Signs And Symptoms Of Rosacea

Signs and symptoms of rosacea include:

Red areas on your face
Small, red bumps or pustules on your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin (not the same as whiteheads or blackheads)
Red, bulbous nose (rhinophyma)
Visible small blood vessels on your nose and cheeks
Burning or gritty sensation in your eyes (ocular rosacea)
Tendency to flush or blush easily

Rosacea usually appears in phases:

Pre-rosacea. Rosacea may begin as a simple tendency to flush or blush easily, then progress to a persistent redness in the central portion of your face, particularly your nose. This redness results from the dilation of blood vessels close to your skin's surface. This phase may sometimes be referred to as pre-rosacea.

Vascular rosacea. As signs and symptoms worsen, vascular rosacea may develop — small blood vessels on your nose and cheeks swell and become visible (telangiectasia). Your skin may become overly sensitive. Rosacea may also be accompanied by oily skin and dandruff.

Inflammatory rosacea. Small, red bumps or pustules may appear and persist, spreading across your nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. This is sometimes known as inflammatory rosacea.

In severe and rare cases, the oil glands (sebaceous glands) in your nose and sometimes your cheeks become enlarged, resulting in a buildup of tissue on and around your nose (rhinophyma). This complication is much more common in men and develops very slowly over a period of years.

In addition, more than half the people with rosacea experience ocular rosacea — a burning and gritty sensation in the eyes. Rosacea may cause the inner skin of the eyelids to become inflamed or appear scaly, a condition known as conjunctivitis.

Rosacea Medication And Cover-up In One Application

Carolina Pharmacy Systems, Inc. today announced the launch of Meds in Makeup, the innovative formulation of prescription medicine in makeup base for acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions.

Meds in Makeup is a custom-made prescription makeup that helps control and treat various skin conditions. Carolina Pharmacy Systems makes Meds in Makeup by blending the medicine chosen by a doctor with the makeup base chosen by the patient. Prescriptions are ordered through the Meds in Makeup Web site at http://www.medsinmakeup.com. The product is a customized treatment for acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and other skin disorders.

"Meds in Makeup provides a completely new alternative for patients diagnosed with various skin conditions," said Gina Whittlesey, pharmacist and founder of Carolina Pharmacy Systems. "Meds in Makeup is a convenient way to conceal skin problems such as pimples, facial redness or irritation, while treating acne, rosacea or other skin conditions."

Each proactive acne or rosacea treatment is custom-made by licensed pharmacists using the practice of pharmaceutical compounding. Meds in Makeup provides people with prescription-treatable skin problems an alternative way to apply their treatment. This can improve patient compliance, particularly among teenagers who may want to wear makeup to hide their acne instead of using acne medication. Acne makeup such as Meds in Makeup can conceal acne while effectively treating it. Effective treatment is necessary because no product can completely get rid of acne.

Meds in Makeup also addresses the self-image issues of patients with skin conditions. Teen self-esteem may be improved when adolescents can hide acne with makeup while getting rid of pimples. Patients with rosacea, eczema and psoriasis can conceal redness and irritation as they treat it, which lessens the need to cover affected areas with clothing and can help boost self-esteem.

About Carolina Pharmacy Systems

Carolina Pharmacy Systems is the innovator in customized prescription makeup solutions for dermatological needs. Meds in Makeup(TM) treats common skin conditions, such as acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis, in a novel way through products made using the practice of pharmaceutical compounding. Pharmaceutical compounding enables our licensed pharmacists to incorporate medication into a patient's preferred makeup base, creating a proactive treatment that conceals and heals in a more convenient way.

The Complete Rosacea Treatment Picture

The complete rosacea treatment picture must begin with an understanding of what causes or influences a rosacea flush. Effective skin care for rosacea must address the flushing issues. Rosacea sufferers have more facial blood vessels than the norm, or their blood vessels are severely damaged. Consequently, anything that stimulates facial dilation cannot be handled easily or properly. The Rosacea-Ltd website will help you understand vascular constriction and dilation. Dilation, or enlarging of the blood vessels, produces the flushing which rosacea sufferers experience. Constriction, or tightening, turns the face pale.

