Rosacea – Just a red rash?
September 20, 2010
With all due respect to my
university professors, I must have
skipped the day when they talked
about rosacea.
It was only when I began
practicing that I realised people
who blush easily aren’t always
suffering from embarrassment but
rather a common skin condition.
Whilst rosacea typically appears
as a red rash on the face, little is
known about the aetiology of the
condition, which is more common
than diabetes!
Rosacea mostly affects fair
skinned women aged 30-40,
however it can occur at any age.
It initially begins as a tendency to
blush which becomes more frequent
and more noticeable over time.
The facial areas affected are most
commonly the nose and cheeks (the
“butterfly” area) but it can also
include the forehead and chin.
Pimples may also develop in
areas affected.
Sufferers also tend to develop
sensitive skin.
Due to the clinical presentation it
can also be confused with and coexist
with conditions such as acne
and dermatitis.
Whilst the underlying cause for
Rosacea is not clearly understood,
there are a number of things to
consider when recommending
products for inclusion in the daily
skin care regimen.
Cleansers should be mild, pH
balanced, fragrance-free, soap-free
and alcohol-free.
Ideally, they should cleanse
without drying or irritating the skin.
Moisturisers should be light to
apply, pH balanced and noncomedogenic.
As UV light can trigger flares, any
moisturiser should also contain a
high SPF.
For more
information on
rosacea, visit the
Australasian
College of
Dermatologists
“A-Z of skin”
website at
www.dermcoll.asn.au/.
This
week’s contributor is Corrin O’Brien,
Medical and Regulatory Affairs
Associate at Galderma Australia.
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