Rosacea is difficult to treat by yourself. If you’ve tried everything you can think of, then it may be time to consider professional treatment for your skin condition. At River Region Dermatology & Laser in Montgomery, AL we believe in compassionate care that puts the health of your skin first so we can help you find a rosacea treatment that works for you.

When Should You Consider Getting Rosacea Treatment?

Rosacea is a skin disorder characterized by excessive redness, bumps, pimples, and visible blood vessels on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead. Affecting roughly 14 million Americans, this skin condition can be incredibly difficult to manage, particularly because flare-ups can happen for seemingly any reason – including weather conditions, your diet, and stress.

So, when should you consider getting treatment for your rosacea? Frankly, the first sign of rosacea is the best time to seek treatment. Rosacea has a tendency to get progressively worse when left untreated, but the problem is that it can be misdiagnosed by ordinary physicians. Some signs that will tell you it’s time to seek treatment include:

Flushing and Blushing

While it’s healthy to have some red in your cheeks, you should not have bright red cheeks or persistent facial redness that does not calm down. Rosacea can resemble a sunburn that does not fade and can appear redder with certain triggers, like hot weather, spicy food, or hot beverages.

Sometimes, flushing and blushing symptoms are mistaken for skin sensitivity. You can eliminate this possibility by waning off skincare products and potential allergens to determine if the flushing is related to skin irritation, or if the flushing is related to rosacea.

Bumps and Pimples

Pimples and bumps on the skin are other common symptoms of rosacea. However, while acne pimples will eventually come to a head and go away, that is not always the case for rosacea. The best way to determine if your pimples are related to this skin condition is to look at the rest of your skin. If you have no whiteheads or blackheads near the pimple area, then you are likely dealing with rosacea. Rosacea pimples can also burn or sting.

Visible Blood Vessels

Another common sign of rosacea is visible blood vessels on the face. As a note, blood vessels can be visible on the face for a variety of reasons, including old injuries and unprotected sun exposure. However, visible vessels related to rosacea typically have a closer cluster and can be found on the areas of the face or body that are prone to flushing flare-ups.

If you have any of these common symptoms or you aren’t sure if your symptoms are related to rosacea, please visit a dermatologist. For the health of your skin, it’s vital to seek treatment early so you can find an effective rosacea treatment and learn how to avoid flare-ups that will make rosacea worse.

How Is Rosacea Diagnosed?

Like many skin conditions, there is no specific test that is used to diagnose rosacea. A thorough examination of your skin from a dermatologist will be the key to correctly identifying and diagnosing your skin condition. Your dermatologist will ask about the history of your symptoms and other skin conditions, such as lupus and eczema, will be ruled out.

What Are Rosacea Risk Factors?

Although the primary cause of rosacea is unknown, there are several risk factors associated with this skin condition. The most substantial risk factor is your skin tone since fair-skinned people tend to have this condition more than people with medium and dark skin tones. Women are also at higher risk for developing this condition although men who have rosacea tend to have more severe symptoms.

What Treatment Options Do You Have?

After your diagnosis, your dermatologist will then try to help you identify triggers and come up with a treatment plan that will manage your skin condition. There are several treatments that will be considered depending on the severity of your condition, your skin type, and your skin tone. Your treatment will also depend on the specific issues that need to be addressed. Those who have acne-type rosacea will have different treatment options than those who have vessel-type rosacea.

For example, light-based and laser-based therapy can correct small visible veins and minimize some redness, but not all people who have rosacea can use these treatments. Other common rosacea treatments include:

• Oral medications
• Antibiotics
• Topical ointments

Which Treatment Is Right for You?

It’s likely that more than one treatment to manage your rosacea. Many patients prefer to combine an oral medication or antibiotic with a topical cream to manage flare-ups and prevent triggers, redness, or furthering symptoms. Likewise, some patients will use laser or light therapy as an initial treatment and then maintain results for redness with topical creams. We will help you find the right combination of treatments to manage your triggers and promote the health of your skin.

Start Managing Your Rosacea Today

Rosacea is a serious chronic skin condition that can get progressively worse. For the health of your skin and your peace of mind, it’s best to seek treatment for this condition as soon as you notice symptoms. Call River Region Dermatology & Laser in Montgomery, AL to schedule your consultation for rosacea treatment today.