certain dental conditions. The drug seems to have low toxicity and generally is well tolerated when applied topically. The principal adverse effects are local reactions, such as burning and stinging. Topical metronidazole provides another option for the treatment of rosacea.
PMID: 2137747 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Conditions That Occur With Rosacea

You can actually have more than one skin condition at a time! Many other skin conditions can occur at the same time as rosacea or have symptoms similar to rosacea. In some cases, treatment of one skin condition can lead to another skin condition.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent, but can also affect adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. While there is no permanent cure for acne, it is controllable. Often the harsher treatments used in the treatment of acne such as accutane, retinoids, Azelaic acid, and benzoyl peroxide can aggravate the sensitive facial skin leading to the occurrence of rosacea. Rosacea can occur with acne or become the result of the treatment of acne.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Psoriasis causes the skin to become inflamed, while producing red, thickened areas with silvery scales. This persistent skin disease occurs most often on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. In some cases, psoriasis is so mild that people don't know they have it. At the opposite extreme, severe psoriasis may cover large areas of the body. Psoriasis, frequently treated with topical steroids will cause thinning of the skin and blood vessels causing the tell-tale blush or flush of rosacea.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the word Eczema is used to describe all kinds of red, blistering, oozing, scaly, brownish, thickened, and itching skin conditions. Again eczema is often treated with steroids leading to a steroid-induced rosacea condition.

Discoid (cutaneous) lupus is always limited to the skin and is identified by a rash that may appear on the face, neck and scalp. Discoid lupus accounts for approximately 10% of all cases. Skin rashes occur in approximately 74% of all lupus cases. Photosensitivity occurs in approximately 30% of lupus sufferers. 42% of lupus cases are distinguished by a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Poison Ivy Rash is caused by a substance called urushiol, found in the sap of Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac. In those who are sensitive, urushiol causes a reaction in the form of a line or streak of rash (sometimes resembling insect bites) within 12-48 hours. Redness and swelling will be followed by blisters and severe itching which can in some cases resemble rosacea. In a few days, the blisters become crusted and begin to scale. The rash will usually take about ten days to heal, sometimes leaving small spots.

Insect Bites and Stings can produce local inflammatory reactions that may vary in appearance. Acute reactions may appear as hives; more chronic reactions may appear as inflammatory papule (circumscribed, solid elevations on the skin) or may be characterized by a blister or blisters.