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LET ’ S TALK ROSACEA
By Dr Sally Dolan , SDS Rejuvenate
I was considering what to write about in this month ’ s Wirral Life magazine when it came to my notice how many new patients we had seen in our clinics , presenting with concerns about their skin , and after a consultation we were diagnosing rosacea .
The realisation of the numbers coincided with our attendance at BCAM , The British College of Aesthetic Medicine in London where we meet annually with our colleagues and during conversations and presentations , we were all in agreement that there was a definitive and measurable recent increase in rosacea cases .
Why is this ? Is it the population are more aware of the help that is available or is there simply more people suffering ? Either way the good news is , there is help .
Some interesting facts :
• Rosacea affects 1 in 10 people , but often remains undiagnosed .
• It is triggered by almost EVERYTHING in modern life .
• A dermatology survey revealed 47 % of rosacea sufferers haven ’ t heard of the condition before diagnosis and 95 % knew nothing about the warning signs .
Despite 1 in 10 people being affected , the medical profession still cannot exactly put their finger on exactly why rosacea rears its rosy head . Theories include genetics , sun damage , the demodex mite ; but whatever the cause , we know the inflammation breaks down the skin elastic tissue over time causing persistent redness and flushing , visible thread veins , bumps and pimples and a compromised skin barrier resulting in very sensitive skin .
Making the diagnosis is imperative , but once made then we need to discuss the triggering factors ( many of which you will have already discovered yourselves ) and how , if possible , to avoid them . However , whilst you can absolutely work to minimise your personal triggers facts , it is also necessary to ensure you are using the right products on your skin and avoiding those which aggravate the condition .
When it comes to managing rosacea , it is best to have a gentle , stripped back , minimalist skin care routine and we have designed a perfect regime using our SDS Skin Care products :
• Prepare ( gentle cleanser )
• Quench ( Hyaluronic acid serum )
• H2 Endurance ( Moisturiser )
• Protect 20 or 50 ( SPF depending on your preference )
These products are calming , hydrating , and protecting with the aim of repairing that impaired and compromised skin barrier . There are also prescription only topical formulations available and we may prescribe a medical product called Soolantra which addresses the pimples and spots often associated with rosacea , or Mirvaso which applied topically will temporarily reduce facial redness and flushing . On occasions oral treatments may be appropriate and we may prescribe antibiotics .
In clinic treatments must be considered as these counteract the aesthetic side effects of rosacea . We recognise that the appearance of rosacea can undoubtedly knock your confidence and affect your mental health and these treatments are invaluable to improve the appearance of rosacea . These treatments include laser – the gold standard in-clinic treatment for treating rosacea redness . The light of the laser heats and dissolves thread veins . A course of treatment is recommended for long term results
LED therapy ( Dermalux ) is a fantastic treatment ; non-invasive , pain free and no down time . This accelerates the skins natural rejuvenation and repair processes , as well as soothing , reducing the inflammation of rosacea . Obviously , it may be a combination of treatments that is needed to combat the appearance of rosacea , but we look at every patient individually and develop a bespoke programme which will ultimately help each person individually .
To book you free skin assessment and consultation , please contact clinic on 0151 625 8080 where the team will help you on your way to clearer skin .
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