Dentist and Skin Care Blog from Boston's Area Leading Dental Office

Rosacea impacts nearly 15 million people in the U.S., and most of them are fair-skinned women between the ages of 30 and 60. While physicians don’t know specifically what causes rosacea, they believe that heredity may play a key role.  

Unfortunately, there’s no cure—but dermatologists and certified aestheticians can help you manage symptoms and reduce flare-ups. 

What is Rosacea, and what are the symptoms?

Common rosacea symptoms include (1) frequent skin flushing, (2) enlarged facial blood vessels, (3) development of pus-filled bumps, and (4) eye inflammation/sensitivity. In advanced cases, rosacea a patient’s skin may become very red, eye swelling may be particularly prominent, and nodules below the skin’s surface may be sore. It’s also possible for rosacea patients to develop thickening of the facial skin due to enlargement of the oil glands.

What are my rosacea treatment options?

It’s important for rosacea patients to see a qualified dermatologist—and that they realize that it may take weeks, or even months, for the skin to begin improving. To reduce the size and occurrence of papules and treat eye symptoms, your dermatologist may recommend topical or oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline or erythromycin. You may also need steroid eye drops to reduce inflammation and irritation of the eyes. In rare cases, surgery is necessary to remove portions of thickened skin that develop around the nose. 

At Smile and Skin Aesthetics, our expert aestheticians can help rosacea patients manage and improve their skin’s appearance. Call today to schedule your rosacea consultation, or to inquire about treatments, Purelight, Dermalift and Microdermabrasion. These Smile and Skin treatments are viable ways to improve damage due to scarring, skin thickening and blood vessel dilation—and most are painless and require only short office visits.       

To learn more about rosacea and its ongoing treatment research, visit the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at the National Institutes of Health.