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When dealing with rosacea, experts agree that a strong offense
is usually a patient's best defense. According to research, rosacea
sufferers who diligently follow long-term medical therapy substantially
reduce their chances of a relapse.
"Consistent long-term medical therapy and lifestyle modifications
are widely acknowledged as the most effective means of successfully
managing rosacea," said Dr. Mark Dahl, chairman of Dermatology
at the University of Minnesota. "Because this is a chronic
and progressive disorder of remissions and flare-ups, even when
your rosacea calms down, it's important to continue therapy in order
to prevent relapse."
Backing that assertion, recent clinical studies demonstrated that
patients who continued to use their prescribed medical therapy are
substantially less likely to experience a recurrence of symptoms.
In a study of rosacea sufferers over a six-month period, 77 percent
of the patients who maintained long-term therapy remained in remission,
while 42 percent of those who did not experienced a relapse.
1
The importance of complying with medical therapy also was underscored
in the results of a National Rosacea Society survey of more than
1,022 rosacea sufferers. In that survey, 74 percent of the respondents
said their condition worsened if they failed to use the medication
as prescribed by their physicians. Of those using medication as
directed, 98 percent reported that it had reduced or at least somewhat
reduced their symptoms.
Characterized by redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead,
rosacea usually first strikes adults in their 30s, 40s or 50s. Initially
the redness may come and go, but left untreated it tends to become
more pronounced and permanent, and tiny visible blood vessels may
appear. As the disease progresses, facial swelling may occur and
bumps and pimples often develop.
To bring rosacea under immediate control, physicians typically
prescribe both oral and topical antibiotics. Long-term therapy then
usually consists of the topical medication alone, since long-term
treatment with oral antibiotics has been associated with nausea,
gastrointestinal upset, phototoxicity and vaginal infection.
In addition to medical therapy, rosacea patients are advised to
avoid environmental and lifestyle factors that may aggravate their
individual conditions. The most common rosacea tripwires include
sun exposure, emotional stress, hot weather, alcoholic beverages,
spicy foods, strenuous exercise, hot drinks, cold weather and wind.
A diary checklist is available from the National Rosacea Society
to help rosacea sufferers identify their personal rosacea triggers,
and a new booklet called "Coping with Rosacea" provides
tips on how to avoid or minimize these factors.
Associated Reference
Dahl MV, Katz I, et al: Topical metronidazole maintains remissions
of rosacea. Archives of Dermatology. 1998;134:679-683.
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