Rosacea Research Paper

Rosacea is a chronic disorder that typically affects the face. It is characterized by persistent redness usually on the forehead, cheeks, and nose but in rare cases can also spread to the scalp, ears, neck, and chest. The actual cause of the disorder is not fully known and it’s estimated that about 16 million Americans have some form of rosacea. People of all races can get rosacea, however, it is more prevalent in fair-skinned people of northern European descent (Irish, German, English, etc.). Women are also more likely to develop rosacea over men, but men who are diagnosed with rosacea have a higher risk of developing rhinophyma (All about Rosacea, 2018). The most commonly know sign and symptom associated with rosacea is the facial redness, but other signs and symptoms include; swollen red bumps that resemble pimples, eye problems (stinging, burning, reddened eyelids) and thickening of the skin typically on the nose called rhinophyma People with rosacea can have periods of nonactivity where no signs or symptoms are noticeable followed by flare-ups (Rosacea, 2018). During the period when they are experiencing a flare-up, the small blood vessels …show more content…
Topical medications and Laser therapy can be used to help reduce redness by constricting the blood vessels that give the skin it’s reddish appearance. Other types of medications that are typically used target the bumps or acne that are associated with rosacea and include oral antibiotics and Isotretinoin (strong acne medication only used for severe cases). Alternative treatments could include gentle facial massages, and the use of oils like emu, Laurelwood, and oregano, however, there is no real evidence that these alternative treatments actually work. There are also lifestyle changes that can be made, like avoiding known trigger to prevent flare-ups and treating the facial skin gently (Rosacea,