Rosacea

Rosacea
Rosacea is a relatively common condition which mainly affects women in the 35-55 year age group.  It is a complex problem which is often multi-faceted including a maculopapular eruption that looks a little like acne, facial veins, facial flushing and in some cases skin changes such as rhinophyma and inflammation of the eyelid margin (blepharitis). 

The pimply skin eruption can usually be controlled with long term, low dose oral antibiotics like doxycycline or minocycline.  A topical antibiotic called Rosex (metronidazole) can be helpful in a few patients.

The facial veins are generally helped considerably with vascular laser and IPL devices and a modest improvement in flushing can be achieved with the same treatments.  If flushing is the predominant problem a surgical procedure called cervical endoscopic sympathectomy can be performed.