While there is no permanent cure for rosacea, those who ask, "Is there really a treatment for rosacea?" will be encouraged to know that there are several recognized treatments for the condition.
Is There Really a Treatment for Rosacea
Medications
A physician may prescribe both oral as well as topical medications for the treatment of rosacea. Both will help reduce the redness and inflammation, and some of these medications can actually help prevent the skin's sebaceous glands from producing too much oil-a factor in rosacea's acne-like characteristics.
Some of the topical medications that have proven effective in the treatment of rosacea include:
Metronidazole
Metronidazole is a topical antibiotic that has both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that it can reduce the inflamed lesions caused by rosacea by up to 65 percent. Metronidazole is available in cream, lotion and gel, and also at different strengths. Your dermatologist will instruct you whether to use it once or twice daily. It can produce mild side effects such as burning, itching, and stinging, but such reactions to the drug are usually temporary.
Azelaic Acid
Azelaic acid is naturally found in whole grains. Like metronidazole, it appears to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and can be effective in reducing rosacea-related skin lesions. Mild side effects such as burning, itching, and swelling may occur with the use of azelaic acid.
Laser Treatments
Laser and intense pulsed light treatments are highly effective at making spider veins, one of the key characteristics of rosacea, less visible. Laser treatments will also significantly decrease the redness and flushing of the skin as well as the itching, burning, swelling and dryness associated with rosacea. Lasers can also sometimes be useful to treat the thickening of the skin on the nose and cheeks known as rhinophyma, a later-stage symptom of rosacea.
It generally takes more than one laser session to complete the treatment, though most patients can see significant results after only one. By wearing strong sunscreen daily, patients may go years without seeing the return of visible blood vessels.
When considering laser treatment, it is important that you choose a physician who has extensive experience in the laser treatment of rosacea. The treatment of the diffused generalized redness of rosacea requires considerable skill to avoid overtreatment, which will appear as circular white marks on the skin.
Sodium Sulfacetamide and Sulfur
This combination has long been used as a treatment for acne, and has recently been recognized as effective in controlling rosacea as well. Until recently, patients often did not choose this option because of the strong sulfur smell, but new products including creams, gels, lotions, and cleansers now successfully disguise the smell. This medication is not recommended for those who are allergic to sulfur.
Lifestyle Changes
There are also some common factors regarding the lifestyles of those who suffer from rosacea, among them overexposure to the sun. By identifying lifestyle triggers and avoiding them, those with rosacea can have some control over the condition and lessen its effects. By taking advantage of treatment options, those who wonder "Is there really a treatment for rosacea?" might be pleasantly surprised.
