Background information
Chicken skin – what’s behind it and how to treat it
by Olivia Leimpeters-Leth
Red spots, pimples and a swollen nose: treating rosacea in good time
5.12.2023
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Rosacea itches, burns and looks nasty. Even if this skin condition can’t be cured, there are a few things you can do to treat it.
Small blood vessels break and become larger, spreading over the cheeks and nose and occasionally even affecting the eyes. Severe cases also include a red, swollen nose. What may appear a symptom of excessive alcohol consumption could in fact be rosacea.
Causes unclear
There’s currently no broad scientific agreement on what exactly causes rosacea. «The pathology and physiology of the disease is still unclear. It’s likely a stress-related and hormonally induced disease,» says Dr Ikonija Koceva, dermatologist at the Swiss Academy Hautwerk.
According to Dr Koceva, the private sector regularly carries out extensive research, which also produces effective medicine. Nevertheless, the causes of rosacea are still a mystery to science. What we already know, however, is that diet and lifestyle play an important role. And there’s a genetic disposition for rosacea too.
Symptoms
The general symptoms of the disease include red, often itchy and burning patches of skin, which can even turn into pimples and bumps. Symptoms may occur in episodes or become chronic.
Only the face is affected because facial skin is particularly thin and therefore offers little protection against external factors such as heat, cold and UV radiation. These factors already have a negative impact on healthy facial skin. People with rosacea need to be even more careful, as the already irritated blood vessels are even more severely affected without suitable creams.
Treatment methods for rosacea
There are currently various ways to counteract rosacea. However, the skin disease can’t be fully cured, says Dr Koceva from Hautwerk: «As soon as the treatment interrupted or discontinued, symptoms return».
At the Hautwerk practice, doctors treat rosacea primarily with skin care and light or laser therapy. Local application of medication, known as topical medication, involves the use of either anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics. In some cases, swallowed antibiotics or vitamin A acids are also prescribed.
Unfortunately, none of these skin care products are covered by health insurance companies. Nonetheless, Dr Koceva advises against using medication or lotions covered by insurance. They’re often too greasy and tend to make symptoms worse rather than improve them.
Take individual needs into account
«The anti-inflammatory properties of topical medication help reduce redness, swelling and inflammation associated with rosacea,» says the dermatologist. «Frequently used active ingredients are azelaic acid and ivermectin. Other topical medication for rosacea, however, contains antibiotic agents such as metronidazole or clindamycin to combat the pimples and papules that may occur in some cases.»
Treatment depends on the individual needs of the person affected and the type of rosacea. «The most common method is to apply local treatment over six to eight weeks. Prolonged use of topical antibiotics can lead to a loss of effectiveness, as the skin reacts less sensitively to the medication over time.»
Light and laser
Rosacea is usually initially treated conservatively with medication. Depending on the degree of the disease, however, it may also be treated with vascular lasers and light therapy. These treatments are generally not covered by health insurance either, you have to pay for these services yourself.
«Laser treatment varies depending on the type and severity of rosacea,» says Dr Koceva. «It aims to close visible blood vessels and reduce redness typically associated with rosacea. However, laser treatment doesn’t cure rosacea, but temporarily improves the symptoms. In some cases, regular refresher treatments may be required to maintain the results.»
Dos and don’ts if you have rosacea
Another way to influence the condition is with lifestyle choices. As with so many (skin) diseases, alcohol and smoking are counterproductive. Warming drinks in particular, such as red wine, should be avoided. «When it comes to food, there are a few types that make rosacea worse. I’d avoid spicy food, such as Thai or Indian cuisine,» says Dr Koceva.
Diagnosed with rosacea – what now?
Header image: Shutterstock
Moritz Weinstock
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oliver.fischer@digitecgalaxus.chNotebook, camera, laptop or smartphone. For me, life's about taking notes – both analogue and digital. What's always on me? My iPod Shuffle. It's all in the mix, after all. This is also reflected in the topics I write about.
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