The symptoms and appearance of rosacea can often be controlled. The treatment of rosacea calls for some self-discipline and willingness to change, and an understanding of the causes of rosacea.

The Accutane, Acne, Rosacea Controversy

Health Canada is investigating reports of strokes and heart attacks in people taking Accutane, the controversial acne drug that causes birth defects and has been linked to psychiatric problems.

Twenty-nine cases of patients who developed a vascular disorder after taking isotretinoin, the generic name for Accutane, have been reported since the drug was approved in Canada in 1983.

Eleven involved strokes, blood clots or a heart attack, none of which are labelled as possible reactions in the drug's prescribing information.

The patients ranged in age from 15 to 48.

One 18-year-old with no known risk factors suffered a stroke two months after starting the drug.

"Health care professionals are encouraged to report any cases of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular and thromboembolic disorders suspected of being associated with isotretinoin," a new Health Canada report on adverse drug reactions says.

Isotretinoin's use is expected to grow as cheaper generic versions reach the market.

A spokesman for Health Canada stressed there is no evidence Accutane caused the rare reports of stroke and blood clots in users.

They are based on suspicions only and could be due to some underlying illness. Some of the patients had risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure or obesity. In addition, 18 of the suspected 29 reactions are included in the drug's monograph.

"This information at this point is strictly observational, they are only suspected to be associated with Accutane. Causal relationships have not been determined," Health Canada spokesman Chris Williams said.

The cases were published in the latest issue of the Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter "to stimulate reporting to see if something needs to be done," Williams said.

"That's why we're putting it out."

It's been estimated that as few as one per cent of suspected reactions are ever reported under Canada's voluntary reporting system.

Last year, 10,410 cases of suspected adverse reactions to drugs, blood products and vaccines were reported to Health Canada.

Of those, 7,223, or 69 per cent, were classified as serious.

The number of reported cases of drug reactions has increased steadily over the past seven years, with 1.7 per cent more cases in 2005 than in 2004.

Accutane has been highlighted in the newsletter before: in 1999, Health Canada reported cases of depression and other reactions of a "putative psychiatric nature" in people taking the drug, including aggression and suicide attempts.

Intended as a last-resort drug for the most severe forms of disfiguring acne, Accutane is increasingly being used on milder cases.

The drug is also being prescribed for psoriasis, rosacea and other "off-label" conditions for which it has not been formally approved.

The U.S. government has imposed tighter controls on the use of Accutane.

The Balance Of Rosacea Skin Care

Optimum health and beauty in skin care is actually a result of finding the right balance to unlock the full potential of your skin. Eating and drinking properly is not only less expensive but much healthier over both the short and long term. And a 'proper rosacea diet' over the long run reduces the chance of poor health and diseases such as diabetes, allergies, sinus conditions, obesity, osteoporosis, rheumatism, arthritis, lupus, and cancer. While as a rosacea sufferer we are very concerned about our facial appearances, however, with some of these aforementioned debilitating diseases, many of these patients don't even want to go out socially. Many of these problems can be prevented or drastically reduced by an alkaline diet.

Acidic foods and drinks range from a pH (potential of hydrogen) of 0 to 7 on the while the more alkaline foods and drinks are in the range of 7 to 14. The human body is most often operating in the 7.4 range or slightly into the alkaline range. All of life's acids are wearing the body down by reducing the pH. Even lactic acid caused by heavy exercise or just the average wearing of body cells over a lifetime continues to decrease the degree of alkalines that keep the body from degenerating nearly as fast. Even the improper exhaustion of carbon dioxide from the lungs cause a acid pH level that can turn most people 'pink' or 'red' in 30 seconds.

The Rosacea Awareness Picture

During Rosacea Awareness Month in April, sponsored by the National Rosacea Society, patients are urged to learn more about effective treatment alternatives now available to help them cope with the serious side effects of this all-too common disorder.

Rosacea Awareness Month is designed to encourage those who may suffer from this widespread condition to seek diagnosis and treatment before it increasingly disrupts their daily lives.

Rosacea is characterized by redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead; small visible blood vessels on the face; bumps or pimples on the face; and watery or irritated eyes. Activities such as spending time in the sun, eating spicy food or drinking alcohol can cause embarrassing flare-ups.