Surrey rosacea treatments

Rosacea is the repetitive or permanent formation of redness and irritation on the skin, which sometimes appears dry, too. It can also look like sun damage, dilated vessels, spider veins, acne, folliculitis or other conditions.

Overall, rosacea is an inflammatory condition that occurs mainly on the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Though technically, it can also develop on other parts of the body, too.

There are four subtypes of rosacea, and these include:

Erythemato-telangiectatic rosacea – this is a general ‘flushed’ look on the face, with some darker red lines or blots present, which are actually broken or enlarged blood vessels (telangiectasia and vasodilation). However, this form of rosacea can not just look red, it can also swell, burn and sting. It can resemble a bad sunburn.

Papulo-pustular rosacea – this form of inflamed rosacea is composed of many papules and pustules that look like acne, but are not. They are raised like bumps, filled with pus, and appear red. With rosacea, as opposed to acneic skin, there are no white heads or blackheads. In severe cases, these fluid-filled bumps can result in swelling.

Phymatous rosacea – this is when the skin thickens and becomes uneven in texture and form. It is common on the nose, in which case it is called rhynophyma. However, this swelling and tissue formation (called lymphoedema and fibrosis) can appear on the chin and forehead too. It is associated with the way your skin produces oil and forms dermal connective tissues. This type of rosacea is more common in men than women.

Ocular rosacea – this is when the factors causing rosacea start to affect the eyes or skin around the eyes. This can involve irritation like stinging and burning, light sensitivity, watery eyes, bloodshot eyes, styes and more. Ocular rosacea can result in more serious eye damage or loss of sight, and should be treated right away.

All of the above types of rosacea can happen together, or in sequence. They can come and go. They happen at different levels of severity on different people.

Many people don’t have rosacea but think they do, because they’re experiencing the aforementioned symptoms. On the flip side, people who have rosacea can mistake it for other conditions, such as a temporary rash or sunburn (since the sun triggers flare ups).

If you think you have rosacea, or another condition causing your facial redness, we encourage you to book an appointment at our clinic. We’ll be able to take a closer look, and provide you with recommended treatment paths.

Back to top

The root cause of rosacea is unknown. Scientists can only explain that the skin appears red when certain activities are happening in the dermal layer. But, there is no explanation for why those reactions are happening in the first place.

Scientists think that rosacea can be connected to skin immunity functions (such as from bacteria), or the neurovascular system (since veins and blood vessels are usually involved).

One other theory is that a specific mite in the skin’s microbiome becomes overactive, and causes rosacea symptoms. The mite is called Dermodex. Its variant species live on all humans, in the hair follicles, tear glands and sebaceous glands. But in rosacea sufferers, there are usually up to four times as many of these mites, which create a sort of imbalance on the skin. This relates back to the immunity theory.

However, Dermodex populations on the skin don’t explain everything. Neither does their interaction with bacteria and immune system imbalances. So, it’s hard to cure rosacea by attacking one thing or another. The skin is much more complicated than that.

Some people – especially those with fair skin, and from European descent – are prone to rosacea and redness. So, there may be a genetic component at play. Women are also more likely to develop rosacea than men. But, both sexes, and any skin type, can experience this dermal condition.

While we don’t know the reasons behind rosacea, the medical community recognizes that its sufferers experience lifestyle triggers, which cause flare ups.

Common rosacea triggers include:

• UV exposure
• Hot and spicy food or seasonings
• Environmental temperature changes, especially extreme ones
• Caffeine or alcoholic beverages (more-so with red wine)
• Heavy exercise
• Stress
• Topical cortisone, acne creams or medications that affect blood vessel sizes
• Cosmetics with drying ingredients, like alcohol or fragrance

Back to top

Technically, surgical solutions exist for phymatous rosacea and rhynophyma. However, these invasive methods can be considered archaic, now that we have lasers to do the job without any cutting or bleeding. Surgery may be needed in extreme cases, though this is rare.

Apart from the aforementioned solutions, the only other things you can do for rosacea, independent of a doctor’s help, are:

• Protect yourself from the sun and UV rays. This includes wearing a good sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and stand in the shade when you can. Don’t use tanning beds.
• Follow a disciplined skin hygiene routine – one that includes the application of high-quality, calming skin care.
• Avoid your personal rosacea triggers, noted above.
• Eat healthy and aim for a diet of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods.

For general help to alleviate stinging and itching, you can also opt for skin-calming remedies like aloe vera gel.

Note that if rosacea is left untreated, it can get worse. It’s best to see a doctor about this condition, even if you don’t plan to get laser treatments from a cosmetic clinic like ours.

Back to top

Since your skin will already be tender and sensitive, prescription-based solutions for rosacea may cause extra irritation, like burning or stinging. They may also cause photosensitivity, making you more susceptible to pigmentation problems from sun exposure.

Antibiotics prescribed for rosacea come with general health side effects, which can be far reaching (they can kill too much of the good bacteria your body needs). This is why we would not recommend them for long-term use.

Lasers are generally are safe when handled by trained professionals in a medically-run clinic like ours. The most severe side effects from a laser, which would be rare, are hyperpigmentation or surface-level burns on the skin.

Back to top

To get a general idea of pricing for rosacea treatments, you can fill out the form above.

The cost of our Surrey rosacea treatments can vary depending on the treatment path each case requires.

Also note that rosacea treatments require maintenance, since it is a condition likely to recur. That said, many people see facial redness subside after just one laser session. It all depends on how each person responds to treatment.

The best way to get an accurate price for rosacea treatments is come in for a consultation at our Surrey clinic. We’ll be able to take a closer look at your skin, and make recommendations based on your unique situation.