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Rosacea
Rosacea Treatment to Soothe Sensitive Skin
Rosacea, Redness, Flushing and Capillaries
Many people suffer from redness and flushing of the face and neck. This can be caused by sun-damage, drugs (e.g. steroids), surgery or trauma, radiation, or can be hereditary.
In some people it is caused by a condition called Rosacea or by a condition called Poikiloderma.
Generally these problems are more common in light European skin types. Starburst vessels and vascular spots (spider naevi and cherry angiomas) and vascular birth marks can also be an issue. Other medical conditions can cause redness and rashes on the face.
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea (or Acne Rosacea) is a common but unfortunately rather poorly understood condition.
It tends to run in families and is more common in women and those with pale skins. There are no diagnostic tests, so it is always a clinical diagnosis.
Rosacea often starts in young adults and tends to cause flushing and redness of the cheeks, nose, forehead and chins.
Flushing is often exacerbated by alcohol, spicy food, hot drinks, emotions, exercise and changes in temperature.
Some sufferers also get pimples and most find that their skin is very sensitive.
Rosacea can also cause a thickening of the skin over the nose which can even become bulbous (Rhynophyma).
How is Rosacea treated?
There are a number of treatments available. These include low dose antibiotics, topical antibiotics, and vaso-constricting creams (which shrink the blood vessels).
In some patients there appears to be a sensitivity to skin mites, and topical treatment to reduce skin mites can be highly effective.
These treatments are all prescribed medications, so it is important to see a doctor for treatment.
Intense pulsed light (IPL) can also be very effective and provide long term benefits in Rosacea and attracts a Medicare rebate if the condition is significant.
What is Poikiloderma
Poikiloderma (or Poikiloderma of Civatte) is sometimes called “Queensland Neck”.
It is a mixture of pigmentation and redness that affects the sides of the neck and décolletage, always leaving a pale area directly under the chin. Some patients have mainly brown stain like pigmentation, some mainly redness.
It is poorly understood but probably largely a sun damage effect. Poikiloderma can be treated with intense pulsed light (IPL) often combined with prescription skin care.
Other causes of facial redness and vessels
Redness and broken capillaries can be caused by sun-damage over the years. Some drugs such as steroid creams and cortisone tablets can also cause facial redness and vessels. Visible vessels can also form around traumatic or surgical scars or be caused by radiation therapy.
Individual red spots can be small spider veins (spider naevi) or angiomas. Skin cancers can also present as red spots or lumps.
Other medical conditions and rashes can cause facial redness, including various forms of dermatitis, allergies and connective tissue diseases.
It is therefore important that you see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.
Dr Leat and his team at Envisage Clinic have been treating all forms of Rosacea and facial redness with prescription care and IPL for nearly 30 years. Consultations are bulk billed, and no referral is required.
All treatment performed by Dr Chris Leat
 | Dr Christopher Leat – Medical Director Envisage Skin Clinic Founder and Director. Dr Christopher Leat has 33 years’ experience in Medicine and is a member of The Royal College of Physicians of London. Dr Leat has devoted the last 18 years to Cosmetic Medicine and is recognized throughout Australia as one of the most experienced doctors in the field of Cosmetic Medicine. |
