Clinical Dermatology
At Alaska Dermatology and Laser Center
Rosacea
Rosacea in its early stages is a vascular disease of cheeks mostly with telangectasia or small vessels of the nose and cheeks that can persist or progress to inflammatory rosacea, that involves papules (small raised lesions), pustules, larger deep lesions, or nodules. The lesions of rosacea are a deeper red color than lesions of acne.
Rosacea can progress to rhinophyma or an enlarged red nose due to sebaceous or oil gland over activity and growth. This has been called a “rum blossom nose” and has been written about as far back as Shakespeare as the red large nose of a drunk such as W. C. Fields. However, people with rosacea are not alcoholics.
Rosacea can also involve the eyelids and can even feel in severe cases as if a foreign body is in the eye (occular rosacea).
Treatment of Rosacea
Several topical entities are used such as metrogel and differin. Oral antibiotics have an anti-inflammatory component that is helpful in rosacea also. Each case and treatment is different and a combination of topical and oral therapy is best.
