Rosacea Treatment

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition usually accompanied by flushing and acne-like bumps on the face. Rosacea affects primarily older adults, and those who suffer from rosacea often struggle to find an effective treatment option. While most people don’t experience any discomfort with rosacea, the redness and lesions on the skin can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.

At New England Dermatology & Laser Center, our experienced dermatology team helps people from Springfield, Longmeadow, Northampton, and Westfield, Massachusetts, manage and improve their rosacea.

What Causes Rosacea?

The main cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to a combination of factors such as an overactive immune system, environmental influences, and genetics. Rosacea flareups are commonly triggered by the following:

• Extreme hot or cold temperatures
• Spicy food or hot drinks
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Certain product ingredients

Symptoms of Rosacea

Some common symptoms of rosacea include:

• Skin flushing and redness
• Visible blood vessels
• Rash or acne-like lesions
• Red, itchy, and watery eyes
• Skin thickening

Most individuals don’t experience all these symptoms at once. It’s more common to have a progression of symptoms starting with skin redness and flushing.

Who Can Get Rosacea?

Rosacea is extremely rare in children and teens; it’s mostly seen in fair-skinned adults. Although dark-skinned people can also get rosacea, it often goes undiagnosed since the symptoms are not as visible in darker skin tones. Additionally, you are more likely to get rosacea if your family has a history of the condition.

Effective Treatments for Rosacea

Our practice offers several treatment options so you can manage your rosacea and improve your quality of life.

Topical Agents

Topical creams, gels, and ointments are good options for mild cases of rosacea. You can try either over-the-counter or prescription topical medications.

Oral Antibiotics

If you have moderate to severe rosacea, you may need a stronger treatment. Oral antibiotics such as doxycycline work to clear blemishes on your skin and reduce redness. You may experience side effects with oral antibiotics, such as stomach issues, rashes, or allergic reactions. Your provider can help you determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment.

Laser and Light-Based Treatments

Treatments such as Pulsed Dye Laser or IPL photofacial can improve visible blood vessels, skin redness, and skin thickening. No laser or light-based treatment is suitable for all cases of rosacea, so it’s important to talk to your provider about the results you can expect. You may need to have several treatment sessions to see a significant reduction in symptoms.

Laser and light-based treatments can also be used with topical agents or oral medication for optimal results.