Myths and truth about rosacea on the face and methods of treating it

Types and causes of rosacea

Congenital rosacea manifests itself:

• when the immune system is disrupted, when pathogenic microorganisms enter the body and release a substance that dilates blood vessels and capillaries;
• rosacea may appear as a result of congenital Rond-Oslan disease (when the walls of the capillaries relax);
• Very often, vascular weakness is inherited genetically from close relatives.

Are there characteristic concomitant diseases with rosacea?

The food triggers associated with rosacea are similar to those present with rosacea.

“These are hot tea and coffee, strong alcohol, food products containing capsaicin (spices, hot peppers, etc.) and cinnamaldehyde (chocolates, tomatoes, citrus fruits and other products),” Nadezhda Zhurbina lists. “In addition, by studying the etiological factors and assessing the clinical manifestations of the disease, it is quite possible to conclude that this condition is similar to rosacea.”

Couperosis and rosacea actually have many common features: many experts even believe that rosacea represents the next stage in the development of rosacea. However, with rosacea, both small and large capillaries are affected, while with rosacea, only small ones are affected. At the same time, manifestations of rosacea - especially early ones - indicate a general predisposition of the patient to vasodilation. This increases the risk of certain “related” problems occurring in the future - from varicose veins to stroke: during the treatment of rosacea, the prevention of these diseases should also be given increased attention.

Acquired rosacea

This type occurs:

• when climatic conditions change, when the cold first dilates deep-lying vessels and increases blood pressure in them;
• chronic hypertension can also cause the development of rosacea;
• taking hormonal drugs that dilate capillaries;
• excessive consumption of alcohol, which first causes vasospasm and then dilates them;
• Long exposure to the sun leads to damage to the skin and blood vessel walls.

Cuperosis: treatment methods

Almost every woman is familiar with skin problems: acne, dermatitis, dryness, etc. We can quickly get rid of some problems, while others need to be controlled throughout our lives. One of the “lifelong” problems is rosacea - unsightly dilated blood vessels on the face. Don’t hope that it will “go away on its own” or “stay as it is” - without proper care, damage to blood vessels will only worsen. We will tell you about the most effective methods of combating rosacea in this article.

Causes of rosacea

Science already knows that the main cause of rosacea is thin, inelastic capillary walls. Moreover, once the vessels have “expanded,” they can no longer “contract” to their original state. There are many reasons for this:

• Genetic predisposition.
  This is primarily the close, superficial location of blood vessels, increased blood flow.
• Hormonal changes (during pregnancy, menopause, stress).
  In this case, the skin proteins prostaglandin, histamine and vascular growth factor cause dilation of capillaries and increase their permeability. The amount of pro-inflammatory proteins also increases.
• General diseases:
  vegetative-vascular dystonia, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems or liver diseases can also provoke the development of rosacea.

Provoking factors

Dense, healthy and oily skin can be abused for quite a long time without consequences. But thin and dry skin can react painfully to almost any overstrain of the skin blood vessels:

• Stress provokes the production of substance P, a neuropeptide that enhances vasodilation and capillary permeability.
• Exposure to extreme or sudden temperature changes causes blood vessels to dilate and contract too quickly.
• Excessive physical activity, consumption of alcohol and spicy foods, and abuse of baths/saunas cause flushing of the face.
• Exposure to the environment, or more precisely, interaction of the skin with toxic emissions such as sulfur dioxide or suspended matter in gasoline vapors, can lead to dilation and damage to blood vessels.
• The use of cosmetics containing aggressive substances and abrasives will sooner or later lead to thinning of the skin and destruction of collagen in connective tissues and blood vessels.

Note:

Very often, rosacea is considered only as a symptom of rosacea. But it's not right. The main symptom of rosacea is inflammation, accompanied by redness of the skin; with ordinary rosacea, the skin is not inflamed. Couperosis can accompany rosacea, but these are different phenomena.

How to cure this?

Cuperosis is a chronic disease. Therefore, skin prone to rosacea requires constant and special care, and it should be changed from season to season. In spring and summer - moisturizing creams and emulsions, in winter and autumn - protective ones.

Stages of rosacea

Couperosis first appears with slight redness of the skin, burning, and itching. The disease then develops as follows:

• redness of the skin becomes persistent;
• the skin dries out and stars appear;
• skin inflammation does not go away.

On which parts of the body does rosacea most often occur?

