Treatment for Rosacea in San Antonio, TX

Rosacea is a common skin condition among fair skinned patients, which causes redness of the nose and cheeks, small, red, pus-filled bumps and/or burning, swollen skin. Other body parts like the forehead, scalp, chest or back can also be affected. While there is no known cause of rosacea, it is found to run in families and can be caused by the immune system’s overreaction to a certain bacteria. To diagnose rosacea, San Antonio dermatologist, Dr. Garcia, will examine the skin and eyes and will diagnose the particular kind of rosacea a patient has in order to provide the best possible outcome.

There are several forms of rosacea, including papulopustular rosacea, erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, ocular rosacea, and phymatous rosacea. All present themselves differently and have different treatment options.

Though there is no cure for rosacea, there are a number of treatment options available, including antibiotics to help with inflammation. A patient could receive the medication in a pill form or as a cream, lotion or gel. Pills tend to be more effective in the short-term but can cause more side-effects. If antibiotics aren’t effective, acne drugs, such as isotretinoin, have proven to work for some patients. Surgery might be required in cases where symptoms become permanent such as enlarged blood vessels or redness that won’t go away with other treatments. Laser surgery or electrosurgery can be used to reduce the appearance of blood vessels and remove excessive tissue buildup around the nose to improve the appearance of rosacea. Dermabrasion is another option where the top layers of skin are removed using a brush-like tool.   

Symptoms of rosacea can vary from mild to severe. The tell-tale sign of rosacea is facial redness. In most patients, the central portion of the face is noticeably red. The small blood vessels of the nose and cheeks can swell and become visible. Other symptoms include red and swollen bumps on the face that look similar to acne. Sometimes the bumps are pus-filled. The skin can also feel hot and tender to the touch. Approximately half of rosacea sufferers have eye problems, such as eye irritation, dryness and reddened, swollen eyelids. In rare cases, a patient’s nose will appear enlarged because rosacea can cause the skin of the nose to thicken, which results in a bulbous appearance. Some common symptoms associated with the varying types of rosacea include:

• Papulopustular rosacea: Common symptoms include redness and swollen areas on the face that look like acne-like breakouts.
• Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: Common symptoms include visible blood vessels along with a red and flushed appearance.
• Ocular rosacea: Common symptoms include red and irritated eyes and swollen eyelids.
• Phymatous rosacea: Common symptoms include thickened skin with a bumpy texture.

While the exact cause of rosacea is unknown, doctors believe that it’s caused by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. People of Celtic or Scandinavian ancestry seem to have a higher incidence of rosacea. Patients usually have other family members that suffer from either rosacea or severe acne. People who are prone to have bad acne, have a higher risk of developing rosacea. Scientists also believe that immune system overreactions can cause rosacea where a patient’s immune system overreacts to a certain bacterium. This theory, however, hasn’t been proven to be completely valid.

There are a large number of factors that can aggravate rosacea since they increase the blood flow to the surface of the skin. These can include alcohol, spicy foods, hot foods or beverages, sunlight, extreme temperatures, hot baths or showers, stress, embarrassment or anger, strenuous exercise and certain medications.

Rosacea not only has physical symptoms, but emotional ones as well where a patient is often self-conscious in public and avoids social situations. If you believe you have rosacea, please call our dermatology office to schedule a consultation so that you can put your best face forward today. Our exceptional team is on the cutting-edge of treatments and there is hope and help.