Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that causes redness and small, red pus-filled pustules on the face. Individuals who leave the condition untreated will find that it progressively worsens over time. The condition will flare for a period and then recede for a short period before flaring again. It can be mistaken for other skin conditions, such as acne, allergies or eczema. At this time there is no cure for rosacea, but there are over-the-counter treatments that will help reduce the symptoms and ease the discomfort.
Facial Washes and Triggers
An element of treatment is avoiding environmental triggers that will worsen the condition and taking good care of the skin. Physicians at the Mayo Clinic have suggestions to prevent or reduce flareups. Patients should wash with a gentle facial cleanser, avoid overheating, alcohol and rubbing or touching the skin too much. Patients should wear a broad spectrum sunscreen to protect the skin from UV-A and UV-B rays. Harsh facial products that contain alcohol, benzoyl peroxide or may clog pores can irritate the condition and make it worse.
Green Tea
At the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American College of Dermatology, researchers presented the results of a study using green tea extract on patients who suffered from papulo-pustular rosacea. They reported that 60 women between the ages of 25 and 50, who were recruited for the study, experienced a 70 percent reduction in the condition compared to women in the control group.
1-Methylnicotinamide
A metabolite of vitamin B3 and 1-methylnicotinamide was found to be successful in treating rosacea in 76 percent of the patients in a study from Poland. Researchers at the Medical University of Lodz used a topical treatment on patients twice a day for four weeks. The results indicated that treatment with this substance may be effective for those who suffer from rosacea. In only 1 out of 34 people was the treatment stopped because of skin irritation.
Azelaic Acid
In a double-blind study of azelaic acid 20 percent cream, researchers Roar Bjerke and Ole Fyrand compared the effectiveness of azelaic acid cream across multi-centers over three months. During this period, those who used the azelaic cream found significantly greater reduction in lesions and the severity of the redness, but they did not notice a reduction in the visibility of small red veins. Researchers concluded that the cream was a good option that was useful for reducing redness and papules.
Zinc
In a clinical trial involving 25 patients at the Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, researchers evaluated whether oral supplementation of zinc sulfate, 100 mg, over a three-month period would benefit the clinical presentation. The researchers published their findings in the International Journal of Dermatology in July 2006. They found that apart from mild gastric upset, there were no significant side effects.
Skin conditions were rated on a scale both before and after inc therapy. Patients were given both a placebo for three months and zinc for three months. In all instances, within two months after beginning the zinc therapy, patients and physicians noted improvement in skin condition. And after switching from zinc to a placebo all patients also noted the rosacea became worse again.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Rosacea
- "Medscape Medical News"; Green Tea Extract Cream Shows Benefit for Rosacea; Peggy Peck; February 2005
- "Clinical and Experimental Dermatology"; Topical Application of 1-Methylnicotinamide in the Treatment of Rosacea; A. Wozniacka; 2005
- "Acta Dermato-Venereologica"; Double-blind Comparison of Azelaic Acid 20% Cream and its Vehicle in Treatment of Papulo-pustular Rosacea; Roar Bjerke and Ole Fyrand; 1999
- "International Journal of Dermatology"; Oral Zinc Sulfate in the Treatment of Rosacea: a Double blind, Placebo-Controlled Study; K.E. Sharquie; July 2006