“In most cases, rosacea is noted on the face, nose and neck, mainly in the cheekbones and on the wings of the nose,” says Nadezhda Zhurbina. — In general, this pathology does not affect a person’s health, but it significantly spoils the overall quality of life, since it is a very pronounced defect of a cosmetic nature. Moreover, in some cases, the capillary loops have such a distinct color that it is almost impossible to eliminate it through cosmetic correction.”

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How to treat rosacea

Some cosmetic procedures help get rid of rosacea

• Mesotherapy is a procedure in which a vitamin cocktail consisting of amino acids is injected into the site of skin lesions.
• Hardware technique. The face is lubricated with a cream containing medicinal substances, and the drug is injected into the deep layers of the dermis.
• Biorevitalization is a procedure that helps restore skin hydration using hyaluronic acid.

Expert commentary

Elena Oleinichenko, cosmetologist, dermatologist, dermatovenerologist

Dermatologist, cosmetologist, expert at the Premium Aesthetics Academy of Cosmetology Elena Oleinichenko comments:

“Cooperosis can be corrected, but, alas, it is not completely curable. This must be taken into account when starting a course of therapy. If we consider the problem as a whole, success is based on the patient’s efforts to eliminate provoking factors: exposure to solar radiation, high and low temperatures, wind, alcohol, spicy foods, emotional stress, endocrine diseases, cosmetics and detergents that have an irritating effect. Treatment measures are based on the principles of adequate daily skin care. It includes the use of sunscreens and preparations containing chemical ultraviolet filters. Of the hardware techniques, only IPL radiation from the M22 device can solve this problem quickly and without leaving a trace.”

You can sign up for the procedure by phone: +7 (499) 370 45 96.

What basic cosmetic procedures are used to treat rosacea?

If telangiectasia is severe, an impressive arsenal of therapeutic and cosmetic procedures comes to the rescue, which are selected based on the patient’s individuality. These primarily include:

Electrocoagulation. This is cauterization of blood vessels using a hair electrode. In this way, it is possible to eliminate even quite obvious manifestations of the disease. However, in some cases, electrocoagulation leaves scars or pigment spots on the skin.

Mesotherapy and biorevitalization. This method is based on microinjections of drugs that strengthen capillary walls and have a positive effect on blood microcirculation. This procedure can be performed for both treatment and prevention purposes.

Treatment of rosacea with laser. Laser therapy for rosacea is the cauterization of a pronounced vascular pattern using a laser beam. Thanks to its excellent results and almost complete absence of pain, laser is one of the most popular assistants in the treatment of telangiectasia.

Phototherapy. Treatment with light flashes is excellent for treating large-scale telangiectasias, and in addition, eliminates pigment spots, acne and other skin defects.

Therapeutic plastic massage. As opposed to traditional massage, which is harmful for telangiectasia, this procedure successfully copes with the manifestations of the disease, and in addition, is used for prevention.

What causes rosacea on the face?

Modifiable risk factors for the progression of rosacea are:

• excessive sun exposure,
• overheating (local steaming of the facial skin, frequent visits to baths/saunas),
• abuse of alcohol, coffee, chocolate, as well as very spicy and hot foods
• smoking,
• regular trauma to the skin, especially for so-called home care (for example, scrubbing, peeling)
• incorrect selection of cosmetic procedures (deep peelings, warming solutions, hardware massages).
• pregnancy and childbirth
• lifting weights

Of course, it is extremely difficult to give up habits acquired over the years. You can start with a slight reduction in the presence of these risk factors, and already noticeably improve the quality of your skin. And in the future, completely abandon the harmful effects. It is important to understand that the sooner we eliminate the cause, the faster the skin will delight us with its healthy state.

In addition to predisposition and exposure to risk factors, rosacea can be caused by serious diseases of internal organs and serve as an important diagnostic symptom.

Ointments and creams for spider veins

Qualified specialists recommend using the following ointments to get rid of spider veins:

1. Troxevasin. It contains rutin, which strengthens the walls of blood vessels and improves blood microcirculation in the capillaries. For chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer or kidney failure, this remedy is not recommended for use.
2. Diroseal. It is an alternative to the previous remedy, relieves inflammation from the problem area, thickens the upper layer of the epidermis and improves cell regeneration. With prolonged use, the product promotes complete resorption of the stars. According to doctors, after using Diroseal, rosacea does not appear again.
3. Heparin ointment. This remedy helps to quickly get rid of rosacea. It is important to remember that it contains a huge number of contraindications and can only be used with the permission of a doctor. This is due to the fact that the product can very easily cause an exacerbation of allergies on the face, as well as lead to the development of skin hyperemia. It must be applied carefully. Caution is due to the fact that the ointment can cause inflammation of the capillaries, as evidenced by photographs of patients undergoing treatment. Do not rub into the problem area.

During long-term use of Heparin ointment, it is worth monitoring blood clotting.

Troxevasin, Diroseal, Ascorutin and Heparin ointment - remedies for rosacea on the face can be bought in a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. But, we recommend purchasing them only after consulting a doctor.

This treatment can be carried out at home, and the photo shows step by step the effectiveness of the therapy.

If you frequently deep clean your face, you may encounter rosacea. In addition, avoid products containing alcohol.

Plastic surgeon Ozge Ergun

Folk remedies for the treatment of rosacea

At home, you can prepare your own face masks using the following ingredients:

• Ginger. It slows down the aging process of the skin, strengthens the immune system and improves blood microcirculation in the vessels. For the mask you need 5 grams of ground ginger. It needs to be diluted with 100 ml of hot water. Cool the resulting composition and apply it to the face with cotton wool. Keep the mask on for 20 minutes and wash it off with water.
• Apple vinegar. It nourishes and cleanses the skin. It also has an antiseptic effect and improves skin regeneration. To make a mask, mix vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:4. Lubricate the problem area 1 to 2 times a day.
• Green clay. It tightens pores, improves metabolism, relieves swelling and redness of blood vessels. For the mask you need 1 tablespoon of clay. Mix it with water. The resulting composition is rubbed into the problem area and lasts for about 10 minutes. Then we wash our face with water.
• Lemon. A lemon mask improves metabolism, accelerates cell regeneration, saturates the skin with vitamin C and other nutrients. For the mask, squeeze lemon juice and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to it. Apply the composition to gauze and apply to the face. It is important to remember that the mouth and eye area remains free. The mask lasts about 10 minutes, and then it is washed off with water. This is done once every 10 days.

It is important to remember that rosacea at an early stage may indicate the body’s predisposition to vasodilation. This increases the risk of varicose veins and stroke several times. To prevent this, a person needs to engage in prevention.

You can use folk remedies only after consultation with a cosmetologist. Does massage help with rosacea?

Cosmetologists note that you can get rid of stars with the help of lymphatic drainage massage. It reduces pressure in blood vessels, relieves redness and improves blood flow.

Experts note that when diagnosing rosacea there are clear contraindications, for example:

1. use towels made of rough materials;
2. do steam inhalations using essential oils;
3. carry out manual facial cleansing and use hand massagers;
4. performing lymphatic and Japanese massage. This is due to the fact that they are performed under pressure.

In turn, aerobics has a beneficial effect on the face, as evidenced by numerous positive reviews. You can get acquainted with the technique in the following video, gymnastics for the face by Carol Maggio:

Treatment of rosacea on the face with laser and phototherapy.

The most modern and safe way to remove blood vessels on the face is laser treatment. With laser coagulation, the walls of the vessel “glue” together, which leads to its instant disappearance. With larger vessels filled with blood, when exposed to a laser, its color darkens due to the oxidation of hemoglobin. The vessel becomes dark purple and disappears after a few days due to its destruction by immunocompetent cells. The treated area of ​​skin turns red and swells slightly during the procedure; this reaction may last for several days.

It is recommended to perform such a procedure only in medical clinics with a medical license. This method is safe and most effective, in comparison with the previous ones, after it there are no scars or pigmentation left on the skin.

In Medical-Aesthetic, a neodymium laser HarmonyXL (Israel) with a wavelength of 1064 nm is used to remove spider veins on the face.

The ideal treatment for rosacea is a combination of laser treatment and AFT therapy or phototherapy. With the help of a laser, it is possible to get rid of dilated blood vessels that are visible to the eye, while AFT and phototherapy can remove general redness that occurs due to the expansion of many tiny capillaries. Thus, these two methods do not replace each other, but are selected depending on the caliber of dilated vessels and are an excellent combined treatment.

The newest method of treating rosacea is AFT therapy, which is an improved version of phototherapy, which allows you to halve the number of procedures and make them much more pleasant in terms of tolerability. More details about the relevant technology can be found in the corresponding section.

You can only get rid of rosacea using hardware methods. It is impossible to cure rosacea with the help of creams, tablets and other medicinal or cosmetic products; you can only make its manifestations less noticeable.

It should be noted that there are procedures aimed at treating the effects of rosacea and preventing damage to the vascular wall. Among them are biorevitalization, mesotherapy with vascular-strengthening drugs, plasma therapy, placentotherapy and botulinum therapy. The selection of procedures is carried out depending on the skin type, the causes of rosacea and its severity.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, it is recommended to undergo an examination in order to exclude a more serious disease or identify pathologies of internal organs. Such an examination may include blood tests (for infections, hormones, general, biochemical and immunological tests), urine analysis, ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs (especially the kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas, echocardiography of the heart) and blood vessels, as well as other studies depending on the diagnosed pathology.

Be attentive to yourself and your loved ones; timely consultation with a doctor provides great guarantees for a quick recovery.

Expert opinion

• Cosmetologist
• Dermatologist

Irina Dorofeeva

practicing cosmetologist

If you have been diagnosed with rosacea, then you should pay special attention to your cosmetics. Products that need to be rubbed, alcohol tonics, and peelings are prohibited. After washing, do not rub your face, pat it dry with a napkin. Frequent trips to the sauna and solarium will not be beneficial for rosacea. Avoid home steam inhalations. To get rid of this annoying problem, I recommend using laser treatment. I think this method is the most effective. The procedure is painless, and the person recovers quickly.

Sunanda Chew

dermatologist

Couperosis on the face is diagnosed in many people. To get rid of it, I recommend taking a comprehensive approach to the issue. To do this, you need to follow simple rules, review your diet, and eliminate the cause of the disease. Next, drug therapy and the use of special ointments come to the rescue. To be sure to remove spider veins and redness, I advise you to pay attention to hardware methods. Perhaps the most effective enemy of rosacea is the laser. But, in addition to it, you can try photorejuvenation, ozone therapy, mesotherapy. These procedures have also proven themselves to be excellent in the fight against rosacea. If you manage to get rid of the problem, do everything to protect yourself from the recurrence of the disease. To do this, take into account the reasons for its appearance, adjust your lifestyle, give up alcohol-containing products, and take care of your skin.

Symptoms of the disease

We found a unique organization in the US, the National Rosacea Society, dedicated to improving the lives of the 16 million Americans who suffer from this common but poorly understood skin condition.

The organization’s website contains comprehensive information that not every specialist knows.

Primary signs of rosacea

• Facial flushing (flushing) Many people with rosacea experience frequent facial flushing or flushing. This facial flushing may come and go, and is often the earliest sign of the disorder.
• Persistent redness Persistent facial redness is the most common individual symptom of rosacea and can resemble flushing or a sunburn that does not go away.
• Lumps/Lumps/Bumps and Pimples Small red solid bumps or pus-filled pimples often develop. Although they may resemble acne, there are no blackheads and there may be a burning or chilling sensation.
• Visible Blood Vessels For many people with rosacea, small blood vessels become visible on the skin.

Other potential signs and symptoms

• Eye irritation Many people with rosacea may have eyes that are irritated and appear watery or bleeding, a condition known as ocular rosacea. The eyelids may also become red and swollen, and styes are common. Severe cases can result in corneal damage and vision loss without medical attention.
• Burning or stinging sensations The face may often experience burning or stinging sensations. Itching or a feeling of tightness may also develop.
• Dry appearance The central part of the face may be rough and appear very dry.
• Plaques Raised red patches, known as plaques, raised above the surface of the skin and may develop without changes to the surrounding skin.
• Thickening of the skin The skin can become thickened and enlarged by excess tissue, most commonly on the nose. This condition, known as rhinophyma (a tumor-like, benign skin change), affects more men than women.
• Swelling Swelling of the face, known as edema, can accompany other signs of rosacea or occur independently.
• Signs not on the face Signs and symptoms of rosacea can also develop outside the face, most commonly on the neck, chest, scalp or ears.

Avoid temperature changes, this negatively affects blood circulation, which can lead to the development of rosacea.

Plastic surgeon Christopher Davidson

Causes and symptoms

Cuperosis occurs due to weakening of the walls of blood vessels. After the vessel enlarges under blood pressure, it cannot return to its original position.

Couperosis is most noticeable on light, sensitive skin, since the capillaries are close to the surface.

Climate also plays a big role. Outside in cold weather, the blood vessels narrow, and when they enter a warm room, they expand. A sharp change in temperature is a serious stress for blood vessels.

Other factors influencing the appearance of rosacea include:

• heredity;
• smoking and other negative habits;
• hormonal changes;
• diseases of internal organs (in particular, the liver).

As a rule, rosacea appears around the nose, chin, and cheeks. Over time, the skin lesions will become more noticeable. Therefore, it is important to consult a cosmetologist when the first symptoms appear.