ACNE ROSACEA
Report #6823 5/30/96
Acne rosacea is a common condition in which the blood vessels in the face open wide causing the center of the face to look deep red and small acne-like cysts to form. If the condition is not treated, the skin can thicken and cause the nose to look like that of W.C. Fields.
Acne rosacea usually occurs in families, most commonly in people who have very light skins, dandruff and thick toe nails. They often have glands that release large amounts of oil onto the surface of the face, so people with this condition should never apply greasy lotions or creams. Although cortisone creams can temporarily reduce the redness, they should not be used more often than once a week because they increase the formation of acne cysts and make the skin thinner.
Most dermatologists treat acne rosacea with antibiotics, such as tetracycline or ampicillin, for several months because they close the blood vessels on the surface of the face and decrease redness. Antibiotics can also help to clear the acne-like cysts on the face. Doctors also prescribe a cream or gel containing the antibiotic, metronidazole, to be rubbed on the face twice a day. Usually it takes between three and five months for the medication to clear the redness.
Some doctors recommend avoiding anything that opens blood vessels on the surface of the face, such as excessive exposure to sunlight, high temperatures, hot liquids, spices, alcohol, and caffeine, but there is no evidence that this does much good.
By Gabe Mirkin, M.D., for CBS Radio News