Acne Rosacea 

Many adults suffer from what is called adult acne in their late 20's and 30's despite the fact that they had never had acne during adolescence.   There are generally two different types of adult acne.  The more common form is called Acne Vulgaris, and the more rare form is called Acne Rosacea. 

It is estimated that up to 85% of the American population between the ages of 12 to 24 years of age have suffered from some form of Acne Vulgaris.  However, only about 5% of the population, or 13 million people, experience the aggravation and "rosy" cheeks of acne rosacea.

Acne Rosacea is a skin condition that is usually restricted to the face and eyes.  It generally affects adults between the ages of 30 to 60 years old.  The condition is characterized by pimples, redness, and broken blood vessels.

At the onset, a person's cheeks may tend to blush or flush very easily.  However, as the acne rosacea develops, redness will be noticeable around the nose area, and then expand over the remainder of the face.  A serious case may experience enlarged oil glands in the nose that can result in an enlarged and bulbous red nose.

For those suffering from this condition, almost 50% will have issues extending to their eyes.  Eye symptoms may include burning and tearing, redness, inflamed eyelids, or a scratchy feeling of something in the eyes. 

Acne rosacea is not medically dangerous, but there is no cure at this time.  You shouldn't despair though, because it can be controlled with treatment and monitoring.  The purpose of the treatments is to control the flare-ups and minimize sensitivity of the skin and eyes.

The first step in determining a treatment strategy is to identify possible "triggers", which will be different from individual to individual.  Acne Rosacea generally worsens when an affected person is exposed to certain environmental or dietary conditions.  Common "triggers" may include hot baths, exercise, wind, cold weather, and certain skin products, but by no means is this a comprehensive list. 

The National Rosacea Society suggests that you keep a symptom diary, recording conditions or food eaten immediately before the onset of a Rosacea flare-up.  Over approximately 1-2 months, a pattern should emerge that will give you additional insight into your "triggers".  Of course, once you have identified these triggers, you can avoid these conditions by modifying your eating habits and lifestyle.

In addition to avoiding known acne rosacea "triggers", treatment options include oral antibiotics or topical creams.  To supplement your acne rosacea treatment plan, we recommend an all-natural product called the ZENMED® Rosacea Treatment which utilizes a natural approach of botanicals and healing herbs to soothe the rosacea affected skin and control flare-ups.