Η rosacea is an inflammatory dermatopathy associated with the trichomotogenous follicle and is characterised by the appearance of erythema, telangiectasias, inflammatory lesions and oedema with alternating periods of exacerbation and remission.
It is usually found on the face.
The disease is characterized by 4 stages:
- Transient erythema: patients complain that either suddenly or after the influence of a triggering factor such as increased ambient temperature, consumption of alcohol or spices and especially mental stress, they experience transient erythema (redness) mainly on the face, neck or sternum.
- Permanent erythema: the redness is now permanent on the face and small vessels begin to appear on the surface of the skin, especially on the sides of the nose and the cheeks. The reddening becomes even more pronounced with the effect of the triggering agents.
- Papular pustules: in addition to erythema, red pimples (papules) appear on the skin, some of which have pus (pustules). The picture is similar to the common acne of puberty, but lacks the main feature of the latter, the freckles (small black spots (open freckles) or whitish patches (closed freckles)).
- In the last stage, which fortunately is rare, apart from all the previous characteristics, there is also intense hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands along with overgrowth of connective tissue, resulting in thickening of the skin and facial deformation. Depending on the location of the lesion, it can be divided into nasophyma (in the nose), frontophyma, otophyma and pseudophyma.
REASONS
The etiology is actually unknown but several possible factors have been blamed, including:
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Activity of microorganisms
- Vascular disorders
- Abnormality of the hair-smelling unit
- Damage to the underlying tissues
- Genetic predisposition
- Combination of genetic predisposition and sun exposure
- Medications that cause vasodilation
THERAPY
Treatment options depend on the stage and intensity of the disease.
In the initial stages, the topical application of agro-invasive cosmetic preparations, often of herbal origin, is recommended. In more advanced stages, the use of topical pharmaceutical preparations containing mainly metronidazole or azelaic acid is required. In advanced stages (vitellophytic), oral medication is necessary, either antibiotics (tetracyclines) or vitamin A derivatives (isotretinoin) in low doses. In the last stage of rhinophyma, dermatosurgical intervention is needed by cauterising the lesions with diathermy or laser.
Source : http://www.edae.gr/dermalogos/
