1. Avoid Your Triggers
You can significantly help keep your rosacea in remission if you take steps to avoid the things that trigger your flare-ups. Keep a diary to learn about what may be the triggers in your particular case, as they are not the same for everyone. Some of the most common triggers (affecting more than half of all rosacea patients) are exposure to sun, emotional stress, hot weather or baths, wind, strenuous exercise and drinking alcohol. Other common triggers may be cold weather, spicy food, humidity, indoor heat, some skin-care products, hot beverages and some cosmetics. Remember that you may have triggers not listed here, and some of those listed may not affect you at all.
2. Fight the Red With Lasers
Patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea sometimes have good results with laser therapy (sometimes called light therapy or phototherapy). Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea is a subtype of rosacea that tends to exhibit flushing and erythema (redness that may indicate inflammation or infection). Your doctor would prescribe laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) therapy to help decrease the visibility of redness and rash-like signs of rosacea. It may be necessary for you to undergo several sessions of laser therapy to achieve the results you want and you may experience certain side effects such as nausea, sweating, visual strain or nervousness.
3. Topical Creamy Goodness
Although patients with erythematotelangiectatic rosacea have not shown much success with topical agents, those with papulopustular rosacea (whose symptoms include erythema, bumps and pimples) have had better outcomes. If you are exhibiting the signs of papulopustular rosacea, your doctor may prescribe topical antibiotic therapy to help control them. Some of the topical medications your doctor may prescribe include metronidazole or clindamycin. These can be used long term and have been fairly successful in keeping the condition in remission. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, as some of these medications are harmful to your baby's health.
In addition to medications, you may want to try green-tinted cosmetics to conceal the redness. This is true for both erythematotelangiectatic and papulopustular rosacea. After applying the green base or concealer, cover it with skin-colored foundation and avoid using makeup with pink or orange tones. Choose makeup for sensitive skin and stop using if it causes new flare-ups.
4. Take a Pill
If you have papulopustular rosacea, you may have very good results treating your symptoms with oral antibiotics. However, since rosacea is a long-term skin disorder, oral treatments are usually only advisable for short periods of use. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic such as tetracycline, doxycycline or metronidazole to treat flare-ups. If you are pregnant, though, tell your doctor, as these medications can be harmful to your baby.
