Rosacea

Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that typically affects the face. It results in redness, pimples, swelling, and small and superficial dilated blood vessels. Typically, the nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin are the areas most involved.

Rosacea can affect anyone, but it is most common in middle-aged women with fair skin. There is no cure for rosacea, but treatment can control and reduce the signs and symptoms.

Symptoms of Rosacea

The most common symptom of rosacea is a persistent redness in the central part of your face. Redness and small blood vessels that become visible typically involve the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead, but can also appear on the neck, head, ears, or chest.

Other signs and symptoms include:

• Swollen, red bumps that resemble acne’s pimples. These bumps sometimes contain pus.
• Eye problems. Many people with rosacea also experience dry, irritated, swollen eyes and red, swollen eyelids. This is known as ocular rosacea.
• Enlarged nose. In severe and persistent cases, rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous. This occurs more often in men than in women.

These signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months, then go away for a while and then come back again.

Causes of Rosacea

The cause of rosacea is uncertain, but it’s likely due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors that can trigger flare-ups, including:

• Hot drinks and spicy foods
• Red wine and alcohol in general
• Temperature extremes
• Sunlight or wind
• Emotions
• Exercise

Treatments for Rosacea

There is no cure for rosacea, but symptoms can be managed with treatment.

The best way to prevent an outbreak is to work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan and avoid your triggers. If you don’t take care of your rosacea, redness and swelling can get worse and might become permanent.

Therefore, it is important that you first come in for a consultation, so that Dr Nina can assess your case and suggest one treatment, or a combination of treatments, depending on the severity of your condition.

Using a bespoke prescribed plan of medical-grade skincare products (subject to consultation only), Dr Nina might prescribe a range of products containing L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), hyaluronic acid and peptides to rebuild the compromised lipidic skin barrier. Using a good SPF to protect your skin from the sunlight is also very important.

Once the skin barrier is healed, retinol might be introduced to exfoliate and renew the skin.

Medical-grade Skincare Products

These kinds of products are often categorized as a blend of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, providing both aesthetic and medicinal benefits.

Medical-grade skincare products contain active ingredients that have been clinically proven to have a positive effect on the skin. They differ from over-the-counter products because they contain ingredients that are capable of penetrating below the top layers of the skin. Products sold over the counter do not affect the skin in biological ways and are unable to penetrate its upper layers.

Medical-grade skincare products should only be purchased from a specialist practice such as Facial Sculpting.

L-ascorbic Acid

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound that has been shown to be particularly beneficial in reducing redness. L-ascorbic acid is also an essential cofactor for new collagen production and wound healing. The anti-inflammatory effects of L-ascorbic acid are responsible for its ability to treat rosacea.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a key molecule responsible for retaining skin moisture and optimal skin function. High and Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic acid regulates activation of inflammatory cells and immune response and provides hydration whilst promoting wound healing and collagen formation.

Peptides

Peptides are amino acids that are the building blocks of certain proteins needed by the skin, like collagen and elastin. They work particularly well in combination with L-ascorbic acid to promote collagen production.

Retinol

Retinol is part of a family of derivates from vitamin A called retinoids, commonly found in anti-ageing creams but also recommended in acne management to improve cellular turnover.

Retinol is a medium-strength retinoid. Prescription formulas normally contain retinoic acid (the strongest of these retinoids), while retinol is gentler and can be found in medical-grade skincare lines.

Retinol works at both the surface and middle layers of the skin.

• On the skin’s outermost layer, retinol exfoliates to improve tone and texture.
• On the skin’s middle layer, retinol is clinically proven to boost collagen and elastin production, which helps improve firmness, tone, and texture of the skin.

Please book in for a consultation where we will carefully assess your skin and advise you on the best treatment to manage your rosacea symptoms.