April Special Offers
Updated: 30 March 2022
April is Rosacea Awareness Month
Sophisticated new therapies designed to target rosacea's disease processes combined with treatment plans tailored to patients’ specific cases have made it easier than ever for sufferers to achieve clear skin. The National Rosacea Society (NRS) has designated April as Rosacea Awareness Month to educate the public on the treatments available for this potentially serious disorder.
“Rosacea may feel like an uphill battle – left untreated, the disease is a moving target, with varying signs and symptoms that may improve but often get worse, both in response to triggers and over time. The good news is that there are more treatment options available than ever before, allowing physicians and patients to work together to find the most effective treatment for each individual case.”
While once conventionally divided into four subtypes, rosacea is now understood as a single disease with a wide variety of potential presentations. Consequently, combination therapy targeted for specific phenotypes may achieve optimal patient outcomes, therapies that target facial erythema (redness), the most common phenotype and often the most damaging to quality of life, may also have a synergistic effect on improving other signs and symptoms. For example, one study found that combining a topical alpha agonist with a topical anti-inflammatory achieved statistically significantly better reduction of erythema and papules (bumps) and pustules (pimples).
Moreover, optimal therapy may also keep the disease from progressing further over the long term. Though more studies are needed, some medications appeared to improve baseline redness over time, and may possibly help inhibit progression as well as help maintain remission.
The best results are achieved when patients and their doctors work together to identify appropriate therapy and monitor its progress. In initially designing a treatment plan, we recommended taking a comprehensive history of the patient’s involvement with rosacea, including its signs and symptoms over time, as well as its social, emotional and psychological effects. We also offer advice on trigger factors, as well as information on skin care and sun protection.
Then, as therapy progresses and with the patient’s input, Renew Clinic offer additional strategies. For example, oxymetazoline and brimonidine are topical alpha agonists that act on different receptors in different ways. With observation of its effects, we may suggest adjustments, such as application in different amounts at different times of day, to achieve the best result.
“Managing rosacea isn’t a single visit to the doctor, but an ongoing process, and for some patients it may take weeks or months to see improvement but patients are not alone. Fortunately, with today’s increasingly sophisticated tools, individuals partnering with their physicians can lead normal lives not adversely impacted by rosacea.”
To book your consultation go to our booking page, choose your preferred location and select 'Facial' from the menu on the left. Then select Skin Consultation and we'll do the rest.