DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 49-year-old white male, non-drinker. I’m very shy and embarrass real easily. I have rosacea and the condition has me very angry. People comment all the time “What’s wrong. Your face is red”. It makes me mad hearing it every day from strangers. Is there any help from home remedies? I take Zoloft but nothing is working.
DEAR READER: Rosacea is a chronic but harmless skin condition that makes the face turn red and inflamed. The lesions resemble acne, the face may burn, and the skin may be covered with red pus-filled pustules.
Rosacea does not have a cure but treatment is available to help reduce the symptoms that appear. Small blood vessels on the area of the nose will become visible, the nose will appear red and bulbous and perhaps most unpleasant of all, the individual will blush easily. The condition ordinarily appears in stages. The first is known as pre-rosacea. The simple blush will progress to persistent redness visible in the area of the nose. As symptoms worsen, vascular rosacea may develop. The small blood vessels on the cheeks and nose will swell and become very visible. The skin may become extremely sensitive. Then, small red bumps or pustules will appear, spreading throughout the forehead, chin, nose and cheeks. This phase is known as inflammatory rosacea. As if this weren’t enough, half the people diagnosed with rosacea will experience ocular rosacea that affects the eyes and presents with a burning and somewhat gritty sensation as though the eyes have sand in them.
Triggers include hot beverages, stress, embarrassment, corticosteroids, certain foods, such as citrus fruits, eggplants, spinach, bananas, figs, etc., and more. Those individuals at greatest risk for development of the condition commonly have fair skin and light colored hair, have a family history of rosacea, and are between the ages of 30 and 60.
Treatment consists of mild cleansers, sunscreens, specific moisturizing agents, oral antibiotics or surgical intervention such as laser or electrosurgery designed to reduce the visibility of the blood vessels and improve a person’s appearance. OTCs can sometimes contain certain ingredients that will aggravate the condition and make it worse, so a primary care physician or dermatologist should be consulted prior to initiating treatment.
On the home front, you might consider avoiding using any products on your face that contain alcohol or irritants. Wear sun protection with an SPF of 30 or higher. If a moisturizer or topical medication is used, only apply the moisturizer after the medication has completely dried. Avoid becoming overheated.
While unproven, alternative therapies to include emu oil, oregano oil, vitamin K and colloidal silver that have been considered effective by some sufferers. Lysine, an essential amino acid supplement has been reported to help some people substantially when taken in 3000 mg doses daily. Lastly, I recommend you speak with your PCP or dermatologist regarding your diet since supplements might provide some relief from your embarrassing problem. I would also suggest you have blood drawn to determine whether you have any deficiencies such as one of the B vitamins. Milk thistle is believed to improve liver function as it helps detoxify the skin. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and will also help with detoxification. I could go on further, but you might do well if you begin eating more raw fruits and vegetables. Rosacea is closely connected to digestion so steer clear of saturated or man-made fats that cause inflammation and lean toward a cleaner diet.
You have been dealt a condition that is not easy to face. Don’t get angry; instead, educate yourself if you haven’t already. Then stand tall, smile when people approach you who are nosy enough to ask a perfect stranger what is wrong and simply indicate you have rosacea. Thank them for expressing an interest in your well being and walk away. If they want to get to know you and your condition better, they can pursue it from there.
