Seasonal Feature Article - Rosacea

Skin Deep – February 2012

Welcome to ‘Skin Deep’ – This month’s feature looks at our ‘New Look Feature Article - Rosacea’.

Any questions, just ask Dr. Angie Winnington-Sharp – www.cheshireskinclinic.com angie@cheshireskinclinic.com or 01925 263660 & 07967 481594.  Next month’s feature - Acne.

Many people suffer with a condition called rosacea which presents itself typically in people during their 30s and 40s and tends to be more noticeable during the colder months of the year. It is marked by redness (erythema) of the face, flushing of the skin, and sometimes the presence of hard pimples and small visible spider-like veins called telangiectasias. In later stages of the disease, the face may swell and the nose may take on a bulb-like appearance called rhinophyma. The severity of the condition can be reduced by the application of a range of medical applications but is frequently successfully treated and ‘managed’ by a course of pulsed light treatments which reduce the redness and also assist in making the skin feel less itchy and much smoother.

The treatment itself is non-invasive and takes around 2-5 minutes to treat the face. Applications for home-use that assist in prolonging the effects of the light treatment are advised post-treatment in addition to regular hydration, such as regular fluid intake. The latter is particularly useful when changing environments such as coming indoors into a room with central heating on directly after being exposed to cooler conditions.

For many sufferers the use of steroids or excessive cover-up make-up is not desirable, so this treatment provides an excellent route to tackling the condition and giving the individual a confidence boost that is both affordable and lifestyle friendly